HP CLIENT MANAGER 6.
Notice HP Client Manager Copyright © 2003-2005 Altiris Inc. All rights reserved. Product Version: 6.1 Document Date: June 29, 2005 Bootworks U.S. Patent No. 5,764,593. RapiDeploy U.S. Patent No. 6,144,992. Recovery Solution U.S. Patent No. 5,778,395, 5,907,672, 4701745, 5016009, 5146221, 5144425, 5463390, 5506580, 5532694, GB 2172127, B 904359, 3606869. Other patents pending.
Contents HP Client Product Guide Manager 6.1 Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 1: HP Client Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Features and Benefits ............................................................... 4 Supported HP Computers ............................................
Contents Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Gathering and Viewing Client Computer Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gathering HP Client Inventory .................................................... Gathering and Viewing Non-HP Client Computer Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing HP Inventory Data . . . . .
Chapter 1: HP Client Manager HP Client Manager (HPCM) from Altiris is specifically designed for HP computers to leverage HP’s manageability technology. HPCM offers greater capabilities and enhanced features to efficiently manage HP and Compaq desktops, workstations, and notebook computers. For a complete list of supported computers, go to “Supported HP Computers” on page 6.
Chapter 1: HP Client Manager Features and Benefits Features and Benefits HP Client Manager provides centralized hardware management of client computers from a Web browser. Key features and benefits include: Get information on your computers • Hardware inventory — Capture detailed information about the processors, hard drives, memory, BIOS, and more on your HP client computers. Gather basic information for your nonHP client computers.
Chapter 1: HP Client Manager Supported HP Computers Supported HP Computers The following is a list of HP commercial computers that have been tested and are supported by HPCM 6.1. Additionally, the computers must be running one of the supported operating systems, see “Supported Operating Systems” on page 7.
Chapter 1: HP Client Manager Discontinued HP Computer Support Supported Operating Systems Supported Operating Systems Windows XP Professional Windows 2000 Professional Discontinued HP Computer Support Support has been retired for the following list of HP client systems.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager HP Client Manager (HPCM) is an IT management solution that plugs in to the Altiris Notification Server, an Altiris infrastructure that provides security, reporting, and policy definition services, and includes the Altiris Console for remote management from a web browser. To install HPCM, install the Notification Server, deploy the Altiris Agent to each managed HP computer device, and enable the HPCM solution.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Installing HPCM Installing HPCM To install and configure HPCM in your environment, first verify hardware and software requirements on your Windows server and the supported clients. Then install Notification Server and HPCM, deploy the Altiris Agent to each client computer, and verify client/server communication.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Install Server Software New users will enjoy the ease-of-use and intuitive features for getting up and started. Previous users updating to the new Altiris Console will see significant updates and a new task-based user interface with increased response and functionality. These major updates will require the installation of Microsoft .NET services, updated MDAC connectivity, increased database requirements, and other design considerations.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Install Server Software Microsoft SQL Server for production use, although MSDE can be downloaded and used for evaluation of the product. For additional information about the limitations of MSDE 2000, see http:/ /www.microsoft.com/sql/msde/default.asp Prerequisite Software Database Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3 (recommended) or Microsoft Desktop Engine 2000 (MSDE).
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Install Server Software Installing Notification Server with the Install Wizard If all required software and services are installed, then InstallHelper will automatically download and run the Notification Server installation wizard. Accept licensing terms and follow all prompts provided in the installation wizard to set up Notification Server. For Setup Type, select the Complete option for evaluation or testing purposes.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Install Server Software Entering e-mail settings is optional. Notification Server generates e-mail notifications for events generated from Notification Server. For example, HPCM includes a policy to notify the IT administrator if a hard disk fails. The administrator address entered in this field will receive the e-mail if this event occurs. Note: The e-mail feature is not essential for standard HPCM features.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager 3 Install Server Software The SQL Database Settings page allows you identify and enter authentication credentials for the Notification Database used by Notification Server to store and access HPCM data. MSDE 2000 installations: If you are evaluating HPCM using MSDE 2000, just click Next to accept the default values. This will identify MSDE 2000 as the local instance of SQL Server and create an Altiris database automatically.
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager Install Server Software Installing HP Client Manager from the Altiris Console After installing Notification Server, click the Install Altiris Solutions from the Solution Center link on the Getting Started tab of the Altiris Console. The Solution Center page will open with a list of Available Solutions. Click the appropriate Solutions, Suites, or Segments button, or sort solutions categorized by operating system (OS).
Chapter 2: Installing HP Client Manager After Installation inventory data, status information, custom reports, collections, and policies in your Notification Server system. By backing up your Notification Database and later identifying it when installing Notification Server 6.0, you can ensure that all information is retained during this upgrade process. Steps required for Notification Server 6.0 and HPCM 6.0 upgrade 1 Open Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel in your Windows operating system.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager This section will help you become familiar with HP Client Manager and introduce you to the tasks to manage HP client computers. Four mandatory steps must be completed before you start managing your computers. For information about these tasks, see Getting Started Tasks (page 21) .
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager HP Client Manager QuickStart HP Client Manager QuickStart After installing Notification Server and HPCM, the HPCM QuickStart page will open. The QuickStart provides links to perform basic Getting Started tasks. Note: These configuration tasks can also be performed from the Getting Started tab on the Altiris Console. Four mandatory steps must be completed before you start managing your computers.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager 4 Click Go to the Quick Start Manager. 5 Click HP Client Manager QuickStart. Terminology From the Notification Server Computer 1 From the Notification Server computer, do one of the following: • Click Start > Programs > Altiris > Quick Starts > HP Client Manager • To open the Altiris Console, click Start > Programs > Altiris > Altiris Console, then click the Tasks tab > HP Client Manager QuickStart.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Altiris Console Overview the state of a resource in the database) or based on incoming data that triggers an immediate evaluation. Policies are used to determine when an action should be instigated, including who or what should be notified of the results. Policies allow you to take automated actions on the data that is returned by a database query. The automated actions that can be tracked are defined by event handlers.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks From a Client Computer 1 Log on with a user account that has administrator privileges to access the Notification Server computer. 2 Open the web browser. 3 Enter the URL, http:///Altiris/NS/Console.aspx. From the Notification Server computer • Click Start > Programs > Altiris > Altiris Console.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks Deploy the Altiris Agent After discovering client computers on your network, you can now filter and select client computers to receive the Altiris Agent. This process allows you to automatically install the Altiris Agent on Windows 2000 and XP computers. Additionally, you must have Administration rights to deploy the Altiris Agent.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks Enable HP Client Manager To enable HPCM 1 Return to the HPCM QuickStart page and click Enable HP Client Manager. 2 Click Enable HP Client Manager. This will update the Altiris Agent to communicate with HPCM and make it available to run selected management tasks. After selecting this option, the page will expand to allow you to select and enable specific client management tasks.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks Automated Tasks The following HP Client Manager tasks are performed automatically by default. • Discover HP Computer Systems (page 23) • Install the HP Client Manager Agent (page 24) • Upgrade the HP Client Manager Agent (page 24) Discover HP Computer Systems After the Altiris Agent is installed, by default the Discover HP Computers policy will automatically run on all client computers in the All Windows Computers collection.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks To view HP client computers with the 6.1 version of the HP Client Manager Agent installed 1 From the Altiris Console, click on the Configuration tab view. 2 In the treeview pane, navigate to Configuration > Solution Settings > Platform Administration > HP Client Manager > Client Agent Rollout. 3 Click All HP Computers with HP Client Manager Agent installed. This will display a list of all computers with the 6.
Chapter 3: Getting Started with HP Client Manager Getting Started Tasks it only sends the differences in inventory from the last time it was sent. For information on configuring client settings, see the Altiris Notification Server Help. For information on HP Client Manager inventory data, see “Gathering and Viewing Client Computer Inventory” on page 27. To view HPCM managed computer reports 1 2 From the Altiris Console, click on the Reports tab view.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager This section explains the tasks you can do with HP Client Manager to manage HP client computers. Before performing the following tasks, make sure you have completed the Getting Started tasks listed in “Getting Started with HP Client Manager” on page 17.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager 3 Gathering and Viewing Client Computer Inventory The Applies to collections field is the collection of computers that will receive the policy. To change or add another collection, click the collection link. • The Collection Selector window displays a list of collections and systems. Select the check box next to any of the HP collections or systems, and then click OK. 4 By default, Scheduled is already checked.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Updating HP Tools Using HP Client Inventory Reports HP Client Manager comes with a number of standard reports to provide you detailed inventory information for all client computers that are defined in the database. To Run Inventory Reports 1 2 Do one of the following: • From the HP Client Manager Quick Start, click View HP client Inventory Reports. • From the Altiris Console, Client Manager. click the Reports tab.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager 5 Using HP Instant Support Health Scan Click Update. The files are downloaded from the HP Web site. 6 When the download is complete, click Close. The date and time of the last download is shown in the tools list. Using HP Instant Support Health Scan HP Client Manager is now integrated with HP Instant Support Health Scan, which is a tool that will analyze your computer to check its overall health status.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Using HP Instant Support Health Scan Use HP Instant Support Health Scan to Manage SoftPaqs Complete the following steps for using HP Instant Support Health Scan to manage SoftPaqs: 1. Configure the SoftPaq Filestore (page 31) 2. Run the HP Instant Support Health Scan to identify available SoftPaqs. (page 31) 3. Select and download SoftPaqs (page 31) 4. Enable SoftPaq delivery policies (page 31) 1.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager 3 Managing BIOS and Drivers SoftPaqs Click one of the reports in the list. Note: You can also right-click on any report and view other report options. 4 Select one of the methods for running the report. For more information on reports, click the help icon.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Managing BIOS and Drivers SoftPaqs SoftPaq Filestore Configuration and Update The SoftPaq Filestore is an allocated storage area where you can store and update SoftPaq files that you download from the HP Web site. See “Downloading and Storing SoftPaqs” on page 34 for more details. Filestore Configuration: You can create a Filestore on the Notification Server computer or any other server on the network.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Managing BIOS and Drivers SoftPaqs Manually Managing SoftPaqs You can manually download SoftPaqs to your Filestore and then use the SoftPaq Delivery Wizard to create packages and policies to deploy SoftPaqs to client computers. Scenario The diagram below shows the process of deploying a new audio driver SoftPaq to HP client computers. The audio driver is downloaded from the HP Web site to the local server.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Managing BIOS and Drivers SoftPaqs discovered the HP client computers on the network and deployed the HP Client Manager Agent. To view a collection of computers with the agent installed, see “Identifying HP Client Manager Supported Computers” on page 25. After you complete both these requirements, you can begin to use the SoftPaq Delivery Wizard.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager • Managing BIOS and Drivers SoftPaqs Reenter a Policy name and Description if needed, and then click OK. 10 Change the SoftPaq Package and Policy: After you complete the SoftPaq Delivery Wizard, a package and policy are created and displayed in the Altiris Console. Every SoftPaq package has a corresponding policy and both have that same name that was defined during the wizard.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Managing BIOS Settings Managing BIOS Settings You can manage the BIOS and security settings for a client computers by creating a package and policy that will deploy new settings to client computers.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager • 6 Managing BIOS Settings The name of the collection you selected has replaced the Select a Collection link at the top of the page. If the collection name displayed is not correct, click the collection name and reselect the collection you want. Click Next. Current Password (4 of 11): If you have BIOS setup protection, enter the current BIOS ‘Setup password so that the BIOS settings will be accepted at client computers, and then click Next.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager • Managing BIOS Settings Double-click any of the properties listed on the page to re-enter the settings. The summary page will update the settings with the new values you entered, and then click OK. A software package and policy are created in the HP BIOS Administration Packages and Tasks folders.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Managing BIOS Settings c Click on the package or policy you want to change. d Change the package or policy information as needed, and then click Apply. HP BIOS Advanced Administration Wizard To Run the BIOS Advanced Administration Wizard 1 Do one of the following; • From the HP Client Manager Quick Start, click Change Client BIOS Advanced Settings. • From the Altiris Console, click the Tasks tab.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager 7 Using Health Monitoring and Alerts HP BIOS Report Summary (3 of 3): Do the following: a Enter a unique name for this report. b Enter a description of the report. c Choose to join multiple BIOS settings with OR or AND. d To create the report, click Apply. The report is created in the HP BIOS Settings reports folder. To view custom HP BIOS reports 1 From the Altiris Console, click the Reports tab.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Using Health Monitoring and Alerts You can perform the following tasks to configure health monitoring and alerts.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Using Health Monitoring and Alerts To configure HP Client Local Alerts 1 Do one of the following; • From the HP Client Manager Quick Start, click Configure Client Local Alerts Settings. • From the Altiris Console, click the Configuration tab. Click Solution Settings > Platform Administration > HP Client Manager > HP Client Local Alerts Policy. 2 By default, the policy is set to Enable. Clear the check box if you do not want to policy to run.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Using HP Instant Support Diagnostics HP Health Monitor Reports You can run, view, or schedule any of the HP Health Monitor reports, which can help you identify issues on client computers. The table below is a list of Health reports that come with HPCM. To Run Health Monitor Reports 1 2 Do one of the following; • From the HP Client Manager Quick Start, click View Hardware Health Alerts. • From the Altiris Console, click Manager > HP Health Monitor. the Reports tab.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Using HP Instant Support Diagnostics Installing HP Instant Support Diagnostics on Client Computers The HP Instant Support Diagnostics Install policy will, by default, automatically install HP Instant Support Diagnostics tools on all HP client computers with the HP Client Manager Agent installed. To view or modify the HP Instant Support Diagnostics Install policy 1 From the Altiris Console, click on the Configuration tab view.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Other Tasks 4 By default, Scheduled is already checked. Select the Schedule check box to set up the policy to run based on the values you set. 5 Click the link next to the Schedule check box, the Schedule Editor dialog displays. 6 • Edit the Schedule Task values as needed. • Click OK. Click Apply. HP Instant Support Diagnostics Reports HP Client Manager lets you gather Instant Support Diagnostic information from managed HP client computers.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Other Tasks To Change the Altiris Agent Settings 1 Do one of the following; • From the HP Client Manager Quick Start, Altiris Agent Settings. • From the Altiris Console, click the Configuration tab. Click Altiris Agent > Altiris Agent Configuration > All Desktop computers (excluding ‘Package Servers’). click General Admin Tasks and then click Configure 2 Review and change the settings for the General and Interaction tabs.
Chapter 4: Using HP Client Manager Integrating with other System Management Products Integrating with other System Management Products The following information describes how HPCM integrates with other related Altiris products. Altiris Connector for HP Systems Insight Manager The Altiris Connector for HP Systems Insight Manager allows IT professionals to consolidate deployment and management of HP clients and servers within a single HP Systems Insight Manager console.
Chapter 5: Scalability This section details scalability considerations and how to distribute packages over a large network. Notification Server uses an event-driven model that minimizes loads on the Notification Server and maximizes the number of clients a single Notification Server can support. In general, one Notification Server running only HP Client Manager can support about 20,00050,000 client computers.
Chapter 5: Scalability Breakup Tasks Using Multiple Tasks and Policies 3 Click on one of the tasks or policies listed within the folder you selected in the above step. The task or policy will display the property values currently set such as: Name, Description, Applies to Collections. 4 Below Scheduling Option, the task or policies default schedule is already set, but you can change these values by doing the following: 5 • Click Scheduled, and then select the Schedule check box.
Chapter 5: Scalability Distributing Downloads Using Package Servers Distributing Downloads Using Package Servers If you have a large number of client computers that you intend to deploy software packages or files to on a regular basis, Package Servers may help off load the Notification Server. A Package Server is a Notification Server client computer that has special software installed on it by the Notification Server, which aids in the distribution of software packages and files.
Index A access the Altiris Console 20 advertisement Run this advertisement ‘As Soon As Possible’ 50 Alert Manager 41 Altiris Agent 19, 25 Altiris Agent, deploying 21 Altiris Connector for HP OpenView 48 Altiris connector for HP systems insight manager 47 Altiris Console overview 20 Altiris Console, access the 20 B BIOS administration wizard 37 drivers 32 security settings 37 C collection 19 collections 19 configure Altiris Agent settings 46 copyright 1 creation date of document 1 D deploying the Altiris
Index type of installation 9 U update supported computer list 47 update the softpaq filestore 33 updating HP tools 29 upgrading previous version of NS 15 Using HPCM 17, 27 V version 1 HP Client Manager Product Guide 53
