Novell lowers Linux management costs with Red Carpet Enterprise 2

Novell today announced the immediate availability of Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise 2, the latest version of the secure, customisable solution that automates the central management of software on workstations and servers running a variety of Linux distributions.

Through centralised and automated management, maintenance and updating of Linux servers and desktops, Red Carpet Enterprise significantly reduces the cost of Linux ownership for customers, allowing them to concentrate resources on other strategic projects.

"The powerful new management features and broad Linux OS support in this version extend Novell`s leadership in Linux software management," said Paulo Ferreira, technical manager at Novell South Africa. "By lowering operating costs and removing barriers to Linux implementation, we have made it even easier for customers to install, update and maintain the fastest-growing operating system on the market."

Customers can deploy Red Carpet Enterprise in as little as 30 minutes, and its unique ability to integrate with external repositories allows for automated enterprise Linux updates. Red Carpet Enterprise offers the industry`s broadest support of Linux distributions and applications, including SuSE, Red Hat and Ximian.

Fred Broussard, IDC senior research analyst, PC and Device Management Software, said: "Software management is one of the central issues in realising the promise of lower cost of ownership. Organisations need tools that not only automate the updating and maintenance of rapidly changing open source software, but that ensure software standards are met as well. Systems like Red Carpet Enterprise give Linux administrators the tools they need to automate many of their system management processes in order to save both time and money."

Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise provides enterprise software package distribution for Linux, including full dependency resolution, distribution, installation, rollback, repairs and reporting. With rapid deployment and broad support for Linux distributions and applications, organisations can realise a quick return on investment.

Enhancements to Red Carpet Enterprise 2 simplify the administration and further automate the process of distributing software or updates. Software packages can be grouped into package sets to represent products, product components or product families and subsequently managed as single entities for distribution, installation, rollback and reporting. Inventory support for managed servers Hi and workstations collects network information, including hardware, software and system specifications. Enhanced enterprise software distribution uses caching servers to more effectively transfer packages across slow network connections.

Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise is part of Novell Resource Management, managing enterprise Linux desktop and server environments. Red Carpet Enterprise can also extend the Linux capabilities of Novell ZENworks, the leading solution for management of desktops, servers and handhelds. With the Ximian purchase in August and the pending acquisition of SuSE Linux announced last week, Novell continues to fulfil its commitment to provide a full range of Linux solutions.