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Vintela’s Upgraded SMS Snap-in Offers Improved Non-Windows Client Support
Vintela just shipped version 1.0 of its Vintela Management Extensions in August, but the Lindon, Utah company is on a roll – it shipped version 1.1 this week. The new release expands on version 1.0’s ability to enable Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 to manage non-Windows environments.
In other words, VMX provides an extensible framework for managing non-Windows clients natively from within SMS 2003. Version 1.0 provides an SMS 2003 administration console snap-in and client that enables administrators to manage Unix, Linux and Mac OS X systems from the regular SMS console.
With version 1.1, Vintela has enhanced the product’s software metering capabilities by adding the ability to collect information on files and applications. Administrators can also now configure the Virtual Network Computing (VNC) software that provides remote access to the Macintosh Desktop GUI. This enhances administrators’ ability to control Macintosh resources from the SMS console from that provided in version 1.0.
The new version also adds new software distribution features, including the ability for an administrator to create a collection from a single system on the fly. Additionally, VMX now supports software distribution to sub-collections. Another new feature provides integration with Vintela Authentication Services (VAS), letting administrators join VMX clients to the Active Directory domain.
The VMX Base Install Pack costs $1,995 and comes with a central site license that permits VMX to be installed on an unlimited number of SMS administrative workstations and SMS management points within an SMS central site. One VMX Base Install Pack is required per SMS central site and it includes all the SMS server-side components needed to extend SMS to non-Windows environments, according to Vintela officials. The base pack also includes five VMX workstation client access licenses (CAL). Each additional non-Windows server costs $125; additional non-Windows clients start at $75 per workstation. Pricing includes SMS 2003 CALs. Volume discounts are available.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.