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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 16:27:38 +0000
From: Novell list
Subject: Novell announces Z.E.N.works - Directory-Enabled Desktop Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 1998


Novell Announces Z.E.N.works: First Directory-Enabled Desktop Management
Tool

Z.E.N.works Enhances End-user Productivity and Reduces Costs While
Increasing the Total Value of the Networked PC

PROVO, Utah =AF February 17, 1998 =AF Novell*, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) today
announced Z.E.N.works* (Zero Effort Networks for users), the first
directory services-based desktop management tool that reduces the cost of
owning networked PCs and makes using networks easier. Z.E.N.works
leverages Novell's industry-leading NDS* (Novell Directory Services*)
functionality to make Windows-based desktops easier to use and manage
without sacrificing power or flexibility.

Novell's Z.E.N.works provides policy-enabled software distribution,
desktop management and workstation maintenance. It removes barriers to
user productivity and allows the experts, network administrators, to
leverage NDS to ensure that users can focus on their business, not their
PC. With automated application delivery and repair, desktops customized
for users needs and easy problem resolution, Z.E.N.works gives users all
the power of the PC without the responsibility for making it work.

"Z.E.N.works is a major step toward the manageability and convenience
people want from an NC (network computer) environment, without replacing
their current PC and software investment," said Michael Simpson, director
of marketing at Novell, Inc. "You could say we 'NC your PC' while also
laying the groundwork with directory infrastructure for integrating the
thin clients of the future."  Creating a Digital Persona User productivity
is often slowed when software applications are unavailable, printer or
remote access is denied, or when technical assistance is delayed. NDS
addresses these problems by creating a "digital persona" or digital user
profile that includes workstation and network policies giving each user
access to the tools and information they need in their digital world.
Z.E.N.works further leverages the digital persona by allowing network
users to roam from one PC to another while maintaining their familiar
interface and always having the network resources they require readily
available. Preferences such as menu choices, desktop configuration and
printer drivers are associated with each individual's unique user profile
rather than with specific workstations. Furthermore, network managers can
easily distribute software as well as securely diagnose and solve all
software-related problems without physically visiting each networked
computer or disrupting users.

"With users at 40 different locations worldwide and an IT staff at only
four or five of those locations, the remote control and self-healing apps
features of Z.E.N.works are going to be very important to us," said Scott
Webster, network analyst, Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. "And since
we are able to distribute applications throughout the network with
Novell's Replication Services, Z.E.N.works will also let users who login
from multiple locations access their particular, personalized applications
from the nearest server. This means users get the applications they need
quickly and easily without causing excessive WAN traffic."

Innovative Desktop Management via NDS
Z.E.N.works makes networks easier to use and manage in three important
areas:

Application management and distribution

Users will no longer have to wait for network managers to go from desktop
to desktop updating or installing new software. Instead, the application
icon automatically appears on the desktop and users simply launch the new
program. Additionally, since the directory understands an individual's
unique profile, Z.E.N.works allows applications to be "mass-personalized"
or configured for each individual user to include information such as SMTP
e-mail addresses or other preferences.

Z.E.N.works is not only year 2000-compliant itself but is also a
functional tool that can simplify the deployment of other vendors' year
2000 patches and updates. Additionally, Z.E.N.works offers a self-healing
applications feature. Since dependencies for running an application are
stored in NDS, if a user inadvertently deletes a critical file for running
an application, Z.E.N.works determines the problem, fixes it immediately
and the application is launched without costly user downtime.

Desktop management

Users maintain their "digital persona" even when connecting from another
location or from another user's computer. Network managers are able to
keep up to date with workstation hardware inventory and can view and
configure any PC in the network (e.g., OS, memory, CPU, display settings,
devices running, I/O ports in use, etc.), regardless of where it is
located, since the information is stored in NDS.

An interface into NDS is also available for integration with any
ODBC-compliant application or reporting tool so managers can generate
various types of reports on information such as the number of PCs with 32
meg of RAM. Additionally, dynamic policies and procedures are
automatically established and stored in NDS, making them easier to deploy
and manage.

Desktop maintenance

Users no longer have to answer technical questions about user profile or
hardware configuration to obtain help desk support. When a problem does
occur, the user simply clicks on the Help Request icon and can call or
automatically e-mail the appropriate support person. Workstation
configuration is automatically available on the user's screen or is
included in the e-mail along with relevant error messages, making
resolution easy and quick. Network managers can also remotely troubleshoot
the problem through a secure, easy-to-navigate remote control solution
that does not get bogged down by network traffic.

Z.E.N.works also integrates with and supports other desktop management
initiatives such as Microsoft's ZAW (Zero Administration for Windows) and
ZAK (Zero Administration Kit), Intel's Wired for Management, DMTF
standards and, in the future, network computer solutions from Oracle and
Sun.

Pricing and availability

Z.E.N.works is currently in a closed beta and will be in open beta by
March 16. A CD-ROM of the open beta can be ordered from the World Wide Web
at www.novell.com/products/nds/zenworks for US $25. The open beta will
also be available for download from that same web site as of the week of
March 16. Pricing for ordering the beta from outside the United States can
be determined by calling a local Novell sales office.

Z.E.N.works will ship through Novell's channel in the second quarter of
1998. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) for the product is
U.S. $39 per node.

Z.E.N.works will be free to ManageWise customers who have maintenance
contracts with Novell. In addition, a Z.E.N.works Starter Pack will be
available, free of charge for all NDS users, later this year. The Starter
Pack includes all functionality currently available in Novell's
Application Launcher (NAL) and Workstation Manager products. The full
Z.E.N.works functionality must be purchased separately. Z.E.N.works
supports users running Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT operating
systems. NDS is currently available on NetWare 4.x, UNIX and Windows NT
platforms.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 12:02:07 +0200
From: Novell list
Subject: ZEN Works

This is a notice regarding the availability of the Open Beta for ZEN
Works.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Novell's Z.E.N.works Now Available in Open Beta

Desktop Management Tool Makes Using PCs Easier and Reduces Network Costs

What: Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) today announced the open beta
availability of Z.E.N.works (Zero Effort Networks for users), the first
directory-services based desktop management tool.  Z.E.N.works makes
using Windows-based desktops easier for users and reduces the cost of
owning networked PCs.

Z.E.N.works provides software management and distribution, as well as
desktop management and maintenance capabilities.  By integrating
Novell's industry-leading NDS (Novell Directory Services), information
about the network and its users, such as what applications a user
requires, desktop and configuration preferences and access rights to a
computer are all stored in the directory.  Users experience productivity
increase with Windows-based desktops that are more reliable, easier
network application access and quicker IS response.  Network
administrators spend less time troubleshooting because users require
less support.

When:The open beta release of Z.E.N.works is available now. The final
version of Z.E.N.works will ship in Q2 1998 for $39 per node.

Where:The beta can be downloaded from the World Wide Web at
www.novell.com/products/nds/zenworks.

In addition, for a small fee, customers may order CD-ROM of the beta by
calling one of the following number:
Orders from the Unite States and Canada: 1 800 395-7135
Orders from all other countries see:
www.novell.com/products/nds/zenworks.

The fee for obtaining the beta CD-ROM is as follows:
Orders from the United States and Canada: $20 (US currency)
Orders from all other countries: $25 (US currency)

Other:Founded in 1983, Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) is the world's leading
provider of network software. The company offers a wide range of network
solutions for distributed network, Internet, intranet and small business
markets. Novell education and technical support programs are the most
comprehensive in the network computing industry.  Information about
Novell's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the
World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 20:20:08 +0100
From: Richan Postmus <Richan.Postmus@HSIJ.NL>
Subject: Re: ZEN Works

>Has anyone used the NAL2.5 section of ZEN works...we're still
>waiting for it to come out in public beta!  Is it vastly improved?
>We're not going for the full ZEN package just the NAL stuff.

We had the luck to get a beta of ZEN before it was made public. I
tested the beta version in our test lab and was realy impressed.
Novell is extending the NDS with ZEN. NAL 2.5 works great. In Nal 2.5
you can give an applications rights on certain directories. Not the
user get rights but an application. An other way of thinking.

Nal 2.5 is vastly improved. Its faster and has more posibilities.

Don't install ZEN on your production environment!!

I would go for the full ZEN package. It realy is a good product.

---------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 01:00:46 +0000
From: Peter Tji <nightfly@XS4ALL.NL>
Subject: Re: ZEN Works

>>We had the luck to get a beta of ZEN before it was made public. I
>>tested the beta version in our test lab and was realy impressed.
>>Novell is extending the NDS with ZEN. NAL 2.5 works great. In Nal 2.5
>>you can give an applications rights on certain directories. Not the
>>user get rights but an application. An other way of thinking.
>>
>>Nal 2.5 is vastly improved. Its faster and has more posibilities.
>>
>>Don't install ZEN on your production environment!!

I am testing the beta2 version of Zen Works. Although I think this
product has some really good features I would like to make the
following remarks:

1. when using the NT 4.20 beta client, which seems to be mandatory
when using Zen Works, if you use roaming profiles you allways get a
warning that the local profile is newer than the roaming profile
twice, even for users who login for the first time on a NT
workstation. Could someone confirm this?

2. finally NAL supports multifoldering. There doesn't seem to be an
option though to make only these application folders appear in the
start menu. You also get entries in the start menu like you did in
NAL 2.0x. This is quite confusing.

3. there seems to be no report facility for the inventory

4. there seems to be no query possibility for the inventory data. In
traditional management suites (landeskmanager, sms, zac) query
results can act like input for your software distribution

5. licensing is still not included

6. remote management is quite slow compared to competitive products

7. Quite an impact on the tree if you would use inventory in a
large site, as all your workstation objects are stored in the NDS.

---------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 09:34:07 -0600
From: "Jeffrey C. Ollie" <jcollie@DMACC.CC.IA.US>
Subject: Re: ZEN Works

>I am testing the beta2 version of Zen Works. Although I think this
>product has some really good features I would like to make the
>following remarks:
>
>1. when using the NT 4.20 beta client, which seems to be mandatory
>when using Zen Works, if you use roaming profiles you allways get a
>warning that the local profile is newer than the roaming profile
>twice, even for users who login for the first time on a NT
>workstation. Could someone confirm this?

Yes, I see this as well.  It also appears as if the profile isn't being
copied back to the server all of the time.

>2. finally NAL supports multifoldering. There doesn't seem to be an
>option though to make only these application folders appear in the
>start menu. You also get entries in the start menu like you did in
>NAL 2.0x. This is quite confusing.

I haven't tried this so I have no comment.

>3. there seems to be no report facility for the inventory
>
>4. there seems to be no query possibility for the inventory data. In
>traditional management suites (landeskmanager, sms, zac) query
>results can act like input for your software distribution

What about the NDS ODBC drivers?  I've never used them myself so I can't
say specifically if this would work.

>5. licensing is still not included

Yes, this is unfortunate, but then this is a beta.  Perhaps that will be
included with the next beta or the release version?

>6. remote management is quite slow compared to competitive products

I've only done a few trials of remote management software (I've tried
Timbuktu and SMS) and it didn't seem any slower.  It wasn't a speed demon
either, but I found it adequate to play a couple of games of FreeCell.  Of
course, this was between a 233Mhz Pentium II with 64MB RAM and a 200Mhz
Pentium Pro with 64MB RAM.

>7. Quite an impact on the tree if you would use inventory in a
>large site, as all your workstation objects are stored in the NDS.

I don't know that this would be as big an impact as you think as long
as the workstation objects aren't concentrated in one container/partition.
Remember that a user's NDS object gets updated *every* time someone logs
in or out.  The default schedule is to run the inventory once a night so
there ought not to be a large impact.  The default schedule will also
scatter updates randomly throughout the night.

>>>We had the luck to get a beta of ZEN before it was made public. I
>>>tested the beta version in our test lab and was realy impressed.
>>>Novell is extending the NDS with ZEN. NAL 2.5 works great. In Nal 2.5
>>>you can give an applications rights on certain directories. Not the
>>>user get rights but an application. An other way of thinking.
>>>
>>>Nal 2.5 is vastly improved. Its faster and has more posibilities.
>>>
>>>Don't install ZEN on your production environment!!
>>
>>Why not? Anything specific or is it just generaly buggy? I would really
>>like to get it in soon. I was hoping the Beta2 would be stable enough
>>to put in.

------------------------------

