Client management for 3,000 PCs at over 140 locations
Hellweg Die Profi-Baumärkte is an owner-managed, medium-sized company. From the Dortmund headquarters, 89 Hellweg branches in Germany - with a focus on the Rhine-Ruhr region and the Berlin area, in Austria and 57 BayWa branches - are managed and controlled. Since mid-2008, IT administrator Dirk Hoder and his colleague have been responsible for the company's client infrastructure. With around 3,000 PCs at over 140 locations today, this is certainly a challenge. The company has been relying on the acmp client management system from aagon for over four years to make its day-to-day business as efficient as possible.
"The very good price-performance ratio played a decisive role in the decision for the software solution," reports Dirk Hoder from the IT and Communication department. "Since then, one of my tasks has been to implement the product optimally in our large, distributed company structure and to use it as effectively as possible.
Distribute updates
One of the biggest challenges in client management for Hellweg is the distribution of software to the PC workstations distributed throughout Germany and Austria. For communication with central IT resources, the Hellweg branches are connected to the Dortmund headquarters via DSL lines. This is used to operate the merchandise management system and connect the cash registers in the more than 140 stores. However, this line capacity was and is not designed for the mass rollout of large software packages.
"If every client were to download a service pack or a new Office version from the head office more or less simultaneously, for example, our network would no longer be available for day-to-day business," explains IT administrator Hoder. "That's why we set up a Linux-based branch server at each location, which can be used by the local PCs for software distribution via the client management system.
The branch servers provide so-called file repositories for this purpose, from which all local client PCs download the software packages to be installed via the LAN. The file repositories are in turn populated with all relevant software packages by the acmp server at the Hellweg headquarters.
Bandwidth management is essential
To ensure that critical applications such as the company's merchandise management system continue to work as usual when the software packages are transferred from Dortmund to the more than 140 Hellweg DIY stores and garden centers, the client management solution also limits the bandwidth for file transfers if necessary.
This ensures that all business-critical applications always have sufficient line capacity available in the WAN.
Since the introduction of the bandwidth limitation, the client commands for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and the file repositories, the software is now also suitable for large and distributed infrastructures such as ours without any restrictions.
Simple creation of software packages
Even though the number of applications used at Hellweg is manageable, there is always something for the IT colleagues responsible for packaging to do. The company currently uses Windows XP and mainly standard programs such as Adobe Reader and Java on its client PCs. The company's special software programs include the merchandise management system, which runs on an AS/400 in the backend. In addition, some PCs are equipped with a corresponding terminal client.
Hellweg is currently preparing the company-wide migration to Office 2010. The company had the corresponding software package for the client management software created by aagon specialists.
"We have concluded a support contract with the IT service provider for three man-days per quarter, which also includes support for the Office migration," explains Dirk Hoder. "However, my colleagues and I also package smaller packages such as Adobe Reader ourselves."
Both the intelligent wizards of the client management software and the integrated installation recorder help the IT specialists with this. This is a recorder software that records all entries and settings of a software installation and uninstallation on a test system and creates an automatically running package from this. This package can then be imported directly into the client management system and distributed to any user groups at the click of a mouse.
Overview even with many PCs
A particular challenge for the IT managers at Hellweg in mid-2012 was a strong growth spurt in both the number of stores and the number of PCs administered. Within just three months, Hellweg's joint venture with BayWa Bau- und Gartenmärkte GmbH & Co. KG added 56 new stores with around 500 PCs in one fell swoop for Dirk Hoder's team.
However, the client management solution also coped well with this leap without compromising the overview or performance of the software.
The administrators create new branches in the solution as separate locations. This allows them to immediately view all the PCs in a DIY store at the click of a mouse.
The administration console of the client management software also has no problems with the large number of clients. "I still find acmp very clear and easy to use," explains Dirk Hoder. "With the help of the 'Browse and Management' function, it is still child's play to create and execute location-based queries, for example.
Conclusion
Hellweg still has a lot planned for the future with the system: Following the migration to Office 2010, the integration of the company's own WSUS server for Windows updates is next on the agenda.
"The client management suite is a large toolbox with many powerful tools, but you need to know how to use them effectively," explains the system administrator. "That's why I personally really like the exchange of experiences between acmp users organized by the solution provider, where you also learn a lot about using the product in practice."
To this end, the Soest-based software company regularly organizes roadshows that offer all users throughout Germany a platform for direct exchange with the manufacturer. Even after more than four years, Hellweg is still very satisfied with its decision to use the client management software.
"After successfully overcoming a few teething problems, I feel that I am in very good hands with our IT service provider," concludes Dirk Hoder. "And the way we use the solution suite, I can't find anything that I would miss in the product."
Briefly noted:
Challenge:
The administrators at Hellweg Die Profi-Baumärkte were looking for a solution to automatically and centrally distribute software to around 3,000 PCs at over 140 locations.
Solution:
Hellweg decided to use the acmp client management suite from aagon because it offers a very good price-performance ratio and also supports large installations well.
Added value:
Branch servers in the branch offices with local file repositories make software packages available within the branch office via the LAN. Intelligent bandwidth management ensures that no important applications are slowed down in the WAN when the file repositories are synchronized with the central acmp server.
HELLWEG Die Profi-Baumärkte
dense store network, excellent service quality
Hellweg Die Profi-Baumärkte is an owner-managed, medium-sized company and is growing at an above-average rate with a successful DIY and garden store concept and an online store: www.Hellweg.de. In 2011, Hellweg was awarded the title of test winner and thus "Best DIY store" in a nationwide comparison by the news channel n-tv and the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ).
In their summary, the testers wrote: "The employees stood out in particular for their friendly advice, great helpfulness and positive appearance.
The Hellweg store network is characterized by a high density and regional market leadership, with a focus on the Rhine-Ruhr region and the Berlin area. With an average sales area of over 8,000 square meters, Hellweg has one of the most modern store portfolios in the industry. Over 90 percent of the stores have attractive garden centers. The company pursues a quality and service-oriented corporate strategy. Hellweg employs around 4,000 people, ten percent of whom are trainees.
The first Hellweg DIY store was opened in 1971 on Brackeler Hellweg in Dortmund. The company is named after Europe's most important trade route in the Middle Ages: the "Hellweg" runs from Aachen through today's Ruhr area to Berlin.
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