managing remote teams

1Dell World User Forum

UFIL512: Managing Remote Teams

Mark Weathersbee, Senior TrainerErik Ragan, Senior Trainer

Dell WorldUser Forum


Agenda

• Getting Started

• Inventory

• Deployment

• Targeting

• Tools for the job

• Troubleshooting

• Round-Table Discussion

3 Dell World User Forum

Getting Started


Remote Site Management - No Problem!

Right?


Some Common IssuesBandwidth• Lots of traffic, itty-bitty pipe

Time Zones• Wait, what time is it there?

Costs• Shipping devices for repair vs on-

site• Using K2 RSA deploy images

locally instead of shipping


Multiple Time Zones – But I need To Sleep!

• Remote Sites spread across the globe, bring a whole new set of potential problems to consider!

• Cost of WAN Links – especially if large pipes are required.

• How to manage data transfers to different global locations.

• Do we need any additional hardware for RSA and Replication Shares?


More Site To Manage > But Not More IT Staff!

• How can we handle all this extra work with the same IT Resources?

• How can we get the most out of our current resources (including Infrastructure & Hardware) and make things easier?

Automate


Inventory

Dell World User Forum

Demo: Inventory and Notifications


Business Processes

• What do we have, and where is it?

• How do we track it?

• How to “manage” it?

• Does it need to be update or replace?

• How to update it?

• What do we do when it breaks?

Big Picture Ideas


Deployment “Status”

• Fewer Purchases: If we already have a spare on-hand (and we can find it!), then we don’t have to buy one.

• Faster Fulfillments: Again, if we already have a spare, we don’t have to wait for purchase approvals and shipment.

• Fewer Lingering Problem-Assets: By keeping track of maintenance cycles/schedules, and warranty/lease dates, we know when faulty/old assets need to be replaced.

• End-of-life Finances: Reselling or donating old assets can sure help the bottom-line.

What

• Centralized Asset Inventory & Management (not just IT, either)• Regular Inventory & Maintenance Schedules• Streamlining Related Business Processes (not just IT, either)• Process Ownership

How


Deployment


Managing the Deployment “Process”

Simple, but

Repetitive

Requests

• Password Reset• Purchasing• Auditing• Hardware Upgrades• Software Upgrades• Equipment Requests (Check-Ins/Outs)

• Employee New Hire• Employee Termination• Server Deployment• Workstation Deployment• Change Management• IT Projects

Complex, Multi-Stage

Workflows


Big Picture in IT

New Hire

HR FacilitiesIT

Telecom

Assign

Device

Assign DID

Equipment Request

Computer Assignmen

t

Computer Image

Deploy

Printers

PowerSettings

Patching

Applications

Accounts

Permissions

EMAIL

Help Desk

AD


Big Picture Organization-wide

HR FacilitiesIT

Accounts

Permissions

EMAIL

Help Desk

AD

Equipment Request

Computer Assignmen

t

Computer Image

Deploy

Printers

PowerSettings

Patching

Applications

Telecom

Assign

Device

Assign DIDPayroll

ESPP

Medical

Dental

Data

Hire Date

Name

Benefits

Manager

Key Access

Workspace

Location

Desk/Chair

New Hire


Demo: Service Desk Process


Targeting


How do the KACE Appliances Handle Remote Locations?

The answer is pretty simple, it’s called….

Remote Site Appliances

AndReplication Shares


Targeting Machines – Replication Share

What

• One machine at remote site acts as Replication Machine• Replication Machine can host share or pass-through to another.• Remote Clients download from there, NOT the K1000

• Benefits:o Significantly reduced workload on WANo Significantly reduced workload on K1000

K1000 Downloads:

• Script Dependencies• Software• Agent Updates• Patches• Dell Updates

How

Replication Share Location

\\share_host\share_name

Through Replication Machine


Targeting Machines – Replication Share

How it works…


Targeting Machines – Remote Site Appliance

RSA

• Free OVF Virtual Machine

• Reduces WAN Traffic

• Centrally Managed from K2000

• Customize Synchronization

• Deployments in non-PXE, DMZ, and/or non-Network Scenarios

• Install KBE and System Image using Native Tools

USB

• System Image includes all Pre/Mid/Post Tasks

• WIM for smaller System Image

• Can be modified to include Driver Feed


Targeting Machines – Remote Site Appliance

Setting Up

VMWare Support:• VMWare Server/Workstation/ESXi for Best Performance• VMWare Player is Free!• Minimum Requirements: 2 GB RAM / 250 GB HDD / 2 GHz

ProcessorConfiguration:• DNS & DHCP• Link with K2000• Select What Objects to Synchronize and When• Bandwidth Throttle

DHCP Settings• Option 66: RSA IP• Option 67: k2000.0

Firewall Settings• Port 22 (SSH –

synching)• Ports 80 / 440 (webUI)

Network Settings

• Selective Synching KBEs Scripted Installs &

Images User States Associated Items - Auto

Drivers/Driver Feed Preinstallation Tasks Postinstallation Tasks


Demo: Replication Share and RSA


Targeting Machines – Distribution & Scripting

What Matters

• Do we need different software applications in different locales?

• What about Templates, Fonts, etc.?

• What about controlling for runtimes in different Time Zones?

• Are we licensed for multiple locations?

Distribution• Labels: IP / Name Custom Inventory LDAP:

OU Membership User Attributes Machine Attributes

How We Implemen

t

Scripting• Labels, again• Verify Logic: Application Version Registry Information File-related Information Custom Inventory


Targeting Machines - Patching

Replication Shares

Wait a minute, one more word about Replication Shares!• Selection of Operating Systems:

If we don’t have a particular OS “flavor” at that particular remote office, then perhaps we don’t need to replicate patches for it. What are the considerations? Travelling Machines Service Packs

•Time ZoneWhat Else Matters

How We Implement:• Set Patch Schedule to run at

AGENT TIME-ZONE


Tools for the job


User Console Library

• Self service portal for software

• Users select what and when to install

• No scheduling on your part

• No concern over bandwidth for you either


Demo: User Console Library


Machine actions can be used to make life simpler

• Use machine actions to save you time and

clicks to remote into a system

• They are for more than just RDP

• Can use \C$


Demo: Machine Actions


Troubleshooting


Troubleshooting Remote Machines

Connection Status

Machine Actions

The K1000 Agent Message Protocol:• That little green or red icon:

This represents a “heart-beat” of sorts. Every minute a function agent will check connectivity with the K1000 over the AMP Port: Port Number 52230 K1000 Web Server Name (DNS/IP)

Interacting with the Machine:• Remote Control (RDP, VNC, BOMGAR, etc.)• Connectivity (Ping, Putty, Telnet, etc.)• Rebooting• Computer Management (Event Viewer, Services, etc.)


Troubleshooting Remote Machines, cont’d

Hardware

K2000Or

RSA

Either Built-In or Add-On:• IP-KVM (Network-Enabled Keyboard, Video, Mouse)• Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC)• Serial-Port Remote Access

PXE or USB Boot:• KBE Recovery Console (Windows PE)

Native Tools Portable Apps

• Modified KBE (3rd-Party OS) BartPE Ultimate Boot CD


Round-Table Discussion

Topics for discussion:

• Completely remote machines? Not just remote office, but teleworkers. Let’s discuss.


Thank you.


KACE Support Portal Migrating to Dell Software Support Portal

• Starting in November, all KACE Support Portal material will be migrated to the Dell Software Support Portal

• All service requests will be submitted online or by phone

• Same great content– Knowledge base articles– Video tutorials– Product documentation– JumpStart training

• Check out the Support Portal Getting Started videos

https://support.software.dell.com/create-service-request

managing remote teams

Software

dell world user forum

dell world user forum

dell world user forum

deployment process simple

big picture ideas

infrastructure hardware

additional hardware

remote sites