Patch/Desktop Management Evaluation - 2003

The 2003 patch/desktop management team will evaluate patch/desktop management software for Windows desktop clients, which we hope will produce a recommendation related to such clients, and hopefully identify one or two preferred products/strategies.

As always, the team will be expected to refine the scope, define requirements and selection criteria, develop test scripts, do testing, and then make recommendations to IT Roundtable. The team will also maintain a web site to enable others to stay informed regarding their progress, and will create draft documentation for LSPs and end users as appropriate.

Evaluation

• Test Platforms
• Feature List/Criteria (detailed look at possible features)
• Products

Synopsis

• Weighted Feature List (used to rank products)
• Product Summaries
• Patch Management matrix
• Desktop Management matrix
• Presentation at January 2004 SUG

Detailed Results

• Altiris 5.6
• BigFix 3.1
• E-Z Audit 5.5
• Ghost 8.0
• HFNetChk Pro 4.0
• LANDesk 8.0
• MbsaFU 1.1
• PatchLink 5.0
• SMS 2003
• SUS 1.1

Project Info

• Meetings
  • November 11, 2003
  • November 18, 2003
  • November 25, 2003
  • December 2, 2003
  • December 9, 2003
• Mailing list (management2003 at isc.upenn.edu)
• Team members
• Timeline
• Team Member Assignments
• Products in use or being tested during eval

External Links

• PatchManagement.Org listserv - very useful, various topics including products, read their charter for more details
  • Note: currently about 10-15 messages/day - available in digest format (see their FAQ for more info)
• WinNT Magazine's Patch Management Review - 12/03
  • a pdf of their feature list breakdown (some different products, but useful)
• ENT News - Patch Management Product Overview - 9/22/03
• Patchlink White Paper
• Network Computing - A Case for Desktop Management Software - 11/13/03
• Network Computing - Desktop Management Product Evaluation - 11/13/03
• Study - Timing the Application of Security Patches for Optimal Uptime (from LISA XVI, 11/02)
• Symantec adds patch management to Ghost 8.0 - ComputerWeekly.com's take on it
• Altiris acquires Wise Solutions - 12/02/03

Background Info

• Fall 2003 Operating System Guidelines
• Desktop Hardware Guidelines
• Charge to Supported Products Evaluation Teams
• Standards and Supported Products Process