News

UPDATE: Opalis Now Runs on Windows Server 2008

• By Kurt Mackie
• 11/30/2010

Microsoft on Monday announced that its Opalis 6.3 software can now run on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, in addition to Windows Server 2003.

Opalis is management software that automates and orchestrates IT processes. It might be used to integrate services from datacenters, for instance. Microsoft acquired Opalis' software back in December. The release-to-manufacturing version of Opalis 6.3 was rolled out by Microsoft on Nov. 19.

Microsoft provides integration packs as a way of getting Opalis software to work with Microsoft's software as well as multiple other applications. According to an e-mailed statement from Adam Hall, senior technical product manager for System Center Opalis, there are"28 IPs [integration packs] for third-party solutions in addition to the Microsoft solution IPs."

Opalis already integrates with several Microsoft System Center management products. The release of version 6.3 has expanded that list, according to Hall.

"At acquisition, Opalis had System Center integration packs for MOM, Operations Manager 2007 and SMS 2003," Hall said in an e-mail. "With the release of Opalis 6.3, we have now provided new IPs for Configuration Manager, Data Protection Manager, Service Manager and Virtual Machine Manager. We additionally updated the existing Operations Manager IP so that it supports the Server 2008 platform."

Opalis 6.3 is a 32-bit application that runs on the 64-bit Windows Server operating system. Microsoft does not plan to release a 64-bit version of Opalis, at least not "with the current generation of Opalis," the announcement explained. The key issue for IT pros is that "integration packs need to support the platform on which they are installed, deployed and utilized," Hall noted.

"If all the IPs [integration packs] you have in use support 2008 R2, then you can leverage the latest platform," Microsoft's announcement explains. "If you have IPs in use that have not been remediated, you need to remain on [Windows Server] 2003 for all Opalis infrastructure until they have been remediated."

Microsoft plans to remediate all of its integration packs "over the coming months," according to the announcement. It's also currently working with partners to create new integration packs.

More help on Opalis 6.3 and its requirements can be found at Microsoft's TechNet library page here. Using Opalis requires having a server management license from Microsoft in place, as well as Software Assurance.