Deploying SteelHead Mobile Packages

• Deployment Tools - Typically, in larger organizations, you might use deployment tools to install the SteelHead Mobile client software (for example, Microsoft SMS and GPO, Altiris, Tivoli, Radia, and Zenworks). Deployment of SteelHead Mobile software has been tested with Microsoft SMS, Active Directory, and GPO (Group Policy Object). Consult your vendor’s documentation for information about its products.

Note: If you want to change a SteelHead Mobile’s group while still having the client using the same version, you must manually uninstall the SteelHead Mobile software to install the package with the new group. The SteelHead Mobile’s group can also be changed using the Group Policy Object (GPO) template. For details, see Changing an Endpoint Group for Clients Using a GPO.

Task	Reference
1. Create new packages for each group.	Creating Packages.
2. Modify the package assigned to the current group or assign your policies to group.	Managing SteelHead Mobile Assignments.
3. Deploy the package to the endpoint clients in your network using the deployment tool of your choice. When using the upgrade method built into the Mobile Controller, the endpoint user will be prompted to install the update.	Deploying SteelHead Mobile Packages and Installing the SteelHead Mobile Packages on Windows and Mac Clients.
4. Verify your connection and optimization in the Reports > Endpoints > Endpoint Report page.	Viewing Endpoint Reports.
5. You can also make individual assignments to Active Directory users based on their username identified by the Mobile Controller without using a group.	Working with Group Assignments.

Figure: Assignments Page

Typically, you use Group assignments to link policies and packages to your SteelHead Mobile clients. Group assignments enable you to create different packages that are associated with different policies and assign them to groups of SteelHead Mobile clients. When you deploy a package, the SteelHead Mobile reports its group to be that of the package that was installed. The Mobile Controller uses the group to identify the SteelHead Mobile clients associated with that group and automatically provides policy and software updates to them.

Your group assignments can be based on your endpoint client computers, such as applications used, computer memory, or disk space. Your group assignments can also be based on department, job function, geographic location, and so forth. Finally, they can be based on the type of Mobile Controller deployment you want, such as whether to optimize SteelHead Mobile clients when they are in the office.

• You can deploy the default package (which has a group assignment, Default and default policy, Initial) to your SteelHead Mobile clients with minimal disk space. Deploying the default package requires no additional configuration. After these SteelHead Mobile clients install the package, they are associated with the Default group and automatically receive policy and software updates assigned to the Default group.

• You can create a policy called, for example, high_end. The high_end policy would allot more disk space for data optimization. You would create a package and give it a unique group called, for example, graphics_department. You would assign the high_end policy to the graphics_department group, and you would deploy the associated package to those users with the larger disk space. After your users install the package, their computers become associated with the graphics_department group and, subsequently, receive policy and software updates assigned to the graphics_department group. You could also use the high_end policy for clients associated with a different group.

Controls	Description
Add Group Assignments	Specify the group assignments. • Group - Specify a new, unique group. If you are updating endpoint clients, specify an existing group. • Package - Specify a name for the package from the drop-down list. • Policy - Specify the policy from the drop-down list. The default is Initial. Note: In Mobile Controller 5.0, you can select Inherit from Default as an option.
Add	Adds the group assignment.
Remove Selected Assignments	Removes the selected assignment.
Add AD Path Assignments	Specify the Active Directory path assignment. Active Directory Path Assignment - Specify a new, unique active directory path assignment. Package - Specify a name for the package from the drop-down list. Policy - Specify the policy from the drop-down list.
Add	Adds the active directory path assignment.
GPO Custom Administrative Template	Complete the following tasks: • Click the link to download the GPO template (SteelheadMobile.adm) to your local machine. • On the Active Directory Server, in the Group Policy Editor, under Computer Configuration or User Configuration, right-click Administrative Templates and select Add/Remove Templates. • Click Add. • Navigate to the location of the SteelheadMobile.adm file downloaded above, select it, and click Open. • The SteelheadMobile.adm file is listed under Current Policy Templates. The GPO now contains a Mobile Controller section with a list of the available Mobile Controller policy settings. Note: On Windows Server 2008 R2 or later, the new template appears under a subsection of Current Policy Templates labeled Classic Administrative Templates. For details about changing a group, and disabling and enabling optimization using a GPO, see Changing an Endpoint Group for Clients Using a GPO and Enabling or Disabling Optimization Using a GPO Template.

The GPO custom administrative template adds Mobile Controller-specific policy settings to existing GPOs. After the template is added, you can configure these policy settings for use on the SteelHead Mobile clients. The GPO template can be added to the computer-specific or to the user-specific section of a GPO, depending on whether you want to apply settings based on computer name or username.