A Class of Their Own

As a class of products, metering programs offer remarkably similar features. Most allow a network administrator to automatically block access to applications once all the available licenses are used up, log the amount of time during which a user can control an application, set up classes of users so that some have a higher priority than others when accessing applications, and automatically queue up users who are waiting for a license to be freed up.

But not all metering packages are created equal. Depending on your network, one may be more appropriate for your needs than another. Items that you should consider when selecting a metering program include which NOS (network operating system) the program works with, which client applications it supports, and whether it's a stand-alone utility or one that can be used with other network utilities you might be running.

When it comes to NOS support, some packages, such as Saber Enterprise Applications Manager (or SEAM) from Saber Software, SiteMeter from McAfee, and Software Metering and Resource Tracking (or SMART) from Frye Computer Systems, run on Novell NetWare LANs. Others, such as CentaMeter from Tally Systems, Software Sentry from Microsystems Software, and Norton Administrator for Networks from Symantec, are NOS-independent: They all run on NetWare LANs, but they can also be used with other NOSes, including Banyan Vines, Pathworks, LAN Manager, LAN Server, LANtastic, and PC-NFS networks.

With client application support, all metering programs support DOS and Windows applications. But some, such as Frye's SMART, McAfee's SiteMeter, and Saber's SEAM, can also meter OS/2 and Macintosh applications.

The Sum of the Parts

Companies that have turned to metering programs to help rein in the administrative costs of running a network often find they also need other utilities. For example, these companies might want to cut software-installation time by using an electronic software-distribution program. Or they may want to reduce the time it takes to perform an inventory by using automatic hardware- and software-inventory programs.

A company could buy stand-alone tools to do all these tasks. However, purchasing tools that are designed to work together often provides additional benefits. For example, integrated tools can let a network administrator display all network information on one management screen. Another benefit is that the data collected by tools designed to work together is often part of a common database and can be combined--in a single spreadsheet, for example--for easier analysis.

Several metering tools are actually one tool of many that fit into a plug-in-module approach to network-utility products. Most often, these tools work as stand-alone products, but they can also be used as part of an integrated management system. For example, Frye's SMART is one of several plug-in modules for the company's Frye Utilities for Networks. Other Frye utilities perform server management, automatic hardware inventory, network monitoring, and software distribution.

Similarly, SiteMeter from McAfee is part of BrightWorks, the company's integrated suite of network management tools, which includes programs for handling software distribution and hardware inventory. Microsoft, with its Systems Management Server, and Symantec, with its Norton Enterprise Framework, have taken this modular concept a step further and developed their own systems management architectures into which you can plug software-distribution, inventorying, and other network management tools.

SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT SAVE MONEY

Reduce the number of licenses you purchase by not buying extra copies
of software that you already own but sits unused on the network.

Centralize purchasing to reduce the cost per license by taking
advantage of volume discounts and site licenses.

Opt for concurrent licensing agreements and use metering to ensure
compliance with the terms of the agreements.

Dynamically reallocate or share licenses to get the most use out of
each one.

Cut the time needed to troubleshoot software conflicts by using
up-to-date inventory information.

Reduce recurring calls to a help desk by matching software-usage
patterns to the frequency of calls to the help desk.

Charge back your support costs to individuals and departments based
on usage, not on the number of people in a department.

Reduce network downtime due to virus infections by preventing
unauthorized software from running on the network.

Avoid fines for using unlicensed software on company equipment.

Graphical Display from Saber

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Graphical displays of application-usage levels, such as this one from Saber, make it easy for a network administrator to spot trends and adjust license purchases.