A guide to desktop management
Published: 26 Jun 2007
vPro: issues and alternatives
On the face of it, Intel’s vPro solution would seem to provide many of the answers to the desktop management issues that have plagued the enterprise market since PCs were first introduced. The technologies it involves are also gaining support, both from hardware vendors and from developers of management applications. So, for example, you can already buy vPro-enabled desktop PCs and notebooks from vendors such as Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo and others, and manage them using a growing number of management products. However, there are some caveats that may put a brake on the take-up of vPro.
Because it’s based on Intel components, vPro is very much a proprietary solution, only available to buyers of the latest Intel-based systems. Obviously this is a good move for Intel in terms of differentiating its products from those based on AMD silicon, for example. However, it's not so good for customers seeking the best deal when buying or replacing desktop hardware. Furthermore, it’s not available on Apple Macs, RISC-based workstations or handheld computers.
It’s also very much dependent on vendors of management tools developing software to take advantage of vPro and its proprietary API. Most are, but nearly all already have their own solutions that may clash with vPro; they also need to be able to offer management tools that can work with the full range of installed hardware not just vPro-enabled desktops. As a result, software vendors aren’t necessarily giving vPro as much attention as Intel might want or expect.
And there are alternatives to vPro. Such as DASH (Desktop and mobile Architecture for Systems Management Hardware), an initiative from the DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) which shares many of the same aims. DASH, however, is much more of an open standard, leveraging other standards-driven technologies, such as the Common Information Model (CIM) already implemented and supported by vendors of management software. Potentially, this makes DASH quicker and easier to implement.
Desktop management: where next?
Intel has said that it aims to support DASH in a future release of vPro, but neither the timing nor the level of integration have yet been disclosed. AMD’s involvement in DASH is likely to further muddy the waters, Intel's rival having announced a vPro equivalent — Simfire — which will be DASH compliant. And because nobody can predict what will happen, systems vendors and software developers alike are openly backing vPro, DASH and other initiatives in equal measure.
However, Intel does have an advantage in that the technologies behind vPro are well defined. More than that, they are available to buy now from business hardware and software partners. The ability to manage notebooks over wireless is another key vPro differentiator, with no real equivalent from other players in this market at present.
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