The Questra SoftwareDirector™ application provides configuration management and secure automated software distribution over the Internet to devices deployed at customer sites. Ideally suited to large, heterogeneous device populations, this application ensures that customer systems are current and correct, eliminating service calls caused by outdated or incorrect software versions. It facilitates regulatory compliance by making sure only certified software configurations are deployed, reduces the cost of software maintenance, enables orderly deployments, and provides centralized control over software distribution and installation. Questra SoftwareDirector also makes it feasible for manufacturers to release new software versions more frequently.
Questra SoftwareDirector offers these features:
Configuration management - The application leverages IT industry best practices by using ITIL concepts for configuration management to enable automated tracking and to compare actual and valid configurations.
Build a database of valid configurations
Automatically and dynamically populate the database with actual configuration data from devices
Automatically distribute and install software packages to devices to ensure they have correct configurations
Dynamic grouping - Using an optimized display of devices, administrators can set rules to automatically associate devices with groups based on registration properties and actual configurations, significantly reducing manual work and making it easy to manage large deployments.
Define groups of devices based on valid configurations
Enable devices to automatically register as part of a new group when software updates occur
Sort devices by multiple parameters (e.g., customer, geography, device family, device model)
Customer control over software delivery and installation - The application supports features that allow end customer control over updates. Customers can:
View available, relevant packages
Accept or decline packages
Accept or decline automatic installation of packages
Perform manual installation or schedule automatic installation at a convenient time
Automated and customizable data collection - Administrators can ensure that device information stays current by defining data used to match valid configurations.
Hardware, software, firmware, OS versions
Dependencies: sufficient memory, CPU, disk, other software components
Required machine state: off-line or maintenance mode
Flexible package distribution - The application supports package distribution based on valid configurations.
Distribution to groups of devices or an individual device
Distribution to dynamic groups based on search results
Distribution management - Administrators can specify notifications to flag, such as:
Distribution status of packages
Non-delivery or failed software update installations
Updated revision histories
Mandatory updates