LinuxCare Resurfaces as Linux Device Vendor

An anonymous reader submits "LinuxCare, famous employer of Rasmus, Tridge, and others during the go-go-90's Linux start-up days, has resurfaced as a Linux device vendor. The company, now known as Levanta, is shipping its first hardware product, which it says is the 'world's first Linux management appliance.' At nearly $8K, it's pretty expensive, but the Integra M does appear to bring some of the cool sysadmin features long available on the Windows side over to Linux IT types."

Comments

Re:Why sell a device?

[mwvdlee]

Because now the CIO's can pay a few $1000 more for the same product.

Realistically, I think the major benefit is that this box comes completely preconfigured, working and plug-and-playable. Spending a few thousand dollars extra on this might be less expensive than having a person do the same thing on another box. And how about support? Software not working on vendors' box; Vendors' problem, software not working on your own box; your own problem. $8000 may seem like a lot, but compare it to payed labour and it may be cheaper.

Re:linux hardware

[broward]

Perhaps.

Firmware devices still seem to be in an uptrend, but not by much.

http://www.realmeme.com/miner/preinflection/linuxf irmwareDejanews.png

redhat satellite network

[Raleel]

seems really similar to RedHat's Satellite stuff. we use that where I work and it'll do pretty much all of that. It won't do it with Suse, of course, but the other functionality is there.

Re:I've downloaded the "papers" --- also marketing

[Anonymous Coward]

Think "database of config info" plus "MapFS (UnionFS-type technology)" plus "RPMs (and tarballs etc.) stored in a format so they can be applied to a server" (if the whole world really were RPM, this probably wouldn't be necessary, but it ain't so) plus "!PXE-based inventory/boot", all living on shared storage (disk). The MapFS technology is GPLed.

For the folks who asked for Solaris, that's planned -- try Googling for "levanta solaris" and you'll get a number of hits.

The first? No...

[buffy]

For one...

http://www.rlx.com/

In addition to pioneering the whole concept of Server Blades, we've had a Linux-based management system for quite sometime. We're on our sixth generation, so it's pretty smooth to boot. Target audience varies a little bit, but the "first" they are not.

Just my $0.02.

-buf

PS. I work for RLX, though these opinions are mine.

Re:The automation of system administration

[Master of Transhuman]

Altiris® Server Management Suite(TM) System Requirements

Altiris® Server Management Suite(TM) requires that you install and configure the Altiris Notification Server(TM).

Notification Server Minimum Requirements

        * Processor--Pentium* lll 800 MHz or faster
        * Memory--1 GB RAM
        * Hard drive--20 GB
LOOK HERE-> * Operating system--Windows* Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server SP2 or later
LOOK HERE-> * Database--Microsoft* SQL Server 2000 SP3 restricted to less than 50 percent of available memory. Note: MSDE 2000 recommended for evaluation purposes only.
LOOK HERE-> * Browser--Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later
LOOK HERE-> * Package servers (remote distribution points)--Windows NT* or Windows 2000/XP/2003 and a large hard drive
LOOK HERE-> * File system--NTFS
LOOK HERE-> * Services--Microsoft Windows Internet Information Services (IIS)
LOOK HERE-> * Services--Microsoft .NET Framework* 1.1

LOOK HERE->Supported Windows Platforms

        * Windows NT Server 4.0
        * Windows 2000 Server
        * Windows Server 2003

Supported UNIX/Linux Platforms
LOOK HERE->Note: Not all Server Management Suite features are supported on all platforms.

        * AIX* 4.3,3, 5.1, 5.2
        * HP-UX* 10.20, 11, 11i
        * Red Hat* 7.2, 7.3, 8.0, Advanced Server 2.1
        * Solaris* 7, 8, 9 (Sparc)
        * SuSE* 8.0, 8.1, Enterprise Server 8
        * UnitedLinux* 1.0

Right - I reaallly reaally want this to manage my Linux server farm...