Managing Corporate Handheld and Pocket PCs

In my last article I pointed out many reasons why Windows Powered Handheld and Pocket PCs are the right choice for enterprise use. One of those reasons is the need for management support. In this issue I explore resource management in more detail.

Whose Pocket PC is it, anyway?

Ever since Apple Computer introduced the ill-fated Newton, all handheld computers have been thought of as Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs. But when a company purchases a large number of small computers for specific applications, they quickly become a lot less personal. One of the most important decision a company has to make it this: will the equipment be issued to specific users to treat as their own, or will it be kept in a general pool where users may get a different unit each day? Often, this is an easy question to answer based on the corporate application: At one extreme you might find a specialized Pocket PC like Symbol’s PPT 2700 being used exclusively for inventory auditing. At the other end you might find a company executive using an HP Jornada Pocket PC to access group scheduling and check his or her e-mail. In the middle you could find a Handheld or Pocket PC being used primarily to run a “mission critical” application, but also being used for PIM purposes. Whatever the case, the support cost for Handheld and Pocket PCs increases when the users are free to use the computers for their own personal needs.

Simple asset management

Makers of Handheld and Pocket PCs such as Hewlett-Packard and Casio have included simple asset tracking software in their devices. For example, the HP Jornada series includes support for “Top Tools,” HP’s asset management software. Each time a Jornada Pocket PC user connects to the network using ActiveSync, the Jornada transmits the serial number and the user name stored in the device to the network manager. This minimalist approach might be sufficient for inventory control and network managers that simply need to know what devices are connected to their networks. However, if your business is dependent on the application running on these portable machines, you most likely will need additional functionality.

More comprehensive solutions

In addition to simply knowing who has each device and when and where they are connected to a corporate network, system management requires the ability to monitor and maintain the computers. Ideally, when a computer is used for a “mission critical” task, for example, a Pocket PC used in a warehouse to automate a “just-in-time” delivery system, potential problems should be identified before the device fails. Being able to monitor parameters such as available memory and battery life can flag typical problems before they cause the application to malfunction.

The enterprise IT manager also needs to maintain central backups, and have a method for system recovery.

Computer Associates (CA) is well known for its enterprise management tools known as Unicenter TNG. CA has extended this product to support Windows CE, including Handheld PCs and Pocket PCs. Unicenter TNG for Windows CE includes asset management tools that not only keep track of the hardware, but also of the software loaded on them. These tools also deliver alerts and relevant management data when critical events, such as low memory, occur. System managers can also use Unicenter to distribute software and data, as well as centrally perform backup operations. Another unique feature is an anti-virus program. Although this author is currently unaware of any viruses targeted to Windows CE, given the recent ILOVEYOU virus plague, I’m sure that many IT professionals would sleep better at night knowing that they have some form of virus protection on the handheld devices.

Aether Software (formerly Riverbed Technologies) also provides an enterprise management tool for Windows CE called ScoutIT. This product provides similar features to the CA offering. ScoutIT retrieves device configuration information including RAM, ROM and Registry content. This allows ScoutIT to know what software is installed on each device. If a user downloads a game on a dedicated machine, the IT department will know about it. The system administrator can even delete files and databases from individual devices.