MANAGING A UNIX NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

Managing a UNIX Network Environment

Managing a UNIX Network Environment

Introduction

The Linux platform continues to gain significant ground in the IT market. And while more and more large corporate IT organizations are implementing Linux, the small-to-medium business market is faced with an interesting dilemma: Although these organizations may want to deploy Linux platforms, they do not want the expense and added operational burden of another OS. Regardless of the distribution, Linux is a viable software alternative to Microsoft Windows—and not simply because of its low price. (Bach, 2006, 21)

Managing a UNIX Network Environment

The economic benefits of reduced or absent licensing fees are obvious, but for many organizations, the value goes beyond that: Linux can be a driver for rapid growth, an effective solution for addressing seasonal fluctuations, or even a core component for solving strategic needs. Furthermore, as decision makers continue to feel increasing pressure to justify IT investments with special considerations for security, flexibility, and overall cost, implementing Linux can be easy to justify. Implementing the Linux platform is not an all-or nothing strategy. Many IT organizations opt for a gradual migration approach that allows them to begin introducing Linux into current operations while simultaneously improving efficiencies across their existing infrastructure— including Microsoft Windows and UNIX platforms. (Bach, 2006, 21) Altiris systems management software can help IT organizations manage the existing Windows- and UNIX based systems they have while expanding the Linux footprint in their data centers. The Altiris console abstracts many of the low-level differences between Windows and UNIX/Linux—enabling administrators to quickly become effective at managing diverse environments on both small and large scales.

Altiris provides a single-console solution with native agents for a variety of operating systems, including Windows, UNIX, Linux, and others. Although implementing a single management tool for heterogeneous environments offers several benefits, UNIX/Linux administrators may be reluctant to use a tool that is not open source or one that interoperates with Windows. However, CIOs and IT directors—who are responsible for implementing technology to generate strategic value for the organizations they serve—very often recognize and endorse the need to leverage efficiencies across disparate environments via a single point of control. (Bach, 2006, 21)

Altiris software is built upon the Extensible Management Architecture™ (EMA™) platform that allows the majority of Altiris products (including those for UNIX/Linux) to plug into a common back-end Altiris server. This framework leverages efficiencies across Altiris products by providing a common-role security engine for access to features and tasks, a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), (Bourne, 2003, 215) a Web-based console, a consolidated client/server communication model, and an Altiris Agent that individual solutions extend to add features (as solutions are added into the console, the agent footprint automatically grows to accommodate new features).

Most Altiris software products are organized into suites, but they can also be purchased individually. This extensibility allows organizations to add functions and features as needs and budgets evolve. Altiris software is designed to work seamlessly with other Altiris tools to help future-proof a management tool ...