Real-Time System Manager Solution

In connection with Joel's article on Improving Load Performance in Real-Time Systems Manager, the following VBscript provides a shortcut to opening an RTSM page for a system.

In the previous 4 sections we covered troubleshooting for the Provisioning process for Intel vPro capable systems. The next few articles will cover troubleshooting the management side once systems have been provisioned. The management of AMT systems can be accomplished through Task Server (via the APIs included with Real-Time Console Infrastructure, or RTCI) or through the Real-Time tab available with Real-Time System Manager (RTSM). Part 5 covers the configuration of Real-Time Console Infrastructure, which both RTSM and Task Server uses when invoking AMT functions.

One complaint I occasionally hear about Real-Time System Manager is the time it can take to load the initial RTSM console. This is usually caused by the full connection attempts on all supported protocols. This includes WMI, AMT, ASF, and SNMP. Often the user for the Real-Time tab is only interested in one or two of the supported technologies and doesn't need the others to load. The article discusses why this process can take time, and how to disable unused or technologies. We'll also discuss other ways to improve the general performance of the RTSM console.

The ability to provide access to the Real-Time tab of Resource Manager will enable administrators to provide this valuable tool to IT specialists or Helpdesk workers. Furthermore the ability to configure access to certain functions within the console will allow administrators to grant or restrict what users can do with Real-Time System Manager. This includes WMI functionality as well as powerful AMT functionality.

The hype for Intel vPro AMT technology is high, and exposure good. What about ASF? Broadcom and Intel put ASF onboard NICs before AMT. Altiris offers support for this technology with Out of Band Management, Real-Time Console Infrastructure, Real-Time System Manager, Network Discovery, Task Server, and other OEM Solutions. Setting up ASF isn't a simple as throwing a switch. This article covers how to enable and use ASF functionality in the Altiris Infrastructure.