In recent years, networks have become more complex and software and hardware have become more diverse. As a result, there is an increasing need for tools that automate or reduce the amount of work required to distribute software and manage clients. Unless such tools are introduced to centrally manage systems in a network environment, the workload of system administrators will keep increasing (especially in large networks).

The conventional approach to operation and management poses problems such as the following:

Problems during software installation

• Software media must be transported to the installation site, and installation and setup must be performed for each client. Consequently, building a job environment requires significant effort and expense.
• Frequent software upgrades cannot be accommodated promptly.

Problems in collecting information from clients

• It is difficult to obtain information about each client's hardware and software.
• Collecting information from clients takes time, and there is no guarantee that up-to-date information is being obtained.

With JP1/Software Distribution, these tasks are executed in a batch in response to an instruction issued from a central server, thereby significantly reducing the workload of the system administrator. The features of JP1/Software Distribution are described below.

Standardization of software distribution and inventory management

Job programs and commercial software needed by clients are distributed in a batch from a central server. A distribution method appropriate to the particular system, such as schedule-based or group-based, can be selected. JP1/Software Distribution also supports multicast distribution to reduce the data volume during distribution.

Inventory information needed for management of client resources can be obtained in a batch in response to an instruction issued from the central server. Because the inventory information to be obtained from clients can include both hardware and software information as well as information about users, clients can be managed on the basis of either PC environments or users. Additionally, JP1/Software Distribution supports management of anti-virus products, which have become important as use of the Internet spreads.

Compatibility with systems and platforms of various sizes

JP1/Software Distribution can be applied to systems of various sizes, ranging from a few dozen clients to tens of thousands of clients. It can also handle systems in which Windows and UNIX platforms coexist.

JP1/Software Distribution can also be used in cluster systems and multi-LAN environments that improve system availability.

Linkage to other programs

By linking JP1/Software Distribution to other programs, such as JP1/Base, JP1/Asset Information Manager, JP1/Client Security Control, and JP1/IM, you can integrate software distribution and client resource management with your overall system management.

By setting up JP1/AJS to use the command interface provided by JP1/Software Distribution, you can also automate the tasks that use JP1/Software Distribution.