Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) Request For Information (RFI) Document

This document presents the software distribution requirements for implementation of systems management tools for the Symon & Associates. The reviewed/approved requirements for a software distribution product are the basis of this Request For Information (RFI) document.

With this RFI we are addressing the business concerns to have our desktop and servers managed centrally, and the new and growing requirements in the Intranet environments.

We are investigating several leading vendor products by obtaining written specifications and general information manuals.

The MUSTs are basic criteria which must be fulfilled. However, if no vendor can fulfill a MUST, it will be evaluated for applicability.

The WANTs are criteria which we would like to have.

These are selection criteria relating to characteristics of the vendor company or general levels of support. These must meet our systems management architecture, standards, and long term strategic direction. General requirements are identified by:

GM indicates a general requirement which is a MUST.

GW indicates a general requirement which we WANT.

These are other additional functions or features which are attractive to us for the tape backup and recovery capability. They are specific in nature, describing a particular function or an identifiable feature which is desired. Specific requirements are identified by:

SM indicates a specific requirement which is a MUST.

SW indicates a specific requirement which we WANT.

A general or specific MUST can be answered by a Yes or No.

A general or specific WANT can be answered in paragraph or statement form.

Our selection process will be as follows:

1. Identify vendors

2. Send RFI to vendors

3. Review vendor responses and identify vendors for on site product evaluation

4. Interview or talk with vendors on technical issues

5. Adjust RFI requirements if appropriate

6. Make final recommendation of a vendor's product

• GM1. It supports heterogeneous environment.
• GM2. It provides a GUI front end for majority of functions.
• GM3. It is an established product and available by 3/31/98.
• GM4. It is a Year 2000 compliant product.

• GW1. Ease of installation and setup: Installation, configuration, and validation can be completed in one day.
• GW2. Ease of use: Demonstrate that system admins agree the product is easy to use and is not cumbersome.
• GW3. Overall system performance: System performance will not degrade during the business hours.
• GW4. Low acquisition costs: Validate that the acquisition (capital) costs for the product are low.
• GW5. Low operating costs: Validate that the operating (maintenance) costs for the product are low.
• GW6. Technical support for pilot: Provide on site or on call technical support available for pilot.
• GW7. On-line documentation : Provide documentation online and high quality user's guides and operating manuals.
• GW8. Technical Training: Provide training for the product.

• SM1. Cross platform clients: Support Windows 95, Windows NT, and Unix clients.
• SM2. Cross platform server: Support Window NT with MS/SQL database, and Unix based servers, with Informaix database
• SM3. Support both push and pull distribution: The software can be pushed from the central management console or subscribed from the client desktop.
• SM4. Rollback/Uninstall capabilities: Can rollback software when has problem during the installation, and remotely uninstall software from the central site.
• SM5. Centralized Control: Software configuration can be control from central site for which group can have what software.
• SM5. Centralized Status: Can view install/uninstall status from the system admin console.

• SW1. Control software version
• SW2. Support both attended and unattended software install
• SW3. Create group by condition
• SW4. Can distribute a group of software, instead of send it one by one
• SW5. Schedule software download during off-peak hours
• SW6. Check disk space before install
• SW7. Compress software for distribution
• SW8. Fault-Tolerant software download
• SW9. Notify users for changes
• SW10. Integrated with Web browser
• SW11. Provides status and software inventory report
• SW12. Integrated with inventory software
• SW13. Support for Windows 3.1