Jeff Jaffe’s Blog

Part of Novell’s focus within IT Management Services is an intense focus on Data Center Management; particularly our Build, Manage, and Measure approach. Three recent events are proof points of both the broad IT Management Services as well as the Data Center focus.

1. Strategic Initiative with ACS

Last week Novell announced a strategic initiative with ACS. It is a broad partnership with benefits for each company.

Working with ACS in building out their ACS Management Platform (AMP) is advantageous for Novell. It allows us to validate our Service Driven Data Center (SDDC) vision. Recall the three key elements of SDDC:

• The Build component. We have included in this agreement that Suse Linux Enterprise is a key operating system platform.
• The Manage component. We have included PlateSpin to manage workloads in a heterogeneous, virtualized environment.
• The Measure component. We have included a Business Services Management capability.

Our benefits go beyond the inclusion of the three basic building blocks.

• The partnership allows us to explore advanced management features in a demanding environment. This includes workload management [link workload blog], automation, and virtualization. We instantiate these ideas in a fully integrated fashion.
• The partnership allows us to explore emerging operating environments. Not only are physical and virtual deployments of relevance but we have also included cloud computing as a focus area.
• To address critical security needs, identity management and security solutions will be prominently featured.

2. Codie awards

The agreement with ACS represents a key validation of our vision and strategy with customers and partners. Our systems management strategy also enjoys validation in industry groups.

• Last month, ZENworks Asset Management was recognized by the Software Industry and Information Association (SIIA) as the Best Asset Management Solution.
• Also, ZENworks Endpoint Security Management was recognized by SIIA in the Best Security Solution category.

3. ZENworks Configuration Management 10 SP 2

Less than one year ago we released ZCM SP1. Recall that this is dedicated to managing desktops in an interoperable environment with integration to Active Directory. For SP2, we are listening to what customers need to complete their migration to ZCM, and have addressed this. Included:

• Improved migration services
• Improved installability
• Broader platform support to reaffirm the ZCM commitment to interoperability.

Summary

This past month has been hugely successful in terms of validating all pieces of our management strategy. For long-time ZENworks customers, ZCM 10 SP 2 represents yet another demonstration of continued commitment to this platform. Elements of our desktop solution: asset management and endpoint security are recognized as award winners. Our Data Center management strategy has received a huge endorsement from ACS which will help us further develop and validate our strategy in the marketplace.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.