Novell to debut mgmt. tools

Novell next week is expected to take the lid off a new suite of tools for performing policy-based management of desktops, servers, routers and switches in NetWare environments.

All the modules in the company's new K2 management suite can tap into Novell Directory Services and be administered via Novell's Java-based management console, ConsoleOne. Administrators can use the tools to define network access policies across an enterprise.

Novell, which sources say will unveil K2 at its fifteenth-annual BrainShare user conference in Salt Lake City, declined to comment on the software. But analysts briefed on K2 say it consists of new versions of existing products, such as ManageWise, ZENworks and NWAdmin, as well as new software for managing routers and switches.

Novell is hoping the K2 suite will be as successful as its ZENworks directory-enabled desktop management package has been in the 10 months it has been on the market.

K2 will extend ZENworks' features to servers, allowing companies to automate and standardize initial server configuration. In addition, K2 will allow administrators to set policies for distributing software to individuals or groups of servers. It's unclear whether this package will manage NT or Unix servers.

Users say they could use more help managing their NetWare servers.

"We never seem to be able to stay on top of keeping all the servers in optimal condition with all the right software patches, drivers, etc.," says Bill Kannberg, IS manager for Hillsboro County in Florida. "I'd like a product that could analyze, configure and help manage servers in the field."

Novell will also be announcing a new version of ZENworks with improved software distribution capabilities, sources say. While the current version lets an administrator push software out to groups of users based on their operating system or hardware configurations, the new version will allow an administrator to push software to selected desktops based on what is contained in the desktop registry files. This revision also supports "lights out" software distribution that lets an administrator install programs on desktops without end-user participation. Version 2.0 also has the ability to track software inventory across the desktops.

ZENworks 2.0 is in beta now. Officials would not comment on a delivery date.

- Christine Burns