DX Union
DX-Union is a software product from Materna Information & Communications SE . DX-Union is used to manage the IT infrastructure consisting of servers and clients. However, since the users are also included in the management, and thus the entire work environment of a user, Materna calls this itself integrative workplace management.
Version 8.1.5 is currently released for the Windows and Linux server platforms and the Windows and Linux client platforms.
tasks
The following tasks can be performed by DX-Union for a large number of clients:
- Software distribution
- User management
- Device management
- License management
- Inventory
- Patch management
- Mobile device management
- remote maintenance
- Service desk ( help desk )
- Workflow management
- Monitoring
The individual tasks are assigned to corresponding modules that can be installed separately from one another. Only the patch management requires the installation of the software management. Almost all modules can be managed via an administration interface.
Customers
The product is used particularly in the German authorities environment. Customers included the Federal Finance Administration with approx. 40,000 clients (no longer since the switch to Windows 7) and a number of carriers of the German Pension Insurance (formerly the State Insurance Company ) with a total of approx. 40,000 clients.
But larger installations of z. B. Supported vocational schools and colleges (a total of approx. 4000 clients) The product was part of the SH21 Basis funding project, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Social Fund.
In the meantime, DX-Union is also used by small and medium-sized companies in the industrial environment (automotive, aviation, etc.), as well as in publishing houses and telecommunications service providers.
In total, well over 150,000 workstations are managed with DX-Union at over 200 customers.
Features
Software distribution
With the help of software management, Windows systems (clients and servers) can be installed for the first time as well as loaded with additional software.
For the installation of operating systems, DX-Union supports both the unattend installation and the image process. The integration of drivers is supported by a corresponding wizard.
The creation of software packages is simplified by a wizard.
DX-Union can distribute software to clients using the multicast protocol. In addition, unicast is also supported. Software packages can be distributed to other depot servers via the hierarchical distribution. All common packaging methods are supported by DX-Union.
User management
The user management module enables users to be managed via a graphical interface in heterogeneous environments. The details of the underlying server systems are abstracted for the administrator to such an extent that even an employee without in-depth operating system know-how can manage user environments. Know-how about Unix / Linux and Samba or Windows and domains is not necessary for daily work.
In addition to the administration of the users (set up IDs and manage passwords), the resources (network shares, profiles and printers) are also managed with DX-Union.
Device management
The DX-Union Device Inspector allows the blocking or release of primarily external PC components. Except for the devices (classes) required to operate a PC, all other devices are blocked by default. Only the approval by an administrator enables the user z. B. the use of USB sticks or Firewire hard drives.
License management
The license management allows the acquisition of the commercial data of licenses. Contracts, licenses and license types can be recorded and linked here. Together with the technical data recorded by the inventory, evaluations can then be created that show the current license status.
Inventory
In addition to capturing Windows-based systems, the inventory component Asset Assistant also offers inventory of Unix / Linux systems and all devices that can be addressed via SNMP (routers, switches, network printers, servers, etc.). In addition, the frequency of use of software can be recorded. Together with the software inventory, this provides the technical basis for license management.
The Asset Assistant is also available in a variant that can be integrated into the BMC Remedy Action Request System product from BMC Software .
Patch management
With this module, patches from Microsoft can be distributed to systems. No Windows server is required and patch management can therefore also be set up in an environment in which only Unix / Linux servers are used. On the clients, the module works together with the Windows Update Agent (WUA) from Microsoft.
Mobile device management
DX-Union offers an OEM version of the Sophos Mobile Control product. This module already manages more than 350,000 mobile devices with over 1,100 customers worldwide.
remote maintenance
DX-Union offers the product Netop Remote Control from the Danish company Netop Solutions A / S. In principle, however, other remote maintenance tools can also be integrated.
Service desk
The additional module Service Desk offers small companies and authorities a help desk system with which tickets can be managed. Standard functions such as links between ticket, user and devices, delegation, escalation and solution database as well as a portal for the user to submit new tickets and view the status of old tickets are included.
Workflow management
The DX-Union workflow management offers the automation of work processes . The workflows can be compiled in a graphical user interface. A library of existing workflow nodes and modules can be used. The workflow management can be integrated directly into the DX-Union Service Desk as well as automate tasks in DX-Union itself.
Monitoring
The monitoring module from DX-Union provides a clear display of network and system status, carries out automatic discovery of networks and systems, displays IT networks on OSI layers 3 and 2 and provides convenient event management.