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Managing software versions and properties on remote devices has become increasingly
challenging for several reasons. First, the amount of software on remote
equipment has increased, as has the frequency that software is updated. Second, the
underlying platform software on a device is also continually being patched. Third, as
more and different models of devices with different software requirements are deployed
at customer sites, the associated management complexity multiplies.
The results are that the cost of managing the right software configurations and properties
is high and growing. There’s also a significant barrier to rapid deployment of more
devices, and the risk decreased safety and effectiveness of devices.
Questra SoftwareDirector™ helps solve these problems by providing configuration
management and secure automated software distribution over the Internet to devices
deployed at customer sites. Ideally suited to large, heterogeneous device populations,
Questra SoftwareDirector ensures that customer systems are current and correct,
eliminating service calls caused by outdated or incorrect software versions. It facilitates
regulatory compliance by making sure only certified software configurations are
deployed, reduces the cost of software maintenance, enables orderly deployments,
and provides centralized control over software distribution and installation. Questra
SoftwareDirector also makes it feasible for manufacturers to release new software
versions more frequently.
Questra SoftwareDirector can be deployed as a standalone solution or in conjunction
with Questra TotalAccess™ and Questra SmartMonitor™. Questra SoftwareDirector can
also connect to your enterprise applications, creating an end-to-end solution that maximizes
the potential of existing software investments.
Questra IDM Application Suite™
Configuration management. Questra SoftwareDirector
leverages IT industry best practices by using ITIL concepts
for configuration management to enable automated tracking
and to compare actual and valid configurations.
- Build a database of valid configurations
- Automatically and dynamically populate the database
with actual configuration data from devices
- Automatically distribute and install packages to devices
to ensure they have correct configurations
Dynamic grouping. Using an optimized display of devices,
administrators can set rules to automatically associate
devices with groups based on registration properties and
actual configurations, significantly reducing manual work
and making it easy to manage large deployments.
- Define device groups based on valid configurations
- Enable devices to automatically register as part of a new
group when software updates occur
- Sort devices by multiple parameters (e.g., customer,
geography, device family, device model)
Customer control over software delivery and installation.
Questra SoftwareDirector supports features that allow end
customer control over updates. Customers can:
- View available, relevant packages
- Accept or decline packages
- Accept or decline automatic installation of packages
- Perform manual installation or schedule automatic
installation at a convenient time
Automated and customizable data collection.
Administrators can ensure that device information stays
current by defining data used to match valid configurations.
- Hardware, software, firmware, OS versions
- Dependencies: sufficient memory, CPU, disk, other software
components
- Required machine state: off-line or maintenance mode
Flexible package distribution. Questra SoftwareDirector
supports package distribution based on valid configurations.
- Distribution to groups of devices or an individual device
- Distribution to dynamic groups based on search results
Distribution management. Administrators can specify
notifications to flag, such as:
- Distribution status of packages
- Non-delivery or failed software update installations
- Updated revision histories
- Mandatory updates
Security that meets industry standards. Questra
SoftwareDirector sets up a SecureLink™ connection between
customer devices and the IDM server on your network using
strong, industry-standard Internet security technology. It
requires no modification of network security policies and
causes no security breach on your customer’s network.
- Communication initiated from behind customer firewall
- Connections made to manufacturer IP address only
- Communication encrypted using SSL with bi-directional
certificate authentication
- VPNs and dial-up connections not required
Rich Internet Application (RIA) user interface. Questra
SoftwareDirector leverages RIA technologies to offer a user
interface that combines the ease-of-use of a desktop application
with the manageability and deployment convenience of
a web-based application. RIA ensures smooth navigation
between support tasks—from responding to alerts to remote
troubleshooting—for greater service operations productivity.
Scalable, high-performance architecture. Questra’s IDM
applications architecture is designed for scalability, reliability,
and ease of deployment to support large device
populations. Optimized, high-performance features ensure
best use of hardware and network resources.
- Support for server clustering eliminates single points of
failure and increases reliability
- Support for hardware-based load balancing enhances
performance
- Status tracking for servers and connections ensures
connections remain up
Integration with Questra IDM Application Suite. Questra
SoftwareDirector is integrated with the Questra IDM
Application Suite, and thus leverages all relevant features
available to the entire suite.
OPERATING SYSTEM
Questra SoftwareDirector Server: Windows and Unix
Questra Service Agent: Supports common versions of Windows, Solaris,
and Linux; has been ported to platforms like VxWorks and HP-UX VMS
WEB SERVER: Microsoft IIS, Sun ONE Web Server, Apache
DATABASE: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server
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Intelligent Device
Management (IDM) is the
proactive management of
remote devices in real time
over the Internet. With IDM,
device manufacturers can
transform their service
operations from reactive to
proactive, reducing costs
and delivering high-value
remote services that drive
customer loyalty, increase
profitability, and change
customer relationships. |
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