3Com e-PC c10/s10, User Manual, Page: 49 / 122

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Pre-OS software, included with MBA, enables a PC to download and execute centrally-
administered desktop management agents from a network server prior to actually loading
the client operating system from the local hard drive. This is accomplished by the PC
remotebooting using any of the MBA protocols except RPL. After loading and executing the
remote operating system, agents and other software, the PC can exit the Pre-OS boot and
boot from its local hard disk.
IGURE OW RE WORKS
Agents from the popular desktop management applications could perform a variety of tasks
including:
Initial installation of the operating system and applications to the PC hard drive
(including initial formatting and partitioning if required)
Scanning for and eradicating local hard disk viruses
Searching the hard disk for file system inconsistencies. If critical components are
missing or damaged, they can be retrieved and replaced; alternatively, the desktop
management software allows an administrator to perform a remote rescue by
examining the crippled client environment and fixing it from their management
console
Updating outdated drivers found on the client hard drive with newer ones located on
the file server
Scanning for changes in PC hardware and software components, and logging them
centrally