Novell ZENworks for Desktops 4 Manages Network Workstations Wherever They Are via the Internet

Novell, Inc., the leading provider of Net business solutions, today introduced Novell® ZENworks® for Desktops 4, the complete desktop management solution that allows organizations to manage users' desktops and laptops wherever they are, whether in the office or on the road. Novell ZENworks for Desktops 4 is built on Internet standards and automates key network management tasks, letting IT professionals manage their workstations more effectively with less work so they can focus on initiatives strategic to the organization. No longer dependent on the Novell client to manage a workstation, ZENworks for Desktops 4 is another key Novell solution that works across all leading operating systems, letting organizations use what they have more efficiently, rather than being forced into expensive infrastructure purchases.

The most widely deployed directory-enabled desktop management solution on the market, Novell ZENworks for Desktops can give customers a quantifiable return on investment of more than 2,000 percent**. ZENworks for Desktops automates routine management tasks by capturing administrative knowledge and embedding it into the network using a policy-based approach. Changes to any policy can be quickly and easily distributed throughout the Net, so groups, users or entire business units can be managed comprehensively while maintaining a personalized work environment for each individual.

"Because ZENworks for Desktops 4 will give us the ability to manage PCs whether they are on the corporate network or on the Internet, we will have the ability to deploy a standard set of software and policies regardless of the user's location. As a result, we can leverage our existing desktop management infrastructure to provide services to users on remote or low-bandwidth connections," said Matt Krieger, associate director of Global Network Architecture Services for The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (NYSE: RDA, RDB). "ZENworks for Desktops 4's Internet-based features will help us reach our strategic IT goal of reducing infrastructure costs while expanding the range and reach of key business applications. ZENworks for Desktops has provided significant value in the management of our software and PC assets, and version 4 will build upon our capabilities considerably."

Novell ZENworks for Desktops gives organizations the ability and flexibility to manage all of their local and remote Windows* desktops and laptops through the complete lifecycle of the device - from initial setup and configuration to end of life - with a single comprehensive solution. ZENworks for Desktops 4 features PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) functionality that allows a workstation to be booted and managed before the workstation operating system starts, vastly simplifying and reducing the cost of a customer's rollout of Windows XP or other desktop operating system. When ZENworks for Desktops is combined with ZENworks for Servers and ZENworks for Handhelds, entire networks including desktops, laptops, PDAs and multiple server platforms such as Windows, Linux*, Solaris* and Novell NetWare® can be managed together as one Net.

"ZENworks for Desktops leverages the power of Novell eDirectory™ to simplify management across heterogeneous networks and the Internet," said Chris Stone, vice chairman, Office of the CEO of Novell. "Administrators can tailor content, applications and work environments according to the personal needs of individual users or user groups, independent of their location. As a result, users can access their applications in a simple, consistent way, without being tethered to specific desktops and laptops. More than ever, ZENworks for Desktops effectively addresses the challenges of network management in the face of increasingly mobile workforces and highly distributed computing environments."

Managing the Mobile User
ZENworks for Desktops 4 gives administrators the ability to automatically manage desktops and laptops regardless of their location, addressing the unique challenges of managing remote and mobile users. Features such as the automatic restart of interrupted data delivery as soon as a user reconnects and transparent problem detection and correction even when a user is disconnected keep a mobile user's productivity up and costs down. ZENworks uses an intelligent agent that transparently adapts to the changing network environments of the mobile user. The agent uses Internet standards to automatically negotiate barriers such as low bandwidth, thus optimizing data delivery to remote users to keep them connected and productive.

Ronni Colville of Gartner, Inc., said, "A single configuration-management solution across all devices and platforms throughout the global enterprise is extremely compelling to CxOs and IT managers who are trying to maximize return on their existing investments. Vendors who have an understanding of user connectivity constraints - whether they are connected, intermittent or disconnected - are best positioned to provide mobile solutions for all of their management needs."

Built on Internet Standards
ZENworks for Desktops 4 no longer requires the Novell client to be installed on managed workstations, and because it is based on Internet standards, organizations can use ZENworks and the Internet to automatically install and launch applications on desktops and laptops and remotely troubleshoot problems through management features such as remote control and inventory. This Internet-ready approach makes access to applications and data simpler, faster and more reliable for every user. Administrators can distribute, configure, update and troubleshoot all aspects of the workstation wherever it is via the Internet, whether inside or outside the firewall. That means users are saved from launching a virtual private network (VPN) in order for their workstations to be managed, simplifying the users' experience and increasing productivity.

ZENworks in Open Beta
Novell ZENworks for Desktops 4 enters open beta testing May 31. Customers, partners and solution providers can order the public beta and obtain more information about ZENworks for Desktops 4 by visiting http://www.novell.com/products/zenworks. Pricing and general availability will be announced at a later date.

The Novell Mobile Productivity Seminar featuring ZENworks for Desktops 4 and NetWare 6 will be held in 43 cities in the United States and Canada between June 4 and July 3. The seminar is free. Customers can find more information - including a list of seminar cities - and register for the seminar at http://www.novellzenworks.com.