Altiris Broadens and Extends Altiris eXpress Platform to Include Management of New Device Types from a Single Console.

Business/High-Tech Editors

LINDON, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2001

New Altiris eXpress(TM) Platform Enables Altiris(TM) Solutions to

Provide Management of IT Resources Anytime and from

Any Location through a Web Browser 

Altiris, Inc., the leader in systems management solutions that lower the cost of owning and managing information technology, today announced a new Altiris(TM)eXpress management platform that broadens and extends solution functionality to include the management of new device types such as PDAs and servers from a single console.

This highly extensible, Web-based platform enables virtually all Altiris solutions to provide management of IT resources anytime, and from any location through a Web browser, to significantly increase ROI.

"This newly developed platform is unique because it provides the extensible architecture to not only manage laptops, PDAs and servers," said Tyler Smith, vice president, Marketing, Altiris. "But it also enables each of the upcoming Altiris management solutions and suites to take advantage of centralized management and Web reporting capabilities. Altiris has been known for superior deployment and migration tools for desktops, but we are now delivering further on our promise of full lifecycle management for most IT devices."

Some of the most notable enhancements allow PDAs and servers to be deployed and managed as easily as client desktops or any other device. PDAs and servers can be remotely controlled, receive software updates and service packs, and be included in inventory reports. It also provides the infrastructure for the deployment of servers, with the optional flexibility of scripted operating system installs.

Changes to the Altiris eXpress architecture broaden centralized management capabilities into enterprise environments by allowing distribution of images and applications to remote locations. In addition, inventory data can be gathered from remote locations and forwarded to a central repository for more complete reporting and management. It also enables all Altiris solutions full integration with large framework third-party vendors to leverage an organization's existing infrastructure.

"The advantages of the new Altiris eXpress platform are significant for me. Most useful is the remote management features," said Dave Potash, network manager for Summit Medical Group. "The advanced remote management capabilities mean that I save time and man-power serving our users who are spread across a 20-mile radius. With the new security permissions, I can give my helpdesk team remote control access so they can resolve user problems in seconds instead of hours."

The new Altiris management platform is also the architecture used for the joint development of Altiris eXpress Compaq Client Management Solution. The solution is the first to integrate Compaq's Intelligent Manageability Technology with the Altiris eXpress infrastructure allowing a significantly expanded view of information about Compaq hardware. Driver and application updates can be sent to clients as needed and the hardware environment can be monitored for problems such as hard drive failures. Notifications are automatically sent to the IT administrator for problem resolution and downtime prevention. (For further information on the Compaq Client Management Solution, go to the Compaq web site, www.compaq.com/easydeploy.)

"Compaq has been a pioneer in PC and server manageability for nearly a decade, and part of that success has come from a longstanding partnership with Altiris, a recognized expert in the development of cost-reducing PC management technologies," said Bob Brewer, vice president of Access Options and Solutions in Compaq's Access Business Group. "This management solution is a result of our strategic alliance that is designed to deliver industry-leading IT management solutions that reduce the cost of owning Compaq desktops, notebooks and handheld devices."

"Using Altiris eXpress to manage our Compaq hardware, Pendergast's IT staff was able to cut total configuration time from four hours to just 45 minutes, saving more than three hours per PC," said John Moreno, MIS director of the Pendergast School District in Phoenix, Ariz. "The savings in labor costs amounted to more than $60,000."

The new management platform, along with the solutions and suites have also been expanded and optimized for management of Windows XP, Office XP and Internet Explorer 6.0.

About Altiris

Altiris Inc. offers a full line of Web-enabled solutions that empower organizations to easily manage desktops, notebooks, handhelds and servers throughout the IT lifecycle. Altiris is uniquely positioned to provide fully integrated, complete systems management solutions including deployment and migration, software operations management, inventory and asset management, and help desk management. Altiris' core technologies greatly reduce the cost and complexity of owning IT resources. For more information visit www.altiris.com.

Altiris and Altiris eXpress are trademarks of Altiris Inc. Compaq is a registered trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. The other company names or products mentioned are or may be trademar1ks of their respective owners.