Shavlik Technologies has announced that the next release of its NetChk tool will be able to scan and patch virtual-machine images for VMware and Microsoft Virtual Server and PC.

"You might have created virtual images a month ago and now you want to run them, but you want to make sure they're up to date with patches," says Eric Schultze, CTO at Shavlik. "With NetChk 6.5, you can scan and patch these virtual images while they're turned off."

Schultze notes that this process is not agent-based so no additional software installation on a virtual-machine infrastructure is required. He added that while the Microsoft SMS product can handle virtual-machine patching for Microsoft products, it wouldn't address alternatives such as VMware.

(Compare patch and vulnerability-management products, with Network World's Buyers Guides.) NetChk 6.5, expected out at the end of the second quarter, costs about $20 per seat.