The document outlines a desktop management evaluation checklist comparing two products across various features, including mobility, usability, entitlement, infrastructure, reporting, packaging, administration, security, implementation, support, inventory, and pricing. Each category contains specific features with corresponding ratings and comments that assess the effectiveness of the products in managing desktop environments. The checklist serves as a tool for organizations to evaluate and select a suitable desktop management solution.

1. Desktop Management Evaluation Checklist
Product 1 Product 2
Weight Rating Rating
No Feature Description Rank Comments Rank Comments
1-5 0-3 1-3
1. Mobility
Mobile workforce able to be managed through single
Supports Disconnected solution. Efficiently and reliably manages dial-up
1 5
Users employees. Reduces the many help desk calls
generated by mobile staff.
Eliminates need to send entire application over and
2 Byte Level Differencing over. Greatly reduced update times. Increases quality 5
of service.
3 File Level Differencing Greatly reduces update times. 5
Defines how much bandwidth should be used for
software distributions ensuring the network is not
4 Bandwidth Throttling crippled during a large update. Increases end user 5
experience by allowing user to continue working on
other tasks during package transmission.
5 Compression Reduces transport time. (Compression ratio) 3
Ensures applications are received in their entirety on
6 Checkpoint Restart endpoint without having to restart a deployment. 5
Reduces administrative tasks and costs.
Mobility Sub Total
2. Usability
Ability to add corporate logo and corporate syntax to
client agent. Ability to customize "look and feel" of
7 Brand Client Agent 1
endpoint. Increases user comfort level. Increases
usability.
Familiar Web based style user interface/Easy to use
8 User Interface/GUI 5
graphical user interface
9 End user Support built-in end user HELP support 2
Usability Sub Total
3. Entitlement
Assign applications to relevant users, groups and
machines. Ability to define targets according to
10 Intelligent Targeting 5
inventory results. Dynamically target based upon
current endpoint characteristics.
Ability to assign applications to users or groups who
Targeting based on user id
11 require the application. (Required effective database 5
or group association
management - AD & User Registration systems)
Ability to assign applications to machines that require
Targeting based on the application as part of the machine profile.
12 5
machine characteristics (Required effective database management - AD & User
Registration systems) (eg: CompaqSoftpaq)
Ability to target based upon existing users and groups.
13 LDAP/AD Compliant 4
(Identify ownership of workstation based on user)
Policies enforced at endpoint. Ability to make
applications available, install applications, delete
14 Subscription States 1
applications from a users machine. Ability to stage
application on endpoint for later installation.
Applications installed automatically upon inclusion in
target group. Once application assigned to a specific
profile, those users receive applications automatically.
15 Automated Entitlement 5
(on going process - automatic updates as part of the
membership to a group) (eg: Project, Access, Visio
license).
Define, distribute, and enforce application subscription
policies for entire user communities. Ability to assign
an Accounting application to anyone in accounting
16 Centrally Managed Policies 5
department. As members of the department change,
no need to change subscription policies. Able to direct
applications to users who require it.
Delegate ongoing administration of subscription
Delegated administrative policies to individual administrators. Delegate
17 3
roles application administration to those IT departments
responsible for a set of endpoints.
Entitlement Sub Total
4. Infrastructure
Ensures all endpoints receive latest updates regardless
18 Intelligent Pull Technology of the current state of the machine. Reliably deploy all 4
packages to endpoints on a scheduled basis.
Reliable, public protocol. Internet transmission
capabilities. Communicating over TCP/IP implies no
19 HTTP/HTTPS 2
changes in existing infrastructure. Ability to
communicate over secured protocol.
Enables communication through firewall port settings.
Configurable Network Ports
20 Configuration flexibility. Corporate standards may be 4
Used for Delivery
applied.
Supported Platforms
Existing hardware infrastructure supported. (Windows
21 Compliant with Company 5
2000 desktops/Server,
Standards
Paltform - Novell File & Existing hardware infrastructure supported. Ability to
22 3
Print distribute package directly to a Novell Share.
Update Change Management software using same
23 Self-Updating Client Agent 5
Change Management tool.
Management Service
24 Management Service Provider (outsourced). 2
Provider (outsourced).
Add functionality as business expands. Eliminate
25 Modular Architecture purchase of unnecessary functionality. Decreases total 5
cost of ownership.
Ability to support thousands of simultaneous endpoints
Large number of endpoints efficiently and cost effectively. (3000 to 5000
26 5
supported simultaneous endpoints with scalability to 30000 over
all population)
Page 1 ESD Feasibility Study Template

2. Desktop Management Evaluation Checklist
Product 1 Product 2
Weight Rating Rating
No Feature Description Rank Comments Rank Comments
1-5 0-3 1-3
Provides mechanism for serving many endpoints from
Fan Out Distribution
27 more than one server. Off loads processing from 5
(Repeaters)
primary server. Minimizes WAN traffic.
Efficiently support large numbers of endpoints.
Load Balancing Servers
28 Provides disaster recovery or backup mechanism. 5
(Mirrors)
Fault tolerant infrastructure.
Intelligently caches most frequently accessed
Caching Capabilities
29 applications giving the ability to serve information 3
(Proxies)
locally.
Ability to scale as business and implementation expand
30 Scale as needed without cumbersome architecture re-work. Enables 3
architectural flexibility.
Addressing user with
31 how do we know which one is production machine? 4
multiple machines
Client agent How do you configure client agent to access a local
32 configuration/Nearest server? How does the client auto configures for the 5
Server Auto Detection nearest available distribution point?
Infrastructure Sub Total
5. Reporting
Logs collected in open database. Ability to create
custom reports based on log entries and information
important to our organization. Ability to filter on error
33 Centralized Logging 4
codes or severity levels will reduce time to debug
failures and proactively fix problems. Increases quality
of service.
Reports on all system activity including traffic reports,
summary reports, resource consumption reports, and
34 Activity Reporting 5
application version reports by endpoint. Increases
environmental understanding.
Administrators may be assigned control over a certain
35 Role Based Administration set of tasks based on their responsibilities and skill 3
level.
36 Compliancy Reports Able to generate compliancy reports on demand 5
37 Installation stats able to generate installation statistics 5
Reporting Sub Total
6. Packaging
Ability to manage all operating system environments
through one solution. Tool automatically detects
proper package to distribute for endpoint operating
38 Package Segmentation 4
system or endpoint language. Ability to distribute multi-
language and multi-operating system (Windows 2000
desktops/servers ) packages.
Ability to package applications for distribution, shrink-
wrap/third party applications, custom or in-house
39 Packaging Flexibility applications, service packs, Java, Visual Basic, MSI or 2
file packages. Ensures any application may be
managed through the solution.
Provides patch and transform management. Controls
windows installer policies. Logs all MSI installer
40 MSI Compliant 2
actions. Adds value to MSI packaging. Makes MSI
management feasible. Import
Ensures package contents are exactly as desired
41 Package Editing 2
without having to repackage.
Delivery of applications and content to Windows
42 Windows Platform Support 5
platforms available.
Packaging Sub Total
7. Administration
All endpoints may be manipulated using a central
management console. Central administration over
Central Management
packages, entitlement, and remote endpoints.
Capabilities/Remote
43 Remotely administer endpoints. Install applications, 5
Administration of Endpoint
repair applications or uninstall applications from a
Agent
single management console. Reduces administrative
tasks. Reduces support/help desk calls.
Remote Administration of Ability to manage system from a single console. Ability
44 1
Server Components to run servers in a "lights out" environment.
Administration roles may be assigned using existing
45 LDAP/AD Compliant users and group associations saving administrative 4
time.
Allows simplistic job mimicking. Enables multiple
46 Command Line 1
deployment objects to be quickly created.
Easy-to-Use Graphical Consistent easy to use interface across product
47 4
Interface functionality. Online help available and extensive.
Manage all facets of user environment including
Comprehensive Endpoint operating system patches, service packs, registry
48 2
Management entries, .ini files, configuration files, environment
variables, and applications.
Multiple Installation Configurable user interaction. May distribute packages
49 4
Methods in silent, semi-silent or fully interactive mode.
Deliver applications to users who are authorized to use
the application by sampling publishing the application.
50 Publish and Subscribe Changes to applications are automatically downloaded 4
to users of the application. Ensures corporate desktop
standards are followed.
Endpoints automatically check-in to receive latest
Automatic Scheduled
51 updates. No end user or administrative intervention 4
Updates
required. (Client agent)
Users able to pull applications on demand from an
52 On Demand Installation easy to use web interface. Authorization based upon 4
user characteristics.
Once a deployment is defined; run the deployment
53 Easily Repeat Deployments according to schedule with no manual intervention. (re- 2
install)
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3. Desktop Management Evaluation Checklist
Product 1 Product 2
Weight Rating Rating
No Feature Description Rank Comments Rank Comments
1-5 0-3 1-3
Determines if sufficient resources available or package
54 Package Prerequisites 2
dependencies exist on target before installation.
Remove superfluous applications on endpoints.either
55 Uninstall Applications installed by product or external. Ability to manage 2
application lifecycle.
56 Pre-Install Scripting ability to assess and modify machine state 2
Power to manage processing that must occur after a
57 Post-Install Scripting 2
task is performed such as clean-up procedures.
If a problem exists with a deployment, rollback
capability increases quality of service and decreases
58 Rollback 2
administrative costs. (Vendor limitations apply) (Native
& non-native)
Ensures applications are intact on endpoints.
Increases endpoint availability. Decreases time to
59 Verify/Repair 2
diagnose and fix problems. Reduces help desk calls.
(vendor limitations apply)
Administration Sub Total
8. Security
60 Encryption Security Requirements. Administrative Security. 5
Security Sub Total
9. Implementation & Support
Reliable, helpful support team. Flexible support
61 Support Procedures 3
packages offered.
Involvement of Professional Services may decrease
Professional Services
62 time to market for distribution product. Ensures best 3
Available
practices followed during implementation.
Implementation & Ability to easily implement the solution in a desirable
63 3
methodology Timeframe and accomplishable time frame. 3 to 6 months
Ensures all staff are knowledgeable and comfortable
64 Comprehensive Training performing daily tasks. Decrease time to market. 3
Decreases total cost of ownership.
65 On-going support provide on-going support 3
Implementation & Support
Sub Total
10. Inventory
Based on latest standards. All available machine
66 WMI Compliant information collected. (if BIOS info is blank (like make 5
or serial number), how is the info collected?)
Comprehensive understanding of owned hardware
Hardware Information assets. Enables companies to proactively upgrade or
67 5
Gathered replace hardware. Identifies hardware eligible for lease
renewal.
Essential to understanding machine environment.
Provides ability to look at 'snap shot' of the machine
Software Information
68 characteristics. Reports information used for license 5
Gathered
compliance. Physical Software inventory, registry
check or Add Remore programs
Open published database schema allows for
69 Open Database as Target customized reporting. Inventory information is 5
available to anyone having database access.
Easily generate information on machines within your
Reporting from Inventory
70 domain. Ability to integrate information with asset 4
Database Available
management system.
Initial scan accomplished in less than two minutes;
subsequent scans performed in seconds. Does not
Non-Intrusive Inventory
71 interfere with machine processing. Transparent to end 5
Scan
user. Store and forward or connection dependent.
Subsequent scans only sends delta
Accommodates collection of custom IT asset
information. Ability to extend inventory information
72 Customizable 3
collected to include information important to
organization.
Schedule Inventory
73 Ability to schedule inventory collection on demand 4
Collection
Inventory Sub Total
11. Pricing
SW Pricing Structure
74 Licence for 20,000 users + 1 year maintenance +
(License + Maintenance)
Page 3 ESD Feasibility Study Template