Chapter 2: Introduction

What is Medulla?
Medulla is a comprehensive IT management platform designed to simplify, automate, and secure all operations related to an IT infrastructure, whether in a corporate environment, for remote work, or distributed across multiple sites. I’m testing it! 
 It is based on a real-time XMPP inventory database, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of every workstation at all times, whether connected locally or remotely. This ensures constant reachability of machines, which is essential for effective management. 
 
 
 What is Medulla used for? 
 Medulla centralizes and streamlines the following tasks: 
 IT asset management 
 
 Automatic, real-time inventory 
 Detailed view of machines and users 
 Integration with existing ITSM solutions 
 
 Remote deployment of software and scripts  
 
 Application deployment, uninstallation, or script execution 
 Advanced scheduling via a conditional GFCET system 
 Intelligent wizard for silent installations 
 
 System imaging and installation 
 
 Creation of generic system images compatible with all types of hardware 
 Dynamic driver management 
 Unicast/multicast deployment 
 Multi-site synchronization for remote deployments 
 
 Application and update management 
 
 Application kiosk for users without admin rights 
 On-demand installation, by category 
 Transparent, bandwidth-efficient updates 
 
 Remote access ( PMAD ) 
 
 Login or console access on workstations 
 Secure connection even without a VPN via an SSH tunnel 
 Real-time support, anywhere 
 
 Native support for remote work 
 
 Secure access to remote workstations 
 No reliance on VPN 
 Execute all operations remotely 
 
 To discover all the features and learn more, download our supplementary documentation by clicking here. Click the link to view the complete documentation. User Guide 
 
 For more information, visit our website: www.medulla.fr

Who is this manual intended for?
Target Audience This manual is intended for anyone involved in managing IT infrastructure and administering information systems, including: 
 
 
 System and network administrators 
 
 
 IT support technicians 
 
 
 IT infrastructure managers 
 
 
 CIOs (Chief Information Officers) 
 
 
 IT project managers 
 
 
 Deployment operators 
 
 
 
 It is intended for both centralized teams and technical teams working remotely or across multiple sites. 
 Objectives of the manual 
 The purpose of this manual is to guide you step by step through: 
 
 Getting started with the Medulla interface 
 Understanding its functional modules 
 Configuring, using, and automating tasks 
 Using support, monitoring, and audit tools 
 Securely managing workstations both locally and remotely 
 
 This manual takes a step-by-step, modular approach: you can read it from start to finish or go directly to the sections that are relevant to you. 
 Recommended prerequisites 
 To get the most out of Medulla and this guide, it is recommended that you have: 
 
 Basic knowledge of Windows/Linux systems 
 Basic knowledge of network and security management 
 Familiarity with ITSM tools (optional but helpful) 
 Experience with remote deployment or imaging 
 
 You don’t need to be an expert to get started. Medulla’s interface is designed to be intuitive, with built-in wizards to guide you. 
 
 For more information, visit our website: www.medulla.fr

Glossary
ARS   
 Automatic Relay Selector is a mechanism that automatically selects the best relay to route a message or connection. 
 Cluster   
  A group of servers that work together to provide load balancing, high availability, and resilience. 
 Imaging   
 Here, we are referring to a system image or snapshot (disk image) of a workstation or server containing the OS and software. It is used for rapid deployments or restores. 
 Logs   
 Also known as logging, this is a mechanism that records system events, errors, accesses, and user actions. Very useful for audits and security. 
 OU   
 Organizational unit: a hierarchical structure within a directory (e.g., LDAP) used to organize machines and users. 
 Package   
 A collection of files and resources containing an application ready to be installed and configured on a computer or server. Packages are stored in repositories and managed by package managers. 
 P.M.A.D 
 Remote Access 
 Relay   
 A relay is a component that allows messages to be passed between different points on the network. 
 Rules   
 A rule is a set of criteria used to determine which relay or server should be used. 
 XMPP   
 XMPP stands for Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol and is used for instant messaging, presence, and real-time communication. 
 Conditional GRAFCET 
 A scheduling method based on GRAFCET (Graphical State Machine), used to automate sequences of actions (such as software deployment or script execution) based on specific conditions. Each step is executed only if defined conditions are met, enabling dynamic and intelligent process management. 
 Unicast   
 A network communication mode in which a single source sends data to a single destination. Used for point-to-point transmissions. 
 Multicast 
 A network communication mode in which a single source sends data simultaneously to multiple specific destinations, without sending separate copies to each receiver. 
 VPN (Virtual Private Network)   
 A virtual private network that creates a secure, encrypted connection between a user and a network, often via the Internet. It protects data, hides the IP address, and ensures privacy. 
 SSH (Secure Shell)   
 A secure communication protocol used to establish a remote, encrypted, and authenticated connection to access a system and execute commands. Primarily used for server administration and secure file transfer. 
 Wake-on-LAN (WOL)   
 A feature that allows a computer to be started remotely via a network by sending a special packet called a Magic Packet containing the target machine’s MAC address. Used for remote administration and managing machines without having to turn them on manually.