News
NetInstall Updated to v5.8
- By Stuart J. Johnston
- September 01, 2005
Schaumburg, Illinois-based Enteo Software is shipping the latest release of its flagship NetInstall software distribution and life-cycle management system.
New in NetInstall 5.8 are features to support mobile workers, an improved user interface for software assignment, and a simplified packaging and distribution capability. In addition, it includes an intelligent snapshot process that streamlines configuration changes, as well as the Enteo Management Portal, a Web-based interface that supports all of Enteo’s products.
NetInstall 5.8 is designed around the principles that five mouse clicks is all that should be necessary in order to complete most desktop management operations, and any task an administrator must do twice is worth automating.
For mobile employees -- with laptops or external data carriers – the new NetInstall Mobility Support function can recognize a remote network connection and determine when and how to transmit software packages. With the improved user interface, network administrators can also now view an organized directory of every user and computer grouping to see quickly which software updates and security patches should be distributed to each system.
Version 5.8 also adds enhanced packaging of Microsoft Installer (MSI) files. NetInstall’s new “MSI Spy” feature runs the complete MSI installation sequence and compiles all the entries and adjustments into an MST (Microsoft Transform) file that is automatically packaged for distribution. Another improvement -- NetInstall Spy – uses an intelligent snapshot process to create installation packets for configuration changes or legacy applications as much as 50 percent faster than before, according to the company.
The company says its software is installed on 2.5 million PCs worldwide.
The Enteo NetInstall server supports Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server
or Advanced Server, Windows Server 2003, and Novell Netware 4.11 or higher. Client support includes Windows 95, 98 or ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000
Professional and Server, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Free trial licenses are available.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.