Service-oriented management software provider Altiris
has launched Altiris Software Virtualisation Solution
(SVS).
SVS is designed to reduce support costs and streamline software
operations by providing faster, simpler and more manageable
deployment of desktop applications. Altiris believes that SVS helps
eliminate application conflicts and delivers instant application
activation, deactivation and reset capabilities.
Unlike existing system virtualisation products, says the
company, SVS abstracts the installation of an application’s files
and registry settings to allow the application to be installed and
used without altering the base Windows operating system or
conflicting with other applications. It also enables same-system,
conflict-free hosting of multiple versions of the same
application.
SVS is managed centrally using the Altiris architecture to help
customers benefit from integrated Altiris service-oriented
management solutions including inventory, packaging, deployment and
delivery.
However, it does not require the Altiris management console and
is built with an architecture to work with other desktop management
tools such as Microsoft Systems Management Server. Altiris will
soon provide a free SMS console snap-in for SVS administration.
SVS places applications and data into units that can be managed
based on business requirements. SVS only affects how application
files and registry settings are installed and not how they are
consumed or run, preserving normal application supportability,
functionality and behaviour. The company claims that virtualising
an application with SVS does not require application customisation,
an application server or specialised training.
Altiris SVS is available at £18.90 per node with volume
discounts available. It is available as a component of Altiris
Total Management Suite and Altiris Client Management Suite™ Level
2. A free for personal use only licence is currently available from
www.download.com and from 1
April at from
www.tucows.com.