We've started to add some new content to the community over the last couple of months that we're pretty excited about - Use Case Reference Designs. Have you checked them out yet? We have a team focused on creating these drop-in solutions that help you start seeing the benefits of Intel vPro technology as soon as possible.

Check Them Out

Radmin* - Help Desk Tool for Use With Intel vPro TechnologyHelp desk personnel don't usually have access to the management console. This use case reference design shows how the help desk tech can use Radmin to perform basic Intel® AMT functions.

Windows* 7 OS, Microsoft* ConfigMgr SP2 and Intel® vPro™ Technology Use Microsoft ConfigMgr to wake up your vPro systems that are running Windows XP, install Windows 7 on them, link the data back & *poof* the machine will be migrated the next time the user logs in.

Intel AMT Firmware Update Using Microsoft Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and Intel vPro TechnologyThis use case reference design is helpful if you are activating your vPro fleet on your own - and helps you perform Intel AMT firmware version detection and updates using Microsoft Configuration Manager 2007 SP1.

Local Setup and Configuration Using a USB Flash DriveThis is a new one from Jake Gauthier- just published today! This use case reference design shows how a small/medium business can speed up the setup and configuration process.

And here's the library of Use Case Reference Designs:Use Case Reference Designs for Intel vPro Technology

What's Next?

The team has some really cool stuff planned:

Remote remediation solution which will allow a help desk tech to mount the vPro client's drive remotely - the help desk tech could then do things like run local anti-virus software to do a remote scan for threats on the mounted drive.

Remote KVM. The engineers are developing a standalone solution so that you can start using the remote KVM functionality the day that Intel AMT 6.0 launches. Why is this big? Because your management console won't have this support yet!

AMT Usage Models for 2006 -- vPro Expert Center

o The IT management console is able to “see” all PCs physically connected to the network, regardless of their power state.

o Count your networked PCs even when

powered down or the OS is inoperable

o Faster, more accurate than manual audits

o Assist compliance with government regulations

o Accurately inventory hardware and software assets

o Third-party software can now store hardware and software asset information in tamper-resistant, nonvolatile memory on vPro™ technology-based PCs, where it can be securely accessed by authorized staff from the IT console.

o Remote hardware inventories assist with upgrade planning

or lifecycle management

o Save money on license fees with accurate software inventories

o Diagnose, reboot, and repair PCs down-the-wire

o PC unable to boot --> PC sends an alert --> PC remotely rebooted from standard image on management server --> Technician diagnoses problem and repairs issue as appropriate (remote SW update, local HW install)

o Reduce the number of deskside visits

o Rapid response gets users up and running quickly

o An agent by definition is a complex software entity capable of acting with a certain degree of intelligence and autonomy in order to accomplish specific tasks or support the tasks of other software entities.]

o Keep agents operating correctly

o Management or security agent is continuously checking in with Intel vPro technology --> Management agent fails to check in --> PC alerts IT console that management agent is missing or non-functioning --> IT management console repairs non-working management agent

o Management agents in place ensure more accurate PC asset inventory

o Push security updates to PCs even if they are powered off

o IT Management Console reviews agent software report in management database for client DAT version to identify clients requiring update --> Unique encrypted power-on command issued by IT console --> Virus DAT file on PC updated and rebooted if necessary --> Encrypted power-off command sent to PC

o Encrypted, remote deployment of patches without user interruption

o Reduce time required to deploy patches, reduces vulnerability

o Filter harmful viruses and isolate infected PCs

o Hardware filters add a new level of security to your PC fleet

o Isolation helps prevent infected PCs from spreading viruses

o Keep agents operating correctly

o Security agents in place reduce IT vulnerability

o Management or security agent is continuously checking in with Intel vPro technology --> Security agent fails to check in --> PC alerts IT console that security agent is missing or non-functioning --> IT management console repairs non-working security agent

o Save valuable energy with the use of energy management policy software and Intel® vPro™ processor technology

o IT console sets Energy Management Policy with agent --> System powered down when inactive, based on policy --> System can be reliably activated for maintenance via secure management channel --> Energy Management agent protected via agent presence monitor

o Enterprise policy centrally managed & tamper resistant

o Agent can report energy usage and savings back to console

-Kelsey Witherow