A Case Study in ASP Asset Management, Deploying SchoolDude at Earlham College

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A Case Study in ASP Asset Management, Deploying
SchoolDude at Earlham College!

• Randy Kouns, Manager User Service Earlham College
• Monica Vance, SchoolDude.com

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The long and bumpy path!

• New Manager for User Service Dec 2002
• Asset Insight in place
• Asset Insight sold and closed in 2004
• Began search for new Asset Management Product
  2004
• Purchased Altiris Deployment Server 2004
• Sold Altiris Asset Management Spring 2005
• Consultants hired in Fall 2007
• Let Altiris Asset Management Suite expire in
  Summer 08

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The path gets paved!

• SchoolDude to the RESCUE!!
• Began investigating and talking to SchoolDude
  Fall 08
• Purchased and began deployment activities
  Fall/Winter 08
• Frequent calls for assistance Winter/Spring 2009
• Always addressed in one or two 10 minute calls
• Fully populated PC clients January 2009
• APPLE clients still being added Spring 2009
• Planned inventory of all NETWORK assets Fall
  2009

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Cause and Effect

• CAUSE
• Altiris AM module design and function
• Open LDAP vs. AD
• Would have required hours of technician time to
  develop configuration and specialized
  customization
• Altiris depends on Channel Partners, resulting
  to consultants
• EFFECTS
• Inconsistent results across platforms (PC, MAC,
  Linux)
• Inaccurate inventory data

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• There are two ways to successfully deploy the
  audit agent using images. Local admin rights are
  required to install the audit agent as an NT
  Service for the first method. If this is an
  issue, use the Pre-deploy method.

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• Deploy via local CSetup
• The audit agent is present but not
  installed on the computer. The first time the
  computer is used the audit agent is automatically
  installed by CSetup.exe.
• Download the Login Script option from your
  ITAMDirect account under Account Setup gt Download
  Installation Files to a directory on the master
  image. Call this directory C\Centenn.ial\Discover
  y.
• On the master image add an entry to the RunOnce
  section of the Windows Registry
  (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
  rentVersion\RunOnce) which runs CSetup.exe from
  the C\Centenn.ial\Discovery directory.
• That's all you need to do. After the image
  has been written to a computer, and the first
  time the computer is used, CSetup.exe installs
  the audit agent.

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• Predeploy
• Install the preinstall audit agent on the
  computer, but leave it in an unregistered state
• Install the audit agent on the master image. The
  audit agent installs as an NT Service and
  registers with the database. We now undo that
  registration so that when it restarts on the
  computer it reregisters.
• Stop the CentennialClientAgent and
  CentennialIPTransferAgent Services on the master
  image (but leave them Automatic so they start
  when the machine is restarted).
• Delete the contents of C\Centenn.ial\Audit\Messag
  es folder. Info.RP0 will be recreated by the
  CentennialIPTransfer Service when it next runs.
• Delete C\Centenn.ial\Audit\Local.dat and
  local.xml files. The audit agent will recreate
  this.
• Create the image of the C\CENTENN.IAL folder and
  also the C\Discovery folder and use it to deploy
  to the target computers.

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Similar Directions are available for Active
Directory Deploys, MAC, and Linux based computers
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The Most Important Issue - Results

• Lets take a look at Earlhams LIVE Data

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On-Demand Solutions
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Whos Using SchoolDude?

• Public Colleges Universities
• Private Colleges Universities
• Community Colleges
• Over 350 Clients!!!

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Higher Ed Clients

• Birmingham Southern College, AL
• Hodges University, FL
• Mount Mercy College, IA
• Manchester College, IN
• Mid-Continent University, KY
• Prince Georges Community College, MD
• Husson University, ME
• Ridgewater College, MN
• Rockhurst University, MO
• Juaniata College, PA
• Providence College, RI
• Belmont University, TN
• Maryville College, TN
• Odessa College, TX

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Top Reasons to Acquire (Client feedback)

• Youve kept it simple for us
• User roles for different types of users
• Great service
• Live one on one support
• Low risk of entry and/or exit
• Annual subscription you own your data!
• You are Internet based
• Totally web-native (Mac or PC)
• SchoolDude University
• Annually users conference each Spring
• March 28th April 1st in Myrtle Beach, SC

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On-Demand(Internet Maintenance Management System)

• Startup in a few hours
• Most clients installed within 2-4 weeks
• No servers, software, or CDs
• Simple access from web browser
• (IE, Netscape, even Mac's)
• Ongoing Enhancements
• No special IT configuration needed

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Whats Included? Legendary Support 2009
Stevie Award Winner for Front Line Support!!

• Access your data Anywhere, Anytime!
• Toll-Free 800 number for Support!
• Talk to a LIVE person when you call in for
  Support!
• On-Line Chat with Technicians!
• E-Mail Questions!
• support_at_schooldude.com
• On-Line Training to get you Started!
• get started in just a few hours

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Questions??

• Contact information
• Randy Kouns, Manager User Services Earlham
  College kounsra_at_earlham.edu 765-983-1279
• Monica Vance, Senior Account Manager
  SchoolDude.com, monica_at_schooldude.com,
  877-868-3833