Desktop Management Agent

[Ryan Gread]

Sorry for the newbie question but I havent used SIM to manage Desktop PC's before, only HP Servers.

I am used to the HP Smart Start CD's and the Management Agents and drivers automatically loading. With the Desktop this is not available. I can not use the HP Original OS and need to build an image from scratch.

Where do i download the Management agent for the dc7600 business desktops, and then what it the process for installing and configuring it? I.e before the OS. Ive found the Offline Insight Manager CD but this hasnt helped.

Thanks

[Igor Karasik]

Ryan, please see this thread:
http://forums2.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=634024

"First of all, the Insight agents for clients are end of life as of 12/03 and are no longer being updated. No work is going on to qualify them for use with hpSIM.

The prescribed method of desktop management is HP Client Manager: http://www.hp.com/go/easydeploy and in the future there will be a plug-in to link this with hpSIM."

[Ryan Gread]

Thanks Igor

I have found the HP Client Tools and with alot of messing around the alteris connector for HP Insight Manager (its not a simple link off the easydeploy page).

SO I guess the process it as follows.
1. Install Alteris Notification server
2. Install Alteris Connector for HP Insght Manager.
3. Waves your arms and spin around 3 times.
4. Install a desktop client for alteris, presumable from the HP Client Tools package as i havent got this far.
5. Cross everything, and hope for the best.

It seems to be a bit messy needing alteris notification server and connectors to use SIM to manage everything. Does this imply HP SIM is going to phased out? or perhaps we will see a better integration with alteris?

[Albert Austin]

Hi Ryan,

I have a similar problem, I have installed SIM on a dc7100. And have no agent for it. Took a look at SIM Altiris connector but thats it, didnt go further. If u have got it working could you please fill me in with the procedure, will be much appreciated!

[Igor Karasik]

Ryan,
Altiris is really not simple.
However, in Altiris you can use additional solutions like Carbon Copy (remote control), deployment solution and many others. (it is not free like HP client manager, you will pay for it)
We use Microsoft SMS for many years, but before migration to SMS 2003,
we evaluate Altiris. It is very powerful tool, but we decide to stay with SMS.
Bottom line: it may be not cost-effective to use HP Client manager, but if you going to implement Altiris complete solution (client management suite) - you will have HP client manager without additional effort.

Another option - use Insight Management Agent for Clients
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/hpcpqdt/us/download/18273.html
however, it is not recommended and not suported.
Regards, Igor