Cim-IS & Cim DataCenter Upgrade

According to its product strategy, Apsynet rolls out a yearly major upgrade. Frequently, we provide an intermediary minor release too and some service packs. All of those are freely available to customers, as part of their maintenance contract.

You will find two news levels. Technology enhancements embedded in our kernel product Apsynet DataCenter and new features to complete an existing solution or to create a new product solution.
About inventory technology of CDC Technical, dedicated monthly dictionary and knowledgebase updates are available in « Users support ».

03/16/10 – News in Apsynet DataCenter : release 3.4

Interface enhancements

In a constant concern to optimize access to information in Apsynet DataCenter, we have added in version 3.4, the following new features:

Contextual Pages Settings
Apsynet DataCenter 3.4 integrates a new technology allowing to create for any template, different contextual pages settings.
You can build as many different Pages Settings as necessary, saved and identified.

You can then define rules to select, at document opening, the Page settings required.

Example: While using the Directory Template, specifics Pages Settings has been defined depending the document type , whether it describes a Person, a Division or a Function.

This feature can be used from criteria like:

• connected user (or his group’s membership),
• the document Status,
• the platform in use,
• a field value.
  

Color and Icon fields
It's possible too, using same rules than contextual pages settings,
to display a color or an icon in :

Example : in Event template, Colors codes can be used depending the Event status.

• a template,
• template's links,
• a query result.

Icons
More than 250 high definition new icons have been added to product's library.

New integration Portal
Prior to version 3.4, Apsynet DataCenter was available in two environments: Web and Windows. You had a web interface for the product using the complete user portal.
The new version offers now a second solution in web environment.
You can build your own web site, and user portal using dedicated Style sheets.

You will be then able to use this new features:

Advantage : you are able to create a custom web site matching with your company graphics standards (or Intranet site one) and provide an easier access to end users.

• login to product (In order to gain adequate access rights),
• create documents shortcuts,open documents,
• display a query result (with a custom Cascaded Style Sheet),
• open documents from a query (with a custom Cascaded Style Sheet),
  

Html Mail
The version 3.4 is now able to send HTML formatted eMails.
This feature allows to build enhanced graphical mail (Fonts, Colors, Graphics) and to add links through buttons or images.

Apsynet Request Center new version
Apsynet Request Center has been totally rewritten to get benefit of version 3.4 last technologies.
Used along with the new integration portal, it becomes possible to provide a user friendly and customized solution dedicated to provided to untrained end users.
This solution offers too these possibilities:

• contextual pages settings usage,
• simplified graphics standards usage,
• multilingual portal,
• purchase requests, shopping basket.
  

 

News technologies

Query Builder

Example : Your query can group and account events month by month.

A new feature in version 3.4, the Query Builder allows to work on dates

choosing a desired granularity level: second, minute, hour, day, week, month, quarter or year.

LDAP interface evolution

The version 3.4 is able to read information stored in fields with multiple values. You can use it to read an account groups memberships.

New Web query Builder

Apsynet DataCenter Web query Builder has been totally rewritten, Faster, with an easier interface , it has now the same features than its Windows counterpart.

Workflow

You can now run Action from Action in Workflows. A action can now chain different actions for a single status in one click.

VBscript

Internal VBscript has been extended, in version 3.4 you can now:

• programmatically search for documents,You can build too a functions library and share them in a template.
• change and save a linked document,

• create documents and schedule entries,
• run production rules and actions,
• initialize sequences.
  

32 and 64 bit Environnements

These new functions are available:

• extended support for Vista/Seven/2008 32 and 64 bit platforms,
• new integrated PDF printer,
• software usage technology (CSU) and automatic reinventory,
• signing and certificates in audit technology.

06/17/09 – News in Apsynet DataCenter : release 3.3

New features:

Infrastructure’s Software Integrity
Data integrity’s management is able to identify anomalies in infrastructure’s software implementation (antivirus, software distribution, patches management, IT asset management) and to compare them.
This new feature allows handling variations between theoretical management and software’s real deployment for any application which surround your IT assets.

Budget and invoices
A complete and hierarchical budgetary follow-up for orders, invoices and expenses, to offer a real time view on operation and computer technology direct or indirect costs. This view of different aspects warranties a precise control.

Contracts
contract’s Management is really improved. Henceforth, complete validation cycle process is handled. Now, it’s possible to treat the different contract’s mode of renewal or closing.

News technologies:

Schedule
Schedule entry is exported to iCal standard format. It’s possible to synchronize Apsynet DataCenter entries with Outlook, Exchange, Notes, Google … Schedule is automatically updated once the invitation is accepted.

Group’s Schedule.
Different resources may be grouped (persons, assets, locations) within objet, to offer the way to view and compare different schedules.

Alarm messages
e-mail’s notification may use any fields linked with the concerned document even if it’s in another document. The e-mail sent can thus includes more completes information.

eDataCenter
Web technology eDataCenter has been refreshed for a better compatibility with new generation web browsers (Chrome2, Firefox, Safari …). On this occasion, a work was done to improve global performances.

Inventory
New generation of inventory modules covers new OS Microsoft Windows (Vista 64 and Windows 7) audit quality while preserving old versions complete support. Along with the new licenses management , a new software detection approaches is used. Version recognition is more complete and precise.

Interface
New version 3.3 has new icons in Windows Vista spirit.

11/26/08 – News in CDC Technical : release 3.2

CDC Technical release 3.2 includes new Administrative Asset Management features.
It offers a complete costs control, managing every financial issue related to infrastructure, both for equipments and software licenses, and for supplies or services , and finally internal billing.

It handles :

• Contracts (warranty, maintenance, training etc.) and suppliers,
• Stocks, repairs, manufacturer returns, lends,
• Depreciations, fixed assets and discards,
• Budgets, Orders and Shipments,
• Supplies and small assets.
  

08/11/08 – News in Cim DataCenter : release 3.2

A complete new feature to offer to EndUsers a requests submission wizard: Apsynet Request Center
This full new system allows handling any type of Users requests, from the most basic to the most complex.
Its design has been studied to enable a total autonomy to any user without any training, even for a first time use. To reach its target, it provides wizards to guide typing and request description, associated with automated tasks handling approval and information distribution processes.

Apsynet Request Center makes available to all employees, a complete and open forms library:

• Lents, resources reservation (hardware, rooms, qualified people, …)
• Assistance, incidents description.
• Purchase, work requests.
  

Apsynet Request Center relies on CDC Service Desk module and brings rigorous and reliability of a solution running in ITIL compliance.

Licenses management
The 3.2 release licenses management targets is to perfectly master enterprise software assets, to complete a full software licenses compliance program. It allows delivering any time a precise and complete reports.
Apsynet DataCenter 3.2 offers a plug and play solution, without any configuration. It only requires the computers software inventory and the owned licenses statements. You’ll then get an immediate result.
Through version 3.2, you can consolidate under a single description, different products, for inventory data (wherever it comes from), or for purchases. You’re allowed to control specifics issues like: differences between technical and commercial names or publisher name change.

New graphical queries presentation
Version 3.2 introduces a new graphical queries builder adding numerous new features. A better resolution, more curves types, colors, page settings and legends freedom. It allows too to groups different sets of values in a single graph (purchased, in use and available software licenses).

Status Management
The « status » field, which control workflows, has been enhanced to give more information to user, this field display now both the current state value and list all available actions.

Sensitive fields
A field can be made « sensitive », it then initiates an email or a web link opening or a FTP download.
Web Portal Web: Passwords management
Password changes and forgotten passwords can be handled from login window, a mail can be sent to account owner.

Vista/Windows 2008 compatibility
Our development platform has migrated from Visual C++ 6 to Visual C++ 2005 to handle Vista, Windows 2008 and to support 64bit Operating systems.

10/31/07 News in Cim DataCenter : release 3.1

A Web 2.0 and Windows customizable Portal
It s a new central tool, which can be customized and shared to manage through a new command tree:

• Reports
• Shortcuts
• Search module
• Synthesis
• News messages

A complete new Web technology, fast and supporting many environments

• Without JRE (JAVA)
• A wide range of platforms and browsers
• An enhanced interface (sorts, dynamics filters)

New inventory data around security

• Shares
• Operating systems
• Memory chips details
• Dual screens / multicore CPU / x64 systems

Interface Page Settings
Several new features:

• Change fields displayed in a dynamic referrer
• Display in a template fields from a linked template
• Change rows displayed in an automatic link
• Create VBscript calculated fields

An extra SQL query builder
Providing ability to run pure SQL queries over Database:

• Outer joins
• Objects "without"
  

Integrating Microsoft Management tools data
SMS 2003 and WSUS 3 Interface:

• Direct link between inventory and software distribution data
• Inventory data available
• Tracking Updates and packages installation
• Control queries

Apsynet Mobile, new version 2.1
Adding new features to the barcode reader/ PDA application:

• Use Action buttons workflows
• Embed catalogs

01/30/07 - News in Cim DataCenter : release 3.0.0.8

New document interface
For a better usage, numerous features in product interface have been redesigned:

• Typing assistant
• New icons
• Keyboard shortcuts enhancement
• Windows XP skins
• Query builder:
  - Filtering assistant
  - Column labels may be renamed
  - Aggregates may be filtered

Information display

Any items may have 3 different types of page settings:

• Windows interface
• Web interface
• As many printing definition as necessary
  

A free and customizable screen presentation
Fields may have differents labels in screens and queries and even a custom name for each query
Document view may be calculated using fields values or user logged. The product display is dynamic depending content.

Workflow
Definition : operational aspect of a work procedure: how tasks are structured, who performs them, what their relative order is, how they are synchronized, how information flows to support the tasks and how tasks are being tracked (source: Wikipedia)

• Graphical interface
• Initials controls
• automated tadks and alerts
• Rights can be defined for each action.

New inventory data
Software distribution interface Check if computer is known in both products, check which computers are not up to date
Detailed USB devices Keys, PDA, Printers, Scanner
Database Drivers, Publisher and versions
Security Antivirus, Local Accounts, Local Groups , Local Profiles
Batteries Brand and type for batteries and UPS

New SNMP module
The SNMP discovery is able to create automatically the full asset:

• New discovery assistant
• Apsynet provided knowledgebase for Manufacturers, Type and serial numbers OIDs (may be extended or corrected by users)
  
• New MIBs explorer
• Automatic administrative asset creation

Human and asset ressources schedule
The time management appears in DataCentera :

• Manage delays ;
• Manage availability ;
• Manage users vacancies ;
• Manage lent assets.

ITIL Service Desk
SLAs management: Agreements and service
Events management: Issues and requests
Problems management: Major or recurrent issues
Change management: Knowledge base and operations
User satisfaction survey: Online survey

11/18/05 - New in Cim-IS & Cim DataCenter release 2.7.0.6

New features
The software license management is now more complete

• The product automatically creates "Software installation" objects, for each licensed software, installed on a computer in a defined perimeter.
• The object "software license" allows a precise software accounting on various perimeters:
  - authorized or not ;
  - used or not ;
  - bought, declared, not licensed ;
  - in a division or in a location.

Physical inventory control

• Data are compared to external information (Accounting , ERP, Barcodes…)
• differences audit for control and validation ;
• extract and publish product catalogs.
  

PeopleCenter Self Service

• The end user provides it's request through Web or eMail;
• The end user get a feedback about request status;
• New technologies involved : Web, POP3, SSO, Email, URL, Unify.

Attachments are now directly stored in database.

Production rules
Production rules become a real tool for a daily usage:

• LDAP connector ;
• emails receipts;
• external datasources (ERP, Accounting, Software distribution, Barcodes…) ;
• Internal product rules.

Web updates
Web Update handles in a single operation:

• an automatic product and Knowledge Bases updates control;
• a KB download;
• a database update with new KBs.

Groups
The user rights management is now easier and more complete using multiples "groups" membership for profiles and accounts.

Software usages
Software launches and running time is available for:

• Current : week, month, quarter, year;
• Last complete : week, month, quarter, year;
• or since initial inventory.

Web

• The web portal has been rewrote, it can be now customized for each user
• Web Gui is now more intuitive .

02/01/05 New in Cim-IS & Cim DataCenter release 2.6.0.5

Interfaces
Fields and thumbnails customization:

• Inventory's or Template's fields can be renamed,
• Fields can be moved or hidden.

Query builder
The query builder module has been fully rewritten:

• There is no limit to involved templates,
• Filters may be more complex :
  - field to field,
  - relatives to dates,
  - or between margins.
• It is possible to create aggregates including counting, average, minimum and maximum.

eServices & eDataCenter
The interface of the web application is homogeneous with the Windows one.

Templatess
The virtual data model has evolved to the management of more complex structures:

• Directories are hierarchical.
• It is possible to manage entries like :
  people, entity or duty.

Budget or BU costs management
There are different views of cost management:

• Purchases,
• Exploitation,
• Help desk.

Deprecation can be on a period, with an automatic computation of the remaining value at current time and at December 31st.

Archiving
For improved view and access speed to the database, you can archive the obsolete data. They are still reachable on demand.

Alarms
The alarm system has been extended on the inventory events and on the request's results. It is possible to notify an event and send a mail.

Implicit Universal Login
The user's authentication, using domain, address or device, gives access to Cim-IS and CDC without need of login and password. This according to the security rules.

Centralized management
A single management console for :

• the control of the inventory,
• the control of the servers,
• the knowledge bases,
• the users accounts and rights,
• the alarms,
• the interface customization.

Printing
The configuration for printing is more complete.

Modules
Native support of Windows XP 64

04/01/04 - New in Cim-IS & Cim DataCenter release 2.5.2.2

Interface
Graphical improvements :

• More intuitive buttons,
• Direct management of doubles using icons.

Improvement of the charts generator

• Aspect functions have been added.

Customization of the Cim DataCenter documents

• Designer: Management of the titles, colors, fonts and icons.

Management of the tabs

• Hide tabs.

Query builder

• Build queries against DataCenter notifications.
• Improve the management and the extend multi models queries.

eServices & eDataCenter

• The interface of the web query builder is homogeneous with the Windows one.
• The query builder functions for Windows (trees, charts and manipulation of requests) are embedded in the web query builder interface.
  

Modules

• Native modules for Mac OS X are available.
• The latest technical updates for Windows and Linux modules are handled.

Upgrades

• Improvement of the upgrade process.