With IT costs rising, companies are looking to do
whatever they can to reduce their budget. By allowing a
streamlining of client PC maintenance through remote
manageability options, Intel is helping to cut down on-site PC
issues and therefore require less personnel to maintain more
computers at a lower cost for organizations who choose to invest
in infrastructure and to deploy the newest available technology.
Requirements
Intel's "vPRO" technology brand is a platform, much like
Intel's Centrino and Viiv Technology platforms, the vPRO
platform requires certain hardware and software specifications
to be met in order to qualify for the program. On the
hardware side, the specifications are:
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6000 series with Intel Virtualization technology
- A motherboard with the Intel Q965 Express Chipset with the ICH8-DO south bridge chip
Intel Branded Desktop Boards available include:
- Intel Desktop Board DQ965WC (SKU# 50723 Q965WCEKR)
- Intel Desktop Board DQ965GF (SKU# 50725 Q965GFEKR)
- Intel Desktop Board DQ965CO (SKU# 50727 Q965COEKR)
- Intel Active Management technology 2.0 firmware
- A motherboard BIOS that supports Intel Active Management technology as well as Intel Virtualization Technology
- Intel 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection
For the software side, Intel has not set a specific requirement, however, they have tested and validated the platform on the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows XP
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Intel's vPRO technology provides organizations with reduced costs through remote access, manageability, enhanced security, and increased performance. On the manageability side of the equation, Intel vPRO based machines can be remotely accessed for purposes of asset inventory, hardware and software inventory or control, diagnostics and repair, and roll-out of updates for both the hardware and software components of your organization.
With the pro-active security options available by using the vPRO platform organizations can filter network traffic, isolate compromised machines, push updates, and create virtual environments in order to improve security. By basing the vPRO platform on their newest, and greatest processor, the Intel Core 2 Duo, and chipset, the Q965, Intel has insured that the performance levels that will be seen across the platform will easily best any other business platform available on the market today.
Exciting New Technology Solution
One of the many challenges today faced by IT departments world-wide is the ability to keep track of their corporate assets. vPRO technology works at an "always available" hardware level which insures that if a system is plugged into the wall, and connected to the network, the management tools can contact and inventory this system. The IT console is able to remotely connect to, and troubleshoot systems whether they are on or off.
The three main different scenarios faced by IT personnel in regards to system accessibility are:
- System powered on and working properly
- System powered off
- System powered on, but the OS is down
vPRO technology allows the IT department to contact the PC under all of these situations in the following manners...
System powered on and working properly; IT console is able to interact with standard communication through the OS and also through the communication channel "below" the OS (hardware/firmware stack). All functions available including hardware and software asset inventory management, access to pre-boot BIOS settings, console re-direction.
System powered off; IT console is still able contact the users system and perform such tasks as hardware asset inventory management, firmware or BIOS updates, monitor persistent event logs, and remote boot the machine for repair assessment.
System powered on, but the OS is down; IT console still has full access to the machine in order to upload critical system information, view event logs, access hardware asset information for the purpose of obtaining repair parts without a desk-side visit, and remote booting through redirected boot devices in order to troubleshoot hardware without reloading a system or changing physical components in a system first.
Rapid Updates Protect Your Network
With the proliferation of harmful software such as virus' and other mal-ware these days, the speed at which you are able to protect your network is critical. The typical deployment time of a security patch over a large network is anywhere between a few hours to a week. Using the new Intel vPRO technology the deployment time is dramatically reduced to a few hours which also includes polling all the machines and sending updates to those who are currently in a powered down state. All this can be done remotely, at anytime, day or night, reducing your IT staffs hours and saving your company money.
vPRO as part of the "Averill" Platform
Intel is a major proponent of advocating comprehensive strategy to help you plan the deployment of your PC systems. Intel issues yearly reports detailing the features and technologies available in everything from desktop business PC's, to home entertainment PC's, through server systems. This year, the business platform has been dubbed "Averill" and is then split into two different levels, the "Fundamental" usage model, and the "Professional" usage model. Needless to say, vPRO weighs heavily in this years platform and sweeps the category under the "Professional" usage model.
Usage Models and Capabilities Supported
| Usage Model | Capability | Fundamental | Professional |
| Protect Threat, vulnerability, identity and trust management |
Protection against certain types of malicious buffer overflow attacks |
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| Transparent deployment of security patches at any time |
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| Tamper-resistant virtual IT services partition |
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| End-point access control based on IT policies |
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| Containment of infected clients before they impact the network |
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| Hardware hardened platform identity and configuration attestation |
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| Hard drive backup and RAID for protection and
recovery, including recovery of accidentally corrupted/deleted files |
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| Connect Effective collaboration with voice, video, and data |
Performance to run new collaboration tools |
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| High-quality audio for a superior VOIP solution |
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| Rich collaboration enabled through high-quality graphics |
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| Expanded visual workspace for richer collaboration through dual-independent display |
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| Fast, reliable networking with GbE wired or 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN |
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| Manage Easier maintenance, deployment, allocation of resources |
Platforms with stable image to reduce image management costs |
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| IT manageability partition for more robust seamless upgrades |
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| Out-of-band management to allow platform diagnosis, maintenance and upgrades irrespective of the computer's state |
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