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Saturday, November 28, 2009
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Clear Choice Test Return to main test page: Client Management

NetResults
Product LANDesk Management Suite 8.8 Total Management Suite 6.5 KBox 1200,
KBox 2100 appliances
Vendor LANDesk Software Symantec Kace Networks
Price $89 per user $203.80 per node Kbox 1200 starts at $9,900 for 100 nodes; Kbox 2100 starts at $4,900 for 100 nodes
Pros Supports diverse clients; intuitive user interface. Excellent network discovery and application deployment, tight ties to Symantec client-security applications. Easy setup; good asset management and licensing tracking.
Cons Client had interoperability problems with two routers. Workarounds to maintain agentless architecture may not sit well with some organizations. User interface isn't intuitive; the 2100 can handle only 15 to 20 concurrent operating-system images.
Score 4.35 3.75 3.7
Product ZenWorks 10.0 Configuration
Management		 Desktop Authority 7.7 ACMP
Vendor Novell ScriptLogic Aagon Consulting
Price $225 per user for the enterprise version $39 per seat, plus $10 per seat apiece for USB port security, patch deployment and antispyware $26 per user for ACMP Pro (for 1,000 users or more)
Pros Strong operating-system and application-deployment features; superlative remote control. Excellent heterogeneous performance client (with Linksys router); flashy product design. Good asset inventory.
Cons User interface unintuitive; support for other security products lacking. Asset inventory and licensing tracking too rudimentary; remote control was sluggish at times. Network discovery missed some clients; poor documentation; awkward user interface; no support for initial operating-system rollouts.
Score 3.45 3.15 2.9
Scorecard
Category Weight LANDesk Symantec Kace Networks Novell ScriptLogic Aagon
Asset inventory 15% 5 5 5 4 3 4
License tracking 15% 5 4 5 3 2 3
Software distribution & configuration 15% 5 5 3 4 5 3
Client security 15% 3 3 3 3 3 3
Other features 15% 4 3 3 4 3 3
Administrative ease of use 15% 5 3 3 3 3 2
Installation, documentation 10% 3 3 4 3 3 2
Total score   4.35 3.75 3.7 3.45 3.15 2.90
Scoring key: 5: Exceptional; 4: Very good; 3: Average; 2: Below average; 1: Subpar or not available.

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