Intel Updates vPro Platform and Features

MojoKid writes "Intel's has certified the Core 2 Duo E6550, E6750, and E6850 processors for vPro, and is releasing the new low-power Q35 Express chipset with a companion ICH9-DO Southbridge, and 82566DM Gigabit Network controller. With these new chispets and technologies, the vPro platform offers next-generation Intel Active Management Technology, enhanced Intel Virtualization Technology, and Intel Trusted Execution Technology (aka Intel TXT). vPro also supports next-generation management standards like WS-MAN and DASH (draft 1.0 spec) and v1.2 of the Trusted Platform Module. Intel has plans to provide continual updates to the vPro platform and will likely enhance vPro further after the launch of their 'Montevina' platform in the first half on 2008."

Comments

Re:Is Intel a friend of Open Source?

[Anonymous Coward]

Now to look at some other aspects, Intel hosts and supports a number of open-source projects, among them open source drivers for certain Intel graphics and WLAN cards. These are recent efforts, as well.

Intel's efforts in video cards are meaningless because with vPro/LaGrande/Trusted Computing their control has moved from the source, to the binary.

All in all, I don't think I can agree with your suggestion of Intel moving away from being supportive of open-source and towards being one of the forerunners of DRM.

All in all, you strike me as someone who simply hasn't followed the news over the last few years. Intel isn't moving towards the front of DRM... it HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. Way back since 1998 when I head a talk from an Intel engineer bragging that their next challenge was to secure a PC from its owner in the name of controlling content (it wasn't DRM then) and "security".

Since then, every move Intel has made has been driven by finally locking down the PC -- and their other DRM schemes across the media world (HDCP for example). The name LaGrande was dirtied by its association with DRM and uber-lockdown, and has now gone through the customary corporate name-change in an attempt to cleanse it. So we now have vPro... and hardware DRM... and the arrival of Intel's dream of a locked down "cable-box" PC that isn't really owned by the person who pays for it.

Oh, and BTW, I'm sure Intel supports "open source"... since that's a watered down meaningless term.

Re:v1.2 of the Trusted Platform Module

[smilindog2000]

So, TXT in short is hardware DRM, right? Will it do more? I'd love to know that my Linux kernel has been compiled signed by the vendor, and not hacked by any virus. Will TXT significantly mitigate viruses, worms, spy-ware, and the like? Will it allow vendor signed Linux kernels to be trusted to play DVDs out-of-the-box in the US? Will it help commercial companies port their products to Linux without fear of hacking? Will it allow FlexLM to finally be semi-secure? Will it get the damned bot-hackers off the gaming networks? If it will in fact do all that, I'm not sure I'm opposed, but of course, the proof is in the making.