Opsi

Opsi (open pc server integration) is a client management system based on Linux servers for managing Windows clients. Manufacturer is the company uib gmbh in Mainz. The core components of the product are open source.

Core functions

Opsi provides the following core functions:

• Software Distribution
• Operating System Distribution ( OS Deployment )
• Patch Management
• Inventory (hardware and software).

Extensions

• License Management
• WAN extension
• Software on Demand
• User Profile Management
• Nagios Connector
• Installation during shutdown

The benefits of a software for automatic installation is the work easier and better manageability for a large number of client systems. So simplifies the introduction of new software products or operating system changes, which (r ) is to be carried out simultaneously with several clients, significantly. Also, a distribution of patches can be performed with the tool.

Opsi supports the client operating systems Windows XP, Server 2003, Windows Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7, Server 2008R2, Windows 8 and Server 2012 are both 32 -. than the 64- bit versions are supported. Packages for the Linux distributions Debian, Ubuntu, Univention Corporate Server, OpenSuse, SLES, CentOS and Red Hat are available for the installation of an opsi - server.

Automatic Operating System Installation

About the Management Interface can be selected, on which clients at the next system start a new operating system to be installed. The client makes the next boot using PXE boot -prom a request to the depot server and downloading from that boot image. The boot image partitions the system and calls for the installation files and depots and the configuration information from the depot server. After a restart of the client that automatically installs the operating system on the basis of the requested configuration information. The operating system installation can be carried out both on the basis of an unattended installation or by image. The process of unattended installation is supported by automated identification of the necessary drivers for PCI, HD Audio and USB Devices.

Automatic software distribution

This software distribution also automatically vonstattengeht, a software component is installed on the client, the opsi -client-agent. This checked ( by default ) every time you restart the client through a connection to the opsi- server, whether new software or an update to be installed. If this is the case, then a script -driven setup program is started ( opsi -winst ) installing the software or performs some other action requested. This software can be installed opsi, must be described in this installation in an appropriate script. This can be: a call to an unattended or silent installation, a call to a AutoIt or AutoHotkey script or a sequence of copy and other operations for installing the software. The activation of the opsi -client- agent can also be linked to other events or from the opsi -server be invoked (push install).

Patch Management

About the mechanism of software distribution also updates and patches can be recorded next to complete software packages.

Inventory ( hardware and software)

The inventory of hardware and software via the opsi -client- agent. The hardware information is collected via WMI and software information from the registry and reported back to the opsi- server. The inventory data via the web service interface for updating a CMDB eg be used by OTRS.

License Management

The opsi license management module supports the management of the purchased licenses. The license management, the software distribution, the management of licenses are available which license stores which device has been allocated and how many licenses are still available. About a coupling with the software inventory further reports can be created. The license management module is provided as co-financing project and is not available for free.

WAN Expansion

The WAN extension makes it possible to integrate clients behind slow lines. These is not desired on the network directly due to low bandwidth and potential disconnects an installation. All necessary installation files and metadata necessary therefore first loaded with dynamic bandwidth usage in a local cache. This is done in the background, so as not to disturb the user. Once all the needed data in the local cache, the installation can be done even without a network connection from the local cache out. The WAN extension is provided as co-financing project and is not available for free.

Software on Demand

The extension ' software on demand ' makes it possible to ask the user for this purpose approved software packages for installation on his computer. The installation itself is done by opsi. The user does this elevated privileges. Also this extension is provided as co-financing the project and is available free of charge since November 2011.

User Profile Management

The User Profile Management supports the modification of user profiles eg in the use of roaming profiles. The extension is provided as co-financing project and is not available for free.

Nagios Connector

The opsi Nagios connector enables the monitoring of opsi rollouts, the opsi server and the opsi clients with Nagios and Icinga. The extension is provided as co-financing project and is not available for free.

Opsi- server

The opsi - server provides the following basic services to:

• The Configuration Server manages the data of the clients and provides the methods to manage the data via web and on the command line ready. Data storage can be done in files or in a MySQL database.
• The depot server provides software packages ( depots) ready to be accessed by the clients for installation. To support multiple locations with centralized management multiple depot servers can be connected to a Configuration Server
• A TFTP server to provide the boot image for operating system installation
• A DHCP server can be integrated.

Management interface

The management of opsi via a graphical user interface, which is also available as an applet in the browser. Opsi but can also be completely administered via the command line or web service call.

Licensing

The core components of the product are open source under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 and are available for free. The core components are software distribution, operating system deployment (OS deployment) and inventory (hardware and software). These free components are supplemented by fee-based, closed -source extensions, so-called co-financing projects

Co-financing projects

Although opsi is an open- source product, individual developments but first made by the manufacturer as ' co-financing projects ' available. In a project co-financed developments will initially only be available to users who participate on a lump-sum contribution to the development costs. Once the development is refinanced, extended opsi version is widely available and free of charge, and (unless technical reasons prevent this from time to time ) were provided as Open Source. A first project of this kind was to support Windows Vista and Windows 7 This was completed on February 1, 2008, and released free of charge after completion of the co-financing on March 1, 2010. After the source code, which is now paid by the unpaid parts (co-financing projects) were separated, the source code has been to this part published on November 30, 2010.

Currently available additional functionality in the co-financing are:

• MySQL as the backend
• License Management
• WAN Expansion
• User Profile Management
• Nagios Connector
• Installation during shutdown

Unlike some other models of commercial open source software, it is the aim of this concept to create paid software that open source is then.

Opsi documentation

• Test opsi

Http://uib.de/de/opsi-dokumentation/dokumentationen/