Supported Networks

Patch Manager Plus's network-neutral architecture helps administrators patch computers that have Microsoft Windows installed in them, irrespective of their network setup. Your network setups can include the following:

• Active Directories
• Novell eDirectories
• Workgroups
• Branch or remote offices
• Roaming users
• Multiple domains

Active Directory

If you have a Windows Active Directory-based network, you can install Patch Manager Plus in a central location and patch all the computers within the Active Directory. For more information, see Architecture for LAN.

Novell eDirectory

If you have a Novell eDirectory-based network, you should ensure that all the computers you are patching within this network have a common set of credentials.

 

Workgroup

If you have a workgroup-based network, you can patch the computers in the workgroup from a central location. You should ensure that all the computers have a common set of credentials. For more information, see Architecture for LAN.

Branch or Remote Offices

Patch Manager Plus's WAN architecture helps you to patch Windows computers that span across multiple locations. These computers can be connected using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or through the Internet. When computers in different locations are connected using the Internet, the Patch Manager Plus server should be installed and configured as an edge device. This means that the designated port should be accessible through the Internet. You need to adopt necessary security standards to harden the operating system where the Patch Manager Plus server is installed.

You must open the following Web ports in the server:

• 8020: Used for agent-server communication and to access the Web console
• 8027: Used to complete on-demand tasks like patch scanning, moving agents from one remote office to another and more

For more information, see Architecture for WAN.

Roaming Users

You can patch the computers of mobile or roaming users who connect to your network using a VPN connection or through the Internet. The agent installed in their computers contacts the Patch Manager Plus server installed in your network periodically. It gathers information about the necessary instructions and executes the same. It also updates the data and status information in the Patch Manager Plus server. For more information, see Architecture for WAN.

Multiple Domains

You can use Patch Manager Plus to patch computers in multiple domains* as follows:

• Multiple domains in the same LAN
• Multiple domains that span across the globe
• Any combination of Active Directory, workgroup or Novell eDirectory-based networks

The computers within the same domain or workgroup should have a common set of credentials irrespective of the domains they are combined with. For more information, see Architecture for WAN and Architecture for LAN.

*Refers to Active Directory, workgroups or other directory-based networks