Desktop Central from ManageEngine is a client desktop management with patching, remote control, and configuration.
$795
per year per user
VMware vCenter
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
VMware vCenter is an advanced server management software that provides a centralized platform for controlling vSphere environments for visibility across hybrid clouds. VMware vCenter is no longer sold as a standalone product and is now available as a part of VMware Cloud Foundation.
If an organization seeks an asset management tool with features like asset inventory, software inventory, and hardware inventory, ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a suitable choice. However, if the requirement extends to replacing tools such as a service desk, ManageEngine Endpoint Central may not fulfill this need. While it excels in asset management capabilities, it lacks the functionality to serve as a comprehensive service desk replacement, making it essential to evaluate specific requirements before selection.
The VMware vCenter server is very useful in maintaining the CPU/RAM/datastore resources are balanced when there are multiple ESX/ESXi host servers. It is clear what resources are being used, and it is easy to migrate VMs to different ESX/ESXi hosts. Being able to remotely connect to the VM servers in vCenter when you cannot have other remote connections helps in maintenance and troubleshooting.
product support - the technicians at ManageEngine Endpoint Central are very knowledgeable when it comes to the system- I have never had an issue not fixed promptly by them
The OS deployment tool saves us a significant amount of time and man hours in deploying machines- from manual setups taking 1-2 hours to complete per device, to 6 minutes each, is all the proof you need
Being able to remotely and silently install packages of software e.g Foxit PDF viewer, means we can instantly give hundreds or even thousands of machines a piece of software that before using EC, would have taken weeks to do, even with multiple technicians
The tables for the query reports could be catalogued online so we can more easily write out own query reports, without needing to contact support.
Linux and MacOS application patching needs improvement.
The API needs some more data we can retrieve, e.g. allow us to query all Custom Groups, which devices are in the groups, and which patching policies apply to those groups
The patching could use a calendar-style view, showing which devices or groups are due to patch on which days
Currently, the HTML 5-based vSphere Client lets you manage the essential functions of vSphere from any browser, however, it would be nice if they would port all management functions over to the HTML 5-based Client.
Performing updates and upgrades to the infrastructure is a bit challenging for someone that may not be as intimate with vSphere. I think the updates/upgrades should be more integrated into the UI and provide the ability to push to the hosts, etc...
It would also be nice to have a more robust snapshot management tool to prevent snapshot overgrowth. It would be nice to be able to set a lifespan for the snapshot(s)
ManageEngine is considered an excellent product due to its comprehensive suite of solutions for IT management, with ManageEngine Endpoint Central specifically excelling in endpoint management. The platform stands out for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and versatility in addressing diverse IT needs. It offers organizations a centralized solution for endpoint security, patch management, software deployment, and asset management
We are very dependent on this software, it has become a much needed tool to perform the daily tasks that are required to maintain the virtual server environment. VMware has become very pricey over the years, so we are looking for alternatives for cost savings strategy, but nothing has been found to be on par to what we are currently using
The user interface is clear and well organised. Having spent over 3 years using this, I can find anything I need and this assists me in my role. One feature that I use a lot is deployment policies. This helps me pick a more precise time to install patches. I struggle to do this in Intune.
I work with vCenter for 10+ years and i love it. I can find my way around and can help building and expanding the platform. It is easy to use and there are a lot good communities for the extra support when needed. Even the Homelab community is of great value.
The local distributor of the product is always available, however most support is received within an hour from India. We've had complex requirements and the support team went so far as to customize their mobile application to suit our unique needs. We honestly can't complain about any support we've received and it's always been very quick.
VMware support has always been fantastic and they have been invaluable in solving tougher issues that have been run into. Most of the time, any oddities encountered are fixed by available updates. This can be deduced by support quickly with logs within vCenter. We have not run into something yet that support was unable to help with. They either have a solution already, or they are able to find one quickly.
Since moving away from the Windows Server hosting the vCenter application and instead using a virtual appliance, it has become much easier to implement and deploy the new versions. We can easily create a snapshot or clone of the vCenter vApp to ensure any problems encountered during the upgrade can be mitigated with a fall back to the old version to prevent unscheduled downtime.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central has a lot more features like remote connection and patching and perfomed better for us in testing compared to other software. Endpoint Central does cost a lot of money but if you utilise all the features is it good value for money. It does the job of multiple pieces of software.
Our security posture is easy to see and act upon as you have a single place to look at all machines vulnerabilities. This helps us when it comes to security audits as we are able to demonstrate the value of the application.
Remote support is inbuilt and easy to use as you can just hop onto any agented machine and control it directly without asking for codes or getting people to visit a specific website.
We were able to mass install various applications to client machines over the years and the time and cost saved by not having to visit remote machines in different countries has proved invaluable.
