Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions about the Service
Is there a limit to how many University-owned workstations that I can add to Tivoli Endpoint Manager?
At this time, there is no limit on the number of Tivoli Endpoint Manager licenses that an individual unit may use.
After I sign up, does SysMan manage my workstations for me?
No. As is stated in the Memo of Understanding, the SysMan team does not take responsibility for managing your workstations, and will not deploy any actions to your system that modify it. You will continue to be responsible for the workstations that you manage.
Can I still be the administrator of my machines?
When you become a SysMan administrator you have full access rights to the machines in your designated area.
Can I install my own software packages?
Yes, you can install your own software packages using the Tivoli Endpoint Manager console through the Software Distribution Wizard.
Does SysMan provide software packages that I can deploy to my clients?
SysMan does maintain common software packages on a best-effort basis though the Software Sharing Program.
How does software licensing work with SysMan and Tivoli Endpoint manager?
You are responsible for making sure that you are properly licensed for any software packages that you deploy through Tivoli Endpoint Manager. SysMan does not provide software licensing services.
What operating systems can the Tivoli Endpoint Manager client be installed on?
A list of supported operating systems is available at the bottom of the Getting Started page.
What are the recommended power-saving settings?
For student computer labs and classrooms, we suggest using settings similar to what are use in CLM: |
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Podium or Presentation Computers |
For all other student computer lab and classroom computers |
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When no user is logged in:
When a user is logged in:
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When no user is logged in:
When a user is logged in:
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For faculty and staff computers, we recommend using User Decided Power Management Program | |
How did the SysMan service get started?
In Spring 2009, Information Technology Services (ITS), the Office of Physical Plant (OPP), and the Applied Research Lab (ARL) participated in a proof-of-concept with BigFix Inc. to determine BigFix's ability to decrease Penn State computer power consumption when using the BigFix Systems Management Platform. BigFix was evaluated for its usefulness in conserving power while maintaining or increasing the manageability of the computers.
For several weeks, the BigFix platform was used to monitor the power consumption and usage of approximately 5,800 computers throughout Penn State. Energy reduction settings were then applied to a subset of the computers through the BigFix platform and power consumption was monitored for several more weeks. A significant power consumption difference was documented between the computers that had the power-saving setting applied and the control group that did not.
In addition to the power-saving results, it was also found that the system management features of the BigFix Systems Management Platform were very robust and useful for saving time performing system management and maintenance.
BigFix was acquired by IBM in July 2010 and in Feburary 2011 the BigFix product was renamed to be IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager (TEM).
Technical Questions
How do I add a workstation to my SysMan division in Tivoli Endpoint Manager?
You can add a workstation to your SysMan division by obtaining the both the Tivoli Endpoint Manager agent and the division installer and installing those two files to the client machine. The installers are located in \\udrive.win.psu.edu\sysman. The Tivoli Endpoint Manager client software is located in the _Installers folder and your division installer is located in your division’s folder. Both of these installers must be run on the workstation before it will be added to your division. It usually takes between 10 and 30 minutes for the workstations to appear in the console after the TEM client has been installed.
Can I install the Tivoli Endpoint Manager agent software in disk images that I use for OS deployment?
Yes, but in order for the client to work correctly you
must reset the client prior to sealing your image. Instructions for doing this
can be found in the links below:
Windows
Mac
How do I connect to the terminal server?
Please refer to the SharePoint site here. (SysMan Admin Access Only)
Does the client detect all software that is installed on a machine or just software installed by Tivoli Endpoint Manager?
You can see all software installed on the system regardless of how it was installed. It doesn’t have to be installed by Tivoli Endpoint Manager for Tivoli Endpoint Manager to see it.
Can Tivoli Endpoint Manager clients communicate with the server when they are outside the Penn State network and connected to the internet?
Yes, there is an internet-facing relays that allows clients to communicate with the Tivoli Endpoint Manager servers and perform actions while connected to the internet. Please be aware that clients may be less responsive when they are on slower connections or behind a NAT device, such as a home router.
Why is it taking so long for my clients to begin running an action that I deployed?
In most cases, a firewall is blocking traffic from the TEM server to the client. Please verify that you have correctly set firewall exceptions for both hardware firewalls as well as the workstation's software firewall, if it has one. If your clients continue to be unresponsive and you believe your firewall settings are correct, please email sysman [at] psu [dot] edu for support.
What are the firewall rules need to be added for proper communication?
Please refer to the SharePoint site here. (SysMan Access Only)
How do I change my Tivoli Endpoint Manager password?
Please refer to the SharePoint site here. (SysMan Access Only)
What if I forgot my password to access the console?
Your password is the only way to retrieve your private signing key and it cannot be reset. If you forgot your password, your console operator account will need to be created. This is a time consuming process, and you will need to set up an appointment by e-mailing sysman [at] psu [dot] edu. Please store your password in a secure password manager to prevent this.
Didn't Find an Answer?
If you're having trouble resolving an issue with any of the services that SysMan provides, please e-mail Sysman [at] psu [dot] edu.
SysMan participants also have access to additional support documents on the SysMan SharePoint site (SysMan Access Only).
Last Updated August 02, 2011
