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As open source applications continue to proliferate across enterprise companies, IT managers need news ways to manage the disparate open source code popping up in various departments.
Unlike commercial software, open source code is often free to download, making it possible for IT staff to sidestep the procurement process. But that means IT managers have a harder time keeping an up-to-date inventory of the open source tools that may be in use on their networks. With uncontrolled code floating around, IT managers could be vulnerable to compliance, policy and license infringements, which makes any IT governance effort more difficult. That’s why a few vendors have stepped up to help enterprise companies first inventory their open source wares and then monitor them to ensure the company’s software use remains on the up and up.
This week OpenLogic announced a free software tool the vendor says will help companies discover and inventory the open source software installed on their systems.
“Open source software has revolutionized corporate software development for the better, but there can be risks, costs and liabilities if the enterprise doesn’t know what open source software is being deployed,” said Steve Grandchamp, CEO of OpenLogic, in a press release.
OpenLogic Discovery, slated to be available in June, scans systems to discover open source code, identifying the software by using digital fingerprints. The application compares the fingerprints against a library of some 5,000 versions of 800 most commonly used open source packages, the company says. IT also provides a detailed report of the open source software found, which IT managers can aggregate with other databases and reporting systems.
Separately, SourceLabs last week made available its Open Source Management System (OSMS), software that the company says can help IT managers maintain an up-to-date inventory of open source code in-house — and help keep future rollouts and usage in line with company policies
The promise of these tools — to put controls in place around open source code — could further the use of the low-cost, flexible technology in large enterprise IT shops. Many IT executives have in the past expressed concern over the lack of support and governance around open source code and distributions. Putting in place tools to monitor licenses and use of open source software would help IT shops streamline the adoption and implementation of such code.
