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CASE STUDY Designing a Software Distribution Solution for Mobile Users

CASE STUDY Designing a Software Distribution Solution for Mobile Users. Intro. As the number of mobile and low-bandwidth connected users increases, the challenge of managing software distributions becomes more complex.

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CASE STUDY Designing a Software Distribution Solution for Mobile Users

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  1. CASE STUDYDesigning a Software Distribution Solution for Mobile Users

  2. Intro As the number of mobile and low-bandwidth connected users increases, the challenge of managing software distributions becomes more complex. By looking up front at the needs of the highly mobile user population, Pathnet - a Reston VA based telecommunications firm, was able to implement a single software distribution solution to cover users with distinctly different connectivity requirements.

  3. What You Will Learn • Techniques used to provide software distributions to highly mobile, low-bandwidth, frequently disconnected users. • How to architect a software distribution solution to service varied user communities. • How to leverage a mobile software distribution architecture to provide other systems management services.

  4. Pathnet Background • A "next generation" carriers' carrier providing competitive local access services and high capacity, digital transport to under-served and second- and third-tier U.S. cities. • Provide service to inter-exchange carriers, local exchange carriers, Internet service providers, Regional Bell Operating Companies, cellular operators and resellers. • Over 7,000 route miles of completed network and 1,200 route miles of network under construction. • Additional information: www.pathnet.net

  5. Callisto Background • Callisto Software, Inc. creates solutions for Information Technology groups to help them manage and support their organizations' growing, distributed mobile computing environments. • Callisto launched its first product in 1997 with the introduction of Orbiter, a mobile systems management solution that provides software distribution, hardware and software inventory, troubleshooting, file retrieval, and other functions that help IT manage mobile systems. • Additional information: www.callisto.com

  6. YellowBrix Background • YellowBrix offers a full solution set to help dot coms and enterprise organizations shift strategies from building traffic and page views to retaining users, building customer relationships and enhancing revenues. • YellowBrix intelligent solutions, three main categories: • Content Services — Real-time, relevant content for any audience, via e-mail or the Web. • Contextual Commerce — Point-of-interest selling on the Web. • Personalization — Individualized Web pages, personalized Web environments. • Customers include: CNNfn, MSNBC, ZDNet, GoNetwork, AOL, Network Solutions, Anderson Consulting, Monster.com • Additional information: www.yellowbrix.com

  7. Problem - Requirements • Pathnet needed a software distribution and configuration management system for three main groups of systems: • Nationwide Network of Surveillance Servers • Mobile (Laptop) Users • Desktop Computer System Users

  8. Surveillance Network • Nationwide network of servers that provided surveillance on the telecommunications wireless / fiber network, 20 servers. • Servers gathered fault and performance data on the telecommunications network and sent that data back to the network operations center. • Link was via frame relay, only low 56Kbps circuits in almost all cases, surveillance traffic the priority. • Running Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 on DC-powered Nortech brand servers.

  9. Pathnet Network

  10. Surveillance Network Diagram

  11. Mobile Laptop Users • More and more of a common situation. • More than ½ of the workforce had laptops. • Many remote users who did not visit the office, sales personnel especially. • Some laptop users connected via DSL or cable modem, but most were via dialup using either their ISP and a VPN or via our remote access server. • Typical connections from 33,600bps to 56,000bps.

  12. Desktop Systems • High speed local area network. • All systems running Windows NT workstation, version 4. • Standardized on brand, but components changed at times. • Desktop systems were a minority in the workplace as compared to laptops.

  13. Requirements • Limit Impact on Bandwidth • Ease of Use • Implementation / Deployment • Ability to track progress • Support • Cost • Scheduling of Jobs • Desire for Single Solution

  14. Product Experience • Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) • Intel LANDesk Manager • Callisto Orbiter • Other Techniques

  15. Product Decision • Decision to stop deployment of SMS and switch to Orbiter. • Installed and running and functional all in one day. • Used one day of install consultant support. • Ability to meet identified needs and in a fast manner.

  16. Impact • Pushed NT service packs onto surveillance servers all completed in two days. • Distribution of anti-virus updates. • Configuration management of servers. • Application upgrades such as Microsoft Office 2000. • A single solution for all servers, laptops, and desktops.

  17. Product Features • Callisto Orbiter provided the following: • Software Distribution • Software and Hardware Inventory • File Retrieval • Troubleshooting Tools • Virus and Disk Management • Job Scheduling • Event Management • Mobile Architecture

  18. Mobile Architecture • Optimized for Low-Bandwidth Connection. • checkpoint restart and bandwidth throttling • compression and “delta” technology • Offline Operation. • jobs run at client when disconnected • queued messaging • Transparent to the end user. • Technology uses TCP/IP or e-mail.

  19. Main Benefits • Low Bandwidth Use • Configuration Management • Cost • Laptop Support • Ease of Use 5 client side processing of files 5 distributed architecture 4 status and reporting 5 bandwidth sensitivity 4 price 5 implementation and documentation

  20. Installation Support • One Day of Onsite Support • install client software onto our lab system • verify installation of server component on our server • check configuration of the server • run through procedure to push out software updates • hardware inventory procedure and uses • software inventory process and uses • show the use of other product functions • give tips on use of the software • provide info on deployment issues

  21. Current Product Version • Orbiter Released version 3.5 • File Retrieval • Expanded Hardware Inventory • Support for Microsoft SQL Server • Console Security • Improved Client Deployment

  22. Other Uses of Solution • Prep of new laptop and desktop systems. • Synchronization of data from file servers to sales personnel laptops. • Desktop computer configuration management and support.

  23. Topic Review • Techniques used to provide software distributions to highly mobile, low-bandwidth, frequently disconnected users. • How to architect a software distribution solution to service varied user communities. • How to leverage a mobile software distribution architecture to provide other systems management services.

  24. For More Information Feel free to send email with questions or comments to either: Steve Delahuntysdelahunty@yellowbrix.comwww.yellowbrix.comvisit YellowBrix booth Paul Hartge phartge@callisto.comwww.callisto.comvisit Callisto booth

  25. Questions?

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