KBOX™ Systems Deployment Appliance Feature Summary

Comprehensive OS Deployment Software Alternative

KBOX is the easy-to-use, comprehensive and affordable OS deployment software alternative that fulfills all of the systems provisioning needs of a medium enterprise. The KACE™ appliance-based approach is designed to save you time and your company money. KBOX System Deployment Appliance provides a single solution for the complete, economical provisioning of any desktop, laptop or server through an easy-to-use web-based user console. KBOX is available as a physical as well as a virtual appliance.

All functionality can be executed through remote administration over the network from a centralized deployment library. Functionality includes computer inventory assessment, OS and application provisioning, migration and remote administration, remote control and recovery. This centralized, network-based approach improves provisioning reliability and control, while reducing deployment and migration costs.

Disk Imaging

KBOX provides intelligent remote disk imaging from an integrated image library, reducing imaging cost and complexity. K-imaging, an intelligent, file-based image capability leverages single instancing technology to significantly reduce network impact and storage costs by capturing and storing only files not already contained in the deployment image library.

Supports “bare-metal” system build-outs
Remote disk imaging from a central, easy-to-use web-based console
Integrated library for easy, centralized image archiving and management
File-based and sector-based imaging supports any NTFS or FAT 32 file system
Windows and Linux support for imaging
Image Editing, such as the ability to inject a driver, significantly reduces image maintenance costs

Computer Inventory Scanning and Assessment

KBOX agent-less computer inventory capabilities remotely capture hardware inventory data on any networked laptops, desktops and servers. Detailed hardware inventory eases deployment planning and improves reliability by reducing the number of failed deployments due to hardware incompatibility.

Network Device Discovery
In-depth computer hardware inventory improves deployment reliability
Driver verification reporting identifies any missing device drivers required for successful provisioning of a target system
Comprehensive reporting provides data to accurately plan for deployment and migration
Windows support for Inventory Scanning and Assessment

Pre and Post-Deployment Configuration

KBOX provides complete remote configuration covering pre and post deployment, reducing costs and increasing provisioning reliability and control by automating the full deployment life cycle.

Remotely configure BIOS, RAID, and disk settings before deployment
Automatically install applications, execute scripts, rename systems and join machines to the Windows domain following deployment
Setting up fully automated systems deployments is made easy with the drag and drop configuration of pre and post installation tasks
Windows support for pre and post deployment configuration

State Management

State Management, which allows system administrators to manage both physical and virtual computer “states” across thousands of nodes from a single appliance and UI.

Allows customers to re-provision or reconfigure both virtual and physical machines at the file level based on a centrally defined system image. Only changed files are reprovisioned.
Saves valuable time and money when managing large numbers of mixed-environment workstations.

Network OS Install

Remotely provision any desktop, laptop or server via unattended scripted installation regardless of computer hardware configuration. Network OS Install, also known as scripted installation, provides reliable, managed deployment in heterogeneous hardware environments and an efficient means for building and maintaining gold master configurations. Applications and files can be integrated with scripted installation allowing for complete systems provisioning.

Remote, unattended network OS install
Automated driver slipstreaming
Integrated library to ease archiving and management of complete remote setups including cross platform gold master configurations
Windows support

100% Agent-less Deployment

KBOX 100% agent-less architecture allows remote administration of all deployment tasks including computer inventory scanning, configuration, network OS install, imaging, application installation and script execution. These tasks can be conducted over the network from a centralized deployment library. This centralized approach improves provisioning reliability and control, while saving you time and your company money.

Complete deployment lifecycle coverage—without an agent
Reduce network bandwidth consumption
Improve deployment efficiency and reliability
Simplify security management by eliminating the need to manage a service account associated with the deployment of client agents

Remote Administration and System Recovery

KBOX enables remote recovery of corrupted systems that are unable to boot to the local hard drive, reducing deployment costs and time by eliminating desk visits to systems that fail to provision correctly.

KBOX pre-installation environment, "KPE," a Windows PE-based recovery environment with an intuitive GUI, provides powerful yet easy-to-use recovery of Windows systems
Bundled Knoppix-based recovery console for Windows and Linux recovery
Support for 3rd party boot environments
Remote control integrated into recovery console to ease repair of corrupted systems

Centralized Deployment Library

KBOX includes a global, centralized deployment library to ease systems provisioning, image storage and management, and KBOX administration.

Centralized, network based image storage significantly eases image management and maintenance by eliminating the need for removable media such as CDs and DVDs
Supports re-use of images across users and departments in combination with application and script execution
Centralized, network-based scripted installation, application and script store provides rapid and fully automated provisioning in heterogeneous hardware and application environments
KPE USB provides a convenient mechanism to locally boot remote systems to KPE on a USB drive and then connect to the centralized KBOX for access to the full deployment library.

Integrated Reporting

KBOX includes integrated reporting to ease systems deployment and KBOX administration.

Dashboards provide quick insight into key deployment metrics such as computer inventory assessments
Pre-configured reports covering deployed system history, captured images, network OS installs, and other categories
Create new reports or customize existing reports with an intuitive interface and XML
Output report information in your choice of .html, .pdf, .txt and .csv formats
Configure 3rd party ODBC compliant reporting tools (e.g., Crystal Reports) to analyze KBOX collected information
View KBOX appliance performance metrics such as disk, CPU and network utilization

Administration

KBOX includes an integrated web-based console for centralized systems deployment and systems recovery.

The secure console can be accessed via any network allowable workstation in any location, and has been designed to be exceptionally easy-to-use
Remote administration of all functionality across the deployment lifecycle
User interface integration allows for a single sign on and fast switching between the KBOX Management and Deployment Consoles
"One click" operating system updates are easily accomplished via the KBOX Management Console, with no hardware upgrades required

Remote Replication with KBOX Virtual Remote Appliances

KBOX Virtual Remote Appliances allow a single centralized KBOX Systems Deployment Appliance to stage and deploy disk images, network OS installs, drivers and applications to remote sites without the need for dedicated hardware or personnel at remote facilities. KBOX Virtual Remote Appliances are easy to deploy and maintain, and dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of managing a multi-site organization:

Includes integrated virtual infrastructure allowing deployment on almost any Windows server
Granular control over the timing and contents of staged deployment assets
Scheduled incremental synchronization and bandwidth throttling help minimize network utilization while keeping all remote sites updated with current deployment assets