Using Altiris agent or OSMA with DMC

Question

I want to get a better understanding on the proper usage of the Altiris agent and what are the advantages of using it (versus OMSA).  We have a Dell Management Console server setup and we have different servers (mostly Dell with smaller number of IBM's and Mac OS X servers) that we support across different subnets protected by firewalls.  I understand that we can manage the Dell servers using DMC pretty much the same way as IT Assistant.  I already have one Dell server (on different subnet than the DMC server) discovered on DMC (using SNMP connection profile).  I still need to set up rules and policies to automate monitoring.  I also understand that the Altiris agent would allow us to do Dell patching and pushing out OMSA.  Now, my question is, could I have installed the Altiris agent only on my Dell server (without installing OMSA) and have it monitored and managed the same way OMSA does? Secondly, since we have many subnets that are individually protected by firewalls, i need to know the firewall ports that I need to have opened on the client servers in order to manage them from DMC.  So first scenario is, from DMC to Dell servers with OMSA installed.  Second scenario is, from DMC to servers with Altiris agent (without OMSA). Lastly, I need some help setting up the basic monitoring rules and policies.  I want to be alerted by email when there's an outage or problem on a system.  Would appreciate it if someone can share some typical rules for managing servers.

DELL-Rob C · Answer

Hi and thanks for the post.

The info in your first paragraph is all correct.

But if you use only the Altiris agent and not OMSA, you will not get very good hardware inventory. Also, you won't get OMSA 'rollup health'. So you have to have OMSA to get the best Dell server management.

We are working on a port doc. In the meantime, the ITA one is pretty close.

Look here for alert rules doc.

Thanks,

Rob

fyi...there is a DMC group here.

Systems Management General

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