I am running FMServer 5.5 on a Dell 2ghz machine with windows 2000. I am work in a large organization whose IT department has encountered numerous security problems especially in recent months(not the fault of my computer). There has been a major push that all machines have Zenworks(Novell)administrative software installed on them. I have been able to fight off these IT guys, but it appears now they are closing in on our FM machine. They tell me the need to install this Zenworks on my machine and to gain Windows administrative rights on it. The sole purpose of this machine is that it serve Filemaker files for our workgroup and for another computer running Filemaker unlimited which hosts some databases on our intranet. It is used for no other purposes and the only other software I use on it is Timbuktu Pro. In fact I have even removed any sharing capabilities from the control panel to prevent any possible types of conflicts or issues.

I will argue that I can maintain this machine for any w2k patches that might be needed and that I am the Filemaker administrator. Does anybody out there know if this software, Zenworks, can cause problems with Filemaker Server or if any other type microsoft administrative software such as SMS can cause unwanted issues? I am in a real bind to maintain control.

Send them a memo (real paper, not email, very official: cc your bos and their boss too) outlining the cost in $$$ that downtime will have on your company: estimate the cost of the downtime, plus the cost of the time to format the disk, install Windows and FMS and FMPU, restore the dbs from backup etc etc. Put it in into a number.

Describe how well the machine has been working in its current setup. Estimate the cost that *not* installing the Zenworks software will have on the company (probably zero dollars). Compare and contrast the potential costs of installing the software (the downtime) vs the cost of not installing the software.

Explain in your letter that you do not know how the Zenwoks software will interact with the FM server. Let your boss (and the other poeple's boss) decide whether to risk the $$$ downtime if the software is installed.

The trick I've found is to be seen to be responsible for the services you provide, but not be a control freak. Let them install the software, but they must take responsibility for the consequences. Put it all in writing.

Be balanced and calm.