 Network/Systems ManagementThis newsletter is sponsored by Klir TechnologiesNetwork World's Network/Systems Management Newsletter, 06/25/07Network management for the massesBy Denise DubieWhen it comes to network management, cost used to be black and white, or I should say, outrageously expensive or free. Companies such as BMC, CA, HP and IBM offered depth and breadth of functions in their software, but customers typically paid a high price for that technical expertise. And open source applications such as Nagios were developed to help those IT shops with smaller budgets also enjoy the benefits of management software -- yet those tools required network managers to have the expertise to deploy, configure and maintain the applications in house. But in the past couple of years, more companies have come out to support the network management community with reasonably priced software applications or open source models with economically feasible support packages.
Take Spiceworks, for one. The start-up adopted a unique business model that makes it possible for customers to use Spiceworks' IT Desktop for free. The company, founded in January 2006 by former executives from management automation software company Motive, says the bulk of its revenue comes from the clickable ads featured in its IT Desktop console program. For users, that means they see a list of clickable ads regarding the subject they are monitoring, though more than three-quarters of the screen will still be devoted to the management program, the company says. This week Spiceworks announced the availability of Spiceworks IT Desktop 1.6, which includes enhanced troubleshooting features for network managers looking to repair problems spotted by the software. The software, free for download here and ideal for networks with up to 250 devices, includes capabilities to discover, inventory, monitor, track, report and now repair hardware and software running on the network, according to company executives. To start, Spiceworks added a one-click remote control feature that will let IT Desktop users launch remote control sessions from within the Spiceworks console to other managed machines tapping existing software from Windows or VNC. The company also added support for more antivirus platforms including Norton, McAfee, Panda and CA. "The premise behind our company and our product is bringing network management to the masses," says CEO Scott Abel. "With this release, we have really beefed up troubleshooting to help our customers simplify managing their networks."
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| Contact the author: Senior Editor Denise Dubie covers the technologies, products and services that address network, systems, application and IT service management for Network World. E-mail Denise. This newsletter is sponsored by Klir TechnologiesARCHIVEArchive of the Network/Systems Management Newsletter. BONUS FEATUREIT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007 |
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