Microsoft to Demo 'Indy' Management Tool
As first reported by Microsoft Watch, Redmond is preparing to unveil a new system management tool at this week's Management Summit.
The utility, called "Indy," is a product of Microsoft's research efforts designed for capacity planning and performance monitoring of customer's hardware, software and server systems.
Indy is expected to be incorporated into a future version of Microsoft's System Center suite. However, the commercialization of this research is far off. Currently, System Center 2005 is scheduled to enter beta testing and will ship later this year, delivering on Microsoft’s Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI).
Indy will not make it into the release; ostensibly since System Center 2005 is a 1.0 mark on the Microsoft technology roadmap. System Center 2005 is the first integrated management suit for the Windows Server System, and includes: Systems Management Server 2003, Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 and a new common reporting system.
Commenting on Microsoft's long term DSI strategy, senior Jupiter Research analyst Joe Wilcox told BetaNews, "Microsoft's systems management approach is a work in progress that is years from completion. For DSI to succeed, Microsoft must achieve synchronicity among products Windows Server 2003, system management software and updated third-party software applications."
“Microsoft executives envision applications that are more self-managing as opposed to today’s more centrally managed approach,” said Wilcox.
Wilcox likened today's management systems to a baby which is heavily managed by parents, requiring a great deal of parental intervention. The next step is for that child to become more independent, but come to the parents in times of crisis. Finally, the child reaches adulthood and is self-maintaining and self-regulating.
"I would regard Indy as a mechanism for approaching adulthood," stated Wilcox.
Microsoft competitors IBM and Sun Microsystems have been hard at work on their own autonomic computing solutions. Big Blue's vision grew out of its earlier eLiza project, while Sun has introduced a Dynamic Tracing tool into its Solaris 10 operating system.
IBM now invests over US $500 million each year into development of self managing capabilities for its software. The company's strategy for autonomic computing is comprised of delivering systems that are self-configuring, self-healing, self-optimizing and self-protecting.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was scheduled to demo Indy during his keynote address to the audience of over 2,000 information technology professionals who are attending the Management Summit. Ballmer has since bailed out on his appearance due to other engagements pending the European Union Commission's upcoming antitrust ruling.
In addition to announcing Indy and System Center 2005, Microsoft is rolling out standalone betas of its management products, as well as Software Update Services 2.0 – now dubbed "Windows Update Services."