Purgos 3.0 Release

Introduction

With version 3.0 of Purgos SofTulz.Net has set the standard for computer management. This version of purgos has been designed and written from the ground up using only prior experience and knowledge to build a platform that will support the needs of the IT administrator today and well into the future.

Table of Contents

Whats New
Upgrading
2.6 -> 3.0 Features Changes
Tutorials

Whats New

• Vista/Windows 2008 Support
Vista and Windows 2008 server operating systems are supported with the exception of VNC. Support includes operating with UAC enabled.
• Managed Computer Types
There are two types of managed computers, "Windows" and "Windows Remote." Managed computers of type "Windows" use a similar method as version 2.6 of Purgos. The managed computer type "Windows Remote" is a new type of managed computer that eliminates the agent software requirement. Computers managed as "Windows Remote" will not require that any software is installed on the managed computer.
• Agent Communication
Prior versions of purgos have required numerous communication protocols to esablish a connection to the managed computer. Using multiple communcation protocols created complicated configurations where firewalls and complex routing hardware were in place. With version 3.0 agent communcation is limited to simple tcp/ip communcation allowing purgos to work well in a firewall or WAN environment.
• Multiple Server Support
Managing a distributed environment is even easier now with the ability to view all managed computers on all purgos servers in a single consolidated view.
• Plugable Architecture
As computer managment environments grow and change so do the requirements. To prepare for these unforseen changes in requirements Purgos is built on a dynamic architechture that allows components to be added to the base purgos framework. These compoents can be developed and provided by SofTulz.Net, Third Parties, or In-house development teams.
• System Inventory
A system wide inventory view of hardware and software for all managed computers is one of many new features of Purgos that will make asset allocation and inventory a simple task. With the addition of multiple server support this feature gives a new view into all assets managed by purgos in all locations.
• Database Requirement
The need to managed a SQL database connection or worry about the integrity and size of an Access database file is now a thing of the past. Purgos data is now stored on the file system in an open XML format.
• Integrated Community
User communities are an integral part of any IT administrators tasks. This is no exception with the Purgos user community, now avaliable either online or through the Purgos console.
• Product Keys
Managing Microsoft product keys is an important part of an adminitrators job. This is simplified by displaying the Windows product key in the computers view and additional product keys from the computer details view.
• Agent Installer
Purgos 3.0 is now distributed with an agent installation package for environements where firewalls and complex routing hardware prevent a push deployement of the purgos agent.
• User Defined Object Methods
In addition to querying user defined data from a user defined object, you can execute a method associated with a user defined object further extending the administrators managment capabilities.
• New Predefined data
Information such as Hotfixes, Printers, BIOS, Local Administrators, Computer System, and Antivirus are now avaliable in the default computer details view.
• Enhanced software deployment
Software package deployement is enhanced to support more control over non msi based software installations.
• Remote Control Changes
RDP remote control support has been added. VNC remote control has been updated to use the latest version of TightVNC, with the optional mirror driver. All traffic is still proxied through the Purgos server to allow using a single TCP port in remote WAN or firewalled environments.
• Add managed computers enhancements
Adding managed computers is now easier with the addition of Active Directory and XML File Import methods.
• Enhanced Security Configuration
Server level socket security has been added in addition to new server and managed computer security settings.
• Side by Side Installation
To support existing customers who use features of 2.6 that are no longer avaliable in 3.0 we are supporting installations of both the 2.6 and 3.0 on the same server or managed computer.

Upgrading

2.6 -> 3.0 Features Changes

• Group Differences
A managed computer may only be a member of one purgos group at a time.
• Alternate credentials
Purgos no longer supports alternate credentials for single agent communication. All communication with the managed computers is done under the credentials that the user enters at the time of installation.
• Agent installation
Agents no longer automatically upgrade. There is a menu option to accomplish this allowing a more controlled upgrade process.

Tutorials