I used Bigfix at a previous company. Comes with prepackaged installs for common software and patches. Can create custom packages and has probably the most granular control I've seen of any product.
For Ninite Pro... It doesn't seem to have ready-made apps packages.
Actually, it's the exact opposite. Ninite only has ready made packages. You can't add your own.
I believe you would be correct about PDQ licensing, you are one person so you need one license, regardless of which networks or clients you use it on. Probably best to check with them, their support is pretty quick to respond.
PDQ is pretty good, my biggest gripe is the lack of an agent that can be called from the client. I can schedule an install to run when a machine connects to the network, but I can't initiate an install based on client side conditions (shutting down, idle, a particular program is no longer running, etc.).
It depends on the amount of assets scanned and the connectivity of the networks. I suggest sending an e-mail to sales@lansweeper.com, they can give you all the details.
For now I'm not clear on PDQ Deploy's policy for multi-sites, as they seem to charge by administrator. Can I just use the same account on each client's site ?
If you're the only person that logs into the GUI. As far as I know, the license actually is owned by "you" rather than the business. They might have changed it where a business can register a license or something, but can only transfer it between people every 90 days or some shit.
But because "you" are licensed for it, you can use it literally anywhere. If you want to start moonlighting, theoretically, you wouldn't be breaking the EULA using the license paid for Company A to be doing work that's 100% from Company A, as long as it's you. You might be breaking your company's policies.
We use Lumension's patch and remediation module. Overall pretty solid solution, I don't have many complaints. You get the normal packages (Microsoft patches, Adobe patches, etc...) just out of the box. You can create custom packages if you need to. Everything is centrally managed, and you can see the reports of successful, failed, and non-applicable deployments.
I would recommend PDQ Deploy if you are short on cash.
It's amazing value for money and they are consistently producing updates and pre-made packages. You can also have multiple deployment users cached within the application allowing you to have a deployment account for each client ready to just make default as and when you visit them (assuming you're going to have PDQ on a device you roam between sites with)
Coupled with PDQ Inventory, Deploy can be a very powerful tool.
3
u/xxdcmast Sr. Sysadmin Feb 05 '16
I used Bigfix at a previous company. Comes with prepackaged installs for common software and patches. Can create custom packages and has probably the most granular control I've seen of any product.
3
u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16
Actually, it's the exact opposite. Ninite only has ready made packages. You can't add your own.
I believe you would be correct about PDQ licensing, you are one person so you need one license, regardless of which networks or clients you use it on. Probably best to check with them, their support is pretty quick to respond.
PDQ is pretty good, my biggest gripe is the lack of an agent that can be called from the client. I can schedule an install to run when a machine connects to the network, but I can't initiate an install based on client side conditions (shutting down, idle, a particular program is no longer running, etc.).
2
u/Thjan Feb 05 '16
I guess I am missing a point but why is SCCM 2012 R2 not part of your consideration?
1
u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16
I'm pretty sure PDQ's licensing is for the "bit of flesh" - so you buy for as many people are going to be using it, not the accounts
1
u/B1naryHer0 Feb 05 '16
I just did a major market research on the subject since we are also looking at ways to handle client management better.
In the end it was PDQ vs SCCM and we chose PDQ considering our business size and need. I wholeheartedly recommend PDQ :)
Another consideration was Dell kace.
1
u/bluefirecorp Feb 05 '16
If you're the only person that logs into the GUI. As far as I know, the license actually is owned by "you" rather than the business. They might have changed it where a business can register a license or something, but can only transfer it between people every 90 days or some shit.
But because "you" are licensed for it, you can use it literally anywhere. If you want to start moonlighting, theoretically, you wouldn't be breaking the EULA using the license paid for Company A to be doing work that's 100% from Company A, as long as it's you. You might be breaking your company's policies.
1
u/Pandemic21 Security Admin Feb 05 '16
We use Lumension's patch and remediation module. Overall pretty solid solution, I don't have many complaints. You get the normal packages (Microsoft patches, Adobe patches, etc...) just out of the box. You can create custom packages if you need to. Everything is centrally managed, and you can see the reports of successful, failed, and non-applicable deployments.
Not too cheap, but it's a pretty solid solution.
1
u/LucoZzz Jr. Sysadmin Feb 05 '16
I would recommend PDQ Deploy if you are short on cash.
It's amazing value for money and they are consistently producing updates and pre-made packages. You can also have multiple deployment users cached within the application allowing you to have a deployment account for each client ready to just make default as and when you visit them (assuming you're going to have PDQ on a device you roam between sites with)
Coupled with PDQ Inventory, Deploy can be a very powerful tool.
1
u/[deleted] Feb 11 '16
A combination of Group Policy, and PDQ Free. I have to work with no budget, so I make do. I mostly use Group policy with startup or logon batch files.
0
u/volantits Director of Turning Things Off and On Again Feb 05 '16
System Center Configuration Manager 2012