Policy Management: The SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) policy in ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management lets you configure the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop GNOME settings on a managed device. Use the SLED policy to configure desktop features such as Main Menu, Favorite Applications, System Area, Control Center, and those items that appear on the user’s desktop and background settings. For more information, see SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Policy in the Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

Package and Content Management: ZENworks Linux Management lets you install packages or files on managed devices by using either a bundle or a catalog. It has the capability to mirror and manage SLES 10 and SLED 10 updates from public repositories. For more information, see Package and Content Management in the Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide

Preboot Services: ZENworks Linux Management Preboot Services (also known as imaging) lets you perform tasks on devices before their operating systems boot. Preboot Services allows you to automatically or manually run AutoYaST and kickstart installations, run ZENworks script devices, make an image of device hard drives, restore images to devices, and apply existing images to multiple devices. For more information, see Preboot Services in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

Hardware and Software Inventory: ZENworks Linux Management lets you collect hardware and software inventory information from each managed device. This inventory information is collected and stored in a database that can be viewed in the ZENworks Control Center and is available through the ZENworks Linux Management Reporting module. For more information, see Hardware and Software Inventory in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

Remote Management: ZENworks Linux Management lets you remotely manage devices from the ZENworks Control Center. You can remotely control managed devices, remotely view managed devices, remotely log in to managed devices, and view log information about any Remote Management sessions performed on any managed device from anywhere in your network. For more information, see Remote Management in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

Support for File Bundles: A file bundle lets you create a bundle containing one or more files of any type and distribute them to assigned devices. For example, you can include configuration files or data files in file bundles. A file bundle is useful to distribute any files that are not part of an RPM package. For more information, see Creating File Bundles in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide

Best Package Support: SLES 10 and SLED 10 users have the option of choosing the best package to install on their devices. This feature helps solve the incompatibility issues related to some key packages in the latest versions of SLES 10 and SLED 10, such as Kernel Modules, ATI, and XGL enabling.

Bundle Locking: Bundle locking options are available for SLES 10 and SLED 10 managed devices. The rug command line utility provides the following new bundle locking commands:

YUM repository: Yum (Yellow dog Updater, Modified) is an automatic updater and package installer/remover for RPM systems. It automatically computes dependencies and indicates what should occur to install packages, which makes it easier to maintain groups of machines without using an RPM to manually update each machine.

Dell repository: ZENworks Linux Management mirroring can be used to mirror Dell updates from ftp.dell.com and distribute them to all Dell PowerEdge devices using package management.

SLES 10 and SLED 10 repository: ZENworks Linux Management mirroring can be used to mirror SLES 10 and SLED 10 updates from http://update.novell.com and distribute them to all managed devices using package management.

Software Updater, Installer, and Remover: The ZENworks Linux Management Software Updater, Software Installer, and Software Remover applets are components of the desktop that work through the ZENworks Agent.

Change Settings by Using the Software Updater: The ZENworks Linux Management Agent is configurable and the settings that define the configuration can be modified using the ZENworks Linux Management Software Updater. For more information, see Using the Software Updater, Installer, and Remover from Users’ Managed Devices in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

rug: The rug command line utility (a component of the ZENworks Linux Management Agent) lets you perform software and user management on a managed device. ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management provides the following new rug commands:

Bundle Details: ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management lets you view a device’s assigned bundles and packages. Click a device object, click the Inventory tab, then click Bundle Details. The Installed Bundles page provides a list of bundles that, when clicked, shows a detailed list of packages for the bundle.

Bundle Persistence: With ZENworks Linux Management, bundles persist. After the initial installation of the bundle, the ZENworks Linux Management Agent running on the managed device checks each time it refreshes to see if the bundle is installed. If it is not, it re-installs the bundle. This is the default behavior.

Deploy and Install Immediately (When this Wizard Completes): The Deploy and install immediately option lets you immediately send a bundle to a managed device.

Replicate Repositories Now: All RPM packages, Dell Update Packages (DUPs), and files contained in bundles reside in the package repository on the primary server. ZENworks Linux Management uses content replication to copy the package repository to each secondary ZENworks Linux Management server in your system. A Quick Task has been added that allows the user to trigger replication at will, outside the replication schedule. For more information, see Replicating Content in the ZENworks Management Zone in the .Novell ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management Administration Guide.

ZENworks Linux Management Agent Settings Available from the ZENworks Control Center: You can configure the ZENworks Management Daemon (zmd) settings for your ZENworks Management Zone. These settings apply to all devices in your ZENworks Management Zone unless they are changed on a device folder or individual device.

View Printable Inventory: Available from Server/Workstation Tasks section in the upper left corner of the ZENworks Control Center while viewing the properties of a device.

View Bundle Locking Status using the ZENworks Control Center: If you use the new bundle locking features, the icon in the ZENworks Control Center indicates that the bundle is locked. You can view the bundle’s lock status from the Devices tab > server or workstation object > Effective Policies section or from the Devices tab > server or workstation object > Inventory tab > Bundles (Details) link.

Visual Icon to Determine if Newer Packages are Available If the updates available icon displays in the Updates column of a device list, packages and bundles are available to be installed on the device. Click the icon to display the Updates Available dialog box. Click the Help button for more information.

Scheduled Reports: The zlman utility now has options that allow users to run a report at the command line, specify the report format, and direct the output to a location in the file system. This lets users automate the running of reports.

Dell Update Package Reports: ZENworks 7.2 Linux Management lets you create reports to help you effectively manage your Dell PowerEdge servers. Reports allow grouping of Dell Update Packages (DUPs) by Platform (Dell Model); Component Type (BIOS, Firmware, etc.), and Operating System.