The future of Snapshot, and similar tools.

My apologies for posting this twice.  I posted it first as a follow up 
to an old thread in ...

novell.support.zenworks.desktop-management.6x.install-setup

I am quoting some comments made in that forum.

Then after surfing the forums for awhile, I thought the issue might get 
more attention, if I posted it here.  I am looking for ideas and advice 
on the future of snap shot, and any tools that Novell might provide to 
replace it.


If I could address some of these comments, in hopes of better 
understanding ...

RE: >>>
 > Most companies invest in packaging tools such the full version of
 > AdminStudio to create deployment packages.  They then use their desktop
 > management suites to deploy those packages.

Admin Studio is not cheap.  After a client has spend thousands of 
dollars to implement ZENWorks, now I have to tell them to drop another 
couple thousand down for an application packager.  I also don't fully 
understand Novell's relationship with the product, they don't seem to be 
partnering well together, I'd appreciate anyone else's read on this 
relationship.

RE: >>
 > Novell has for over 5 years now been trying to steer people from
 > Snapshot

I've heard that statement made verbally by many engineers, but I don't 
always see the practice following that.

Has Novell ever gone on record to state they will no longer support snap 
shot???


RE: >> > If your snapshots are failing with the latest versions of 
snapshot, then
 >  most likely your software package falls outside the scope of what
 > snapshot should be trying to handle.

Maybe I've just gotten lucky?  I've have not had many issues with using 
snapshot, and I have been involved in a wide variety of applications.

I have seen the statement made on the forum that ZEN Works is not really 
a "Packaging" suite.  While that may be a true statement, because 
Snapshot has been packaged with the product for so long, the mind set of 
customers is that it is expected to work, and be supported.

tom,

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Tom,

I'm not sure what exactly are you searching for? ZdM is already providing 
you with snapshot replacement - AdminStudio ZfD edition, included in ZfD 
price.
AdminStudio part for preparing snapshot MSI is identical in ZfD and 
Professional edition.

All comments you qouted (including this one) are personal opinions - I 
suggest you to try AdminStudio ZfD edition and make your own.

Denis

"tom" <techguy@philosophyguru.net> wrote in message 
news:vwouh.8252$Sz4.7222@prv-forum2.provo.novell.com...
> My apologies for posting this twice.  I posted it first as a follow up to 
> an old thread in ...
>
> novell.support.zenworks.desktop-management.6x.install-setup
>
> I am quoting some comments made in that forum.
>
> Then after surfing the forums for awhile, I thought the issue might get 
> more attention, if I posted it here.  I am looking for ideas and advice on

> the future of snap shot, and any tools that Novell might provide to 
> replace it.
>
>
> If I could address some of these comments, in hopes of better 
> understanding ...
>
> RE: >>>
> > Most companies invest in packaging tools such the full version of
> > AdminStudio to create deployment packages.  They then use their
desktop
> > management suites to deploy those packages.
>
> Admin Studio is not cheap.  After a client has spend thousands of dollars 
> to implement ZENWorks, now I have to tell them to drop another couple 
> thousand down for an application packager.  I also don't fully understand 
> Novell's relationship with the product, they don't seem to be partnering 
> well together, I'd appreciate anyone else's read on this relationship.
>
> RE: >>
> > Novell has for over 5 years now been trying to steer people from
> > Snapshot
>
> I've heard that statement made verbally by many engineers, but I don't 
> always see the practice following that.
>
> Has Novell ever gone on record to state they will no longer support snap 
> shot???
>
>
> RE: >> > If your snapshots are failing with the latest versions of

> snapshot, then
> >  most likely your software package falls outside the scope of what
> > snapshot should be trying to handle.
>
> Maybe I've just gotten lucky?  I've have not had many issues with using 
> snapshot, and I have been involved in a wide variety of applications.
>
> I have seen the statement made on the forum that ZEN Works is not really a

> "Packaging" suite.  While that may be a true statement, because
Snapshot 
> has been packaged with the product for so long, the mind set of customers 
> is that it is expected to work, and be supported.
>
> I look forward to additional comments on this matter.