New ZENworks bundles support for Linux

New ZENworks bundles support for Linux

Next week, Novell will ship Version 6.5 of ZENworks, its IT asset management suite. In addition to Windows support, the release includes software package management and update support for Linux thanks to a bundled version of Red Carpet Enterprise. Novell acquired the Red Carpet software with the purchase of open source vendor Ximian in 2003. ZENworks’ policy-driven configuration management and automation features are mature, and the new version now includes patch management, offering administrators access to a database of detailed patch information on a subscription basis. ZENworks will be available for $130 per user through Novell channel partners, with an additional subscription fee for access to the patch database. Individual components will also be available separately.

ZENworks 6.5, Novell novell.com

Taming Web services

AmberPoint has announced an upgraded version of its Web services management software, which can manage about 10,000 active SLAs, as opposed to the estimated limit of 500 agreements in the previous release. Other features include crash recovery, automatic discovery of services, and the ability to create virtual services that have subsets of the more complex features. Shipping next quarter, AmberPoint 4.3 starts in price at $25,000.

AmberPoint 4.3, AmberPoint amberpoint.com

Console for BlackBerry

Road warriors who need mobile access to console applications can do away with Web-to-host middleware, thanks to NeedTEXT Shell from Epoch Integration, which implements Telnet, SSH, and VT100 terminal emulation on Research in Motion BlackBerry devices. Version 3.0 also adds support for special control-key sequences needed for AS/400 applications. The one-time fee for a perpetual site license is $695, plus an optional $295 per year for support and unlimited upgrades.

NeedTEXT Shell 3.0, Epoch Integration epochintegration.com

Active Directory Made Easy

Javelina Software relieves some of the headaches of Active Directory server administration with ADvantage, a set of tools to manage users, groups, contacts, access control lists, and now computers. ADvantage 2.5 includes new tools for adding, modifying, and deleting computer accounts; it can also report the last time particular resources were connected to the network, for purposes of purging old accounts. ADvantage costs $995 per administrator license.

ADvantage 2.5, Javelina Software javelinasoftware.com