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:v1.2 of the Trusted Platform Module

[Andreaskem]

Just to clarify: Read this Ars Technica article about how the new trusted computing technology introduces the kind of DRM geeks have been rebelling against for years.

Re:Is Intel a friend of Open Source?

[RAMMS EIN]

``The reason Linux became so successful is because of Intel's low-cost, standards-compliant, open-source hardware; but with initiatives like virtualisation, vPro, multi-threaded compilers etc. the balance gets tilted further in favour of TCPA and DRM partners;''

Err, I have no idea what you mean. Intel's hardware used to be standard-compliant and open-source? What standards? Which source? How does virtualization (and I do believe they published specs on how to use it) tilt the balance in favor of DRM? What do multi-threaded compilers have to do with anything?

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.

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.

Re:Is Intel a friend of Open Source?

[bealzabobs_youruncle]

That is quite a load of mis-information you are hauling there. Intel is far more open with their hardware specs, are providing lots of open source driver support and porting many of their development apps to Linux (and either giving away or open sourcing many of them as well). You can actually go to Intel's site and find a list of which boards they actively support Linux on and find drivers for older RedHat 4 and SLES builds. Additionally, BIOS updates are now provided via ISO image so Linux users (or any platform really, but we are the targeted group) can update their BIOS without jumping through hoops. I won't even get into your whole "technology is available to a few limited US h/w mfrs" as it makes no sense when you consider that outside of BFG (maker of nVidia based video cards and a smathering of motherboards) there are no U.S.hardware makers any longer (and all BFG does is assemble over here, the parts are still off-shored).

By way of comparison, AMD/ATi have yet to provide any really decent drivers, little in the way of documentation and have offered virtually zero F/OSS developer support. Via has been slightly better but hardly a font of knowledge. For desktop computing (and including Via was a stretch) Intel is probably the most supportive and easiest to deal with hardware make for a Linux workstation.

Re:v1.2 of the Trusted Platform Module

[Technician]

Do not want!

As a home user you maybe right. This is not aimed at the home user. Have you seen the demo? This platform has an IT departments dream, a firmware OS wrapped around the end user's OS. In the demo, they demonstrated live the corruption of Windows which crashed it to BSOD. Remotely they patched Windows and rebooted it all while Windows was crashed.

A powered off machine needing a scheduled backup or critical software rollout is no problem. The machine can be remotely turned on, patched, rebooted, configured, and tested without disturbing users while they are home.

Demos are here.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Intel+V-Pro+ demo

As an end user, it means installing Party Poker or Tor on the corporate machine may result in immediate application removal. The same goes for SONY rootkits and keystroke loggers. So yes for the end user, they have less ability to hose the configuration.

This is bad and the RIAA and MPAA is on the other end. This is good if your company supplied PC refuses malware. For its corporate target, this provides strong immunity to a BSA, RIAA, MPAA, etc, audit. Unauthorised stuff can't be stuck on the machine.