Windows management vendor Quest Software this week is expected to begin weaving a cross-platform thread into its product lineup with the integration of software acquired through the purchase in May of start-up Vintela.
The first wave of integration is designed to let corporate users begin extending Windows infrastructure management, such as administrative delegation, group policy and password reset, to Unix, Linux, Java and Macintosh platforms.
The company is combining Vintela Authentication Services and Vintela Group Policy into a single product called VAS with Group Policy Components. The software has been upgraded to support management of policies on Unix, including script, file distribution, Syslog and access-control policies. Unix administrators also can edit Microsoft Active Directory group policy objects from within Unix clients. Group policy allows administrators to control configurations of desktops and servers.
Quest also has added support for Solaris 10 and Linux on the 64-bit chips from Advanced Micro Devices and Intel. In addition, Quest will integrate VAS and its ActiveRoles software, which manages delegation capabilities in Active Directory. With Quest Active Roles Support Packs for VAS, administrators can delegate the management of information on users, groups and computers from Unix and Linux platforms.
The integration work is a first pass for Quest, which is looking to add support for Microsoft SharePoint Server next year and to extend the Microsoft Operations Manager capabilities that Vintela brings to Unix and Linux.
“Users that have been looking to leverage their Active Directory investments for their broader environments, to make more out of group policy administration, or would like to extend what they have already invested in Microsoft tools, should be taking a look,” says Scott Crawford, an analyst with Enterprise Management Associates. “The acquisition of Vintela takes Quest in a valuable area, because managing heterogeneous environments has been a challenge, and the ability to do that with Microsoft tools that have been accepted for their ease of use and ease of deployment is going to be a win for them.”
Quest competes with Bindview, NetIQ and NetPro on management of Microsoft infrastructure, and with Centrify in integration with Unix and Linux.
Pricing for VAS with Group Policy Components starts at $325 per server and $45 per user. Pricing for the integration of VAS and ActiveRoles was not announced.
