ZEN 7.0.1 Middle Tier Server

[partlycloudy]

Thought I would throw this out, maybe someone knows first hand. We just put in a new winodws 2003 domain. All the servers are 2003 SP2 including the member servers. We have roughly 1200 users. However, it appears only about 600 are logged in at any given time. Now I just put in a new ZFD 7.0.1 server listed below are the hardware specs for the Zen For Desktops server.

ZEN SERVER:Windows 2003 SP2, EDIR 8.7.3.9, Ident Mgmnt 3.0.1, ZFD DB Import, inventory, and removal. HP DL360 Dual 3.02 Processors, 4 GB ram, 2 146 GB 10K drives. GB NIC.

ZFD MIddle Tier: Windows 2003 SP2, IIS6, ZFD Middle Tier software. Compaq HP ML350 Dual 1 Ghz, 4 GB ram RAID 5, 5 10K 18 GB drives.

My question is about the ZFD Middle Tier server. Right now I don't have ZFD on any PC machines. I'm about ready to send my techs out to install it, but was a little concerned about 1200 people hitting it. Now as mentioned, there will probably not be 1200 people all together logging in through it. A more realistic thought is 750. Both servers are in a switched environment and plugged into a GB port. Right now this was the only server I had available to put it on. I just want opinions and suggestions if this is an OK setup for now. Oh, we are NOT doing imaging, we are only doing some application pushes, remote control, and stuff like that.

 

[terry712]

i only have middle tiers on netware but i seem to remember there is something about 200 per middle tier

i may be imagining this though - just seems to ring a bell

i assume the pc's dont have a neware client on them and just a zen agent ?

 

[Provogeek]

Setup a similar user count, about 1200 PC's. However, this is PC's count, not user count. All PC's are logged in at all times (it's a retail enviroment, over 600 stores).

Have them all connected to two mid-tier servers using a DNS round robin. The Novell docs say i server for every 200, Novell consulting however would tell you 400 for every PC. Kinda pushing the limit, and it is noticable, but it works for our needs since there is not a lot of traffic and the solution is not used for app deployment very much.

Also, ZfD includes a deployment tool that you can leverage on your AD network to get the agent rolled out.

With that said, if you can swing it, I would hold off and wait a few months for Zen 10. Been playing with beta 3, and beta 4 should be out is a couple of weeks (and this time should be a public beta). It intergrates with Windows networks so much better. So silly IDM, no annoying eDirectory (did I just say that?). It does LDAP look ups to your AD to get users ID's needed to make relashions to applications. ZAM, intergrated, Patchlink, intergrated. Novell has really made Zen a good solution for Windows shops now, not just the pain it normally is dealing with the dependancies.


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Brent Schmidt SPOOOOON!!!!!
Senior Network Engineer
Keep IT Simple

http://www.kiscc.com