4.5 Using the ZENworks Agent

The following sections provide information to help you log in and use the ZENworks Agent:

4.5.1 Logging In to the Management Zone

When a Windows managed device boots its operating system, the ZENworks Agent is started and all bundles and policies assigned to the device are available. For bundles and policies assigned to a user to be available, the user must log in to the Management Zone.

The ZENworks Agent integrates with the Windows Login or Novell Login client to provide a single login experience for users. When users enter their eDirectory or Active Directory credentials in the Windows or Novell client, they are logged in to the Management Zone if the credentials match the ones in a ZENworks user source. Otherwise, a separate ZENworks Agent login screen prompts the user for the correct credentials.

For example, assume that a user has accounts in two eDirectory trees: Tree1 and Tree2. Tree1 is defined as a user source in the Management Zone, but Tree2 is not. If the user logs in to Tree1, the user is automatically logged in to the Management Zone. However, if the user logs in to Tree2, the ZENworks Agent login screen appears and prompts the user for the Tree1 credentials.

4.5.2 Navigating the ZENworks Agent Views

The ZENworks Agent provides the following views:

ZENworks Application

The ZENworks Application is a standalone window that provides access to bundles. You can launch the window from the Start menu (Start menu > Programs > Novell ZENworks > ZENworks Application).

The ZENworks Application left pane displays the following:

  • [All] folder: Contains all bundles that have been distributed to you, regardless of the folder in which they are located.

  • ZENworks folder: Contains all bundles that have not been assigned to a different folder. The ZENworks folder is the default folder for bundles; however, administrators can create additional folders to organize bundles, and can even rename the ZENworks folder.

  • Favorites folder: Contains all bundles that is marked as a favorite.

When you select a folder in the left pane, the bundles that are contained within the folder are displayed in the right pane. You can:

  • Install a bundle or launch an application that is already installed.

  • View the properties of a bundle. The properties include a description of the bundle, information about who to contact for help with the bundle, when the bundle is available for use, and the system requirements established for the bundle.

  • Repair an installed application.

  • Uninstall an application. This is an administrator-controlled feature that might not be enabled.

ZENworks Explorer

ZENworks Explorer is an extension to Windows Explorer that enables bundles to be displayed in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, on the Start menu, on the Quick Launch toolbar, and in the notification area (system tray). The following graphic shows bundles displayed in Windows Explorer.

The following graphic shows bundles displayed on the desktop.

The tasks performed on the bundles in the ZENworks Window can also be performed in the ZENworks Explorer.

ZENworks Icon

The ZENworks Icon System Tray (Blue Z) icon is located in the Windows notification area (system tray). You can click the icon to display the ZENworks Agent window.

To view the agent properties, right click the ZENworks icon and select Technician Application. The ZENworks Agent Properties window is displayed.

The left navigation pane of the properties window contains links for the ZENworks Agent status and its features:

  • Status: Displays information such as the last time the agent contacted a ZENworks Server and whether the Agent features are running.

  • Policies: Displays the policies assigned to the device and the logged-in user, and also displays whether the policy is effective. It is included only if ZENworks Configuration Management or ZENworks Endpoint Security Management is enabled.

  • Bundles: Displays the bundles assigned to the device and the logged-in user. It also displays the current installation status of each bundle (available, downloading, installing, and so forth) and whether the bundle is effective (the device meets the requirements for distribution). It is included only if ZENworks Configuration Management or ZENworks Patch Management is enabled.

  • Inventory: Displays inventory information for the device. You can view hardware details, such as the manufacturer and model of your hard drives, disk drives, and video card. You can also view software details, such as installed Windows hot fixes and patches, and the version numbers and locations of installed software products. It is included only if ZENworks Configuration Management or ZENworks Asset Management is enabled.

  • Endpoint Security: Displays information about the Endpoint Security Agent and the location that is being used to determine which security policies are applied. It is included only if ZENworks Endpoint Security Management is enabled.

  • Remote Management: Displays information about the currently connected remote operators and the Remote Management policy settings that are in effect for the device. It also lets you initiate a management session and control security settings for the session. It is included only if ZENworks Configuration Management is enabled.

  • Satellite: Displays the satellite role information of a device that is used as a Satellite Server. The satellite roles include Collection, Content, Authentication, Imaging, and Join Proxy.

    This feature is displayed only if your ZENworks administrator has used your device as a satellite.

  • Logging: Displays information about the ZENworks Agent’s log file, such as the location of the log file, the ZENworks Server to which the agent’s log file will be uploaded, and the next time the log is scheduled to be uploaded. It also lets you determine the severity level for logged messages.

  • Windows Proxy Displays the results of the discovery and deployment activities performed on the device when it acts as a Windows Proxy for the ZENworks Primary Server.

4.5.3 Promoting a Managed Device to be a Satellite

A Satellite is a managed device that can perform some of the roles that a ZENworks Primary Server normally performs, including authentication, information collection, content distribution, and imaging. A Satellite can be any managed Windows device or managed Linux device but not a Primary Server. When you configure a Satellite, you specify which roles it performs (Authentication, Collection, Content, or Imaging). A Satellite can also perform roles that might be added by third-party products that are snap-ins to the ZENworks framework.

NOTE:ZENworks no longer allows you to promote a 32-bit device to the Satellite Server role or add a new role to an existing 32-bit Satellite Server. From ZENworks 2020 Update 3, the Macintosh devices are no longer supported as a Satellite Server.

For detailed information about Satellites and how to promote a managed device to a Satellite, see Satellites in the ZENworks Primary Server and Satellite Reference.