2.12.1 Distributing files efficiently using Remote Install Manager

JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 provides features to efficiently perform distribution using Remote Install Manager. This section describes some of the features.

Load share using a relay system

Install a relay system when you have a large scale network or JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 has many managed computers. Installing a relay system can reduce loads on the management server.

Grouping distribution-destination computers.

You can group distribution-destination computers according to their purposes. By grouping computers, you can specify a group of destinations in a single operation. A computer can belong to multiple groups.

The following figure shows a configuration grouped by a department and by a project.

Setting installation conditions

Among the distribution-destination computers, you can perform installation only on the computers that satisfy the specified conditions. You create the conditions when packaging software or when creating a job, and the conditions are judged when the job is executed.

For example, you can configure to install a software program only on computers running Windows 7, or not to install a program on computers whose hard disk free space is 5 GB or less. In addition to conditions on hardware, you can check if a specific software is installed as a condition, or you can create a unique condition by launching an external program provided by the system administrator before installing software.

Specifying a date and time for distribution and for installation

You can specify a date and time on which a package is distributed (data is transferred) to computers, and a date and time on which software is installed on the computers.

Distribution date and time

You can specify a job execution date and time when you create a job. For example, you can distribute packages without placing a load on the network by specifying a job to be executed at nighttime.

Installation date and time

You can specify a time that a package is installed, when you package software, or when you create a job. This allows you to install or upgrade a program at a specified date and time on all destination computers.

Split distribution of a package

You can split a package by a specified volume rather than distributing it at a time. You can also specify a time interval (distribution interval), so that you can reduce the network load when distributing a high-volume package.

Multicast distribution

In normal unicast distribution of a package, the more the number of destination computers, the higher the number of packets sent from an upper-level system ( management server or relay system). In multicast distribution of a package, all that is sent is the number of packets for a single job. A smaller number of packets can reduce load on the network.

Suspending and resuming a job

You can suspend a job temporarily. For example, if you planned to distribute software during non-business hours, but could not complete the distribution, you can suspend a job to stop the distribution temporarily, and then resume distribution during the next non-business hours.

Controlling distribution-destination computers

If a distribution-destination computer supports AMT or Wake on LAN, you can automatically turn that computer on or off. For example, you can turn on a shut-down computer during the nighttime, or on holidays, when the network load is light.

Reducing workload through distribution

You can reduce the network load by controlling the amount of network bandwidth used by the distribution function, which uses Remote Install Manager. You can specify the maximum transfer speed in the configuration file (jdn_rim_distr_bwc.conf) to control the amount of network bandwidth used, so that data is transferred at a speed not exceeding the specified value. If the total amount of data transferred per second exceeds the specified maximum transfer speed, the management server will suppress the data transfer.

For details on how to specify the maximum transfer speed in the configuration file (jdn_rim_distr_bwc.conf), see the description of how to control the amount of network bandwidth used for distribution in the JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 Configuration Guide.

If a timeout occurs during distribution because the value of the maximum transfer speed is small, take one or more of the following actions:

• Increase the value of the maximum transfer speed.

• Reduce the number of agents that are connected at the same time.

  For details, see the description of how to adjust the number of hosts that are connected at the same time in the JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 Distribution Function Administration Guide.

Tip

The flow rate is not controlled in the following situations:

• While the remote collection function is collecting files

• When software and files are distributed with multicast distribution enabled

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