the Pipeline

Channeling Houdini

Altiris is set to release its Software Virtualization Solution, patented technology that allows -- seemingly by magic -- applications to run on Microsoft Windows-based computers without altering the operating system or modifying the system registry.

This means the software doesn't go through the customary installation routine, even though users must copy all needed files onto the system. An administrator can activate an application when necessary and deactivate it later. Data files associated with specific programs, such as Microsoft Word documents or Adobe PDF files, become available or unavailable, depending on whether the application is active.

The software also enables multiple versions of an application to run on one system without conflicts. If a user needs both Microsoft Office 98 and 2003, for example, administrators can turn them on without changing a system's settings.

The Altiris architecture can centrally manage the system, but it does not require a proprietary management framework. The technology can also reduce the testing time of new applications because it eliminates many sources of potential conflicts.

Users of Altiris' client management suite can get the virtualization technology as an upgrade, said Rich Bentley, the company's market segment manager.

"We expect that people will start to gradually roll out virtualized applications," he said.

Bentley said he expects the system to appeal to government and commercial customers.

The system will be available soon for $29 per node.

Management to the max

Pilot Software has released PilotWorks for GovMax, a hosted performance management system for local government organizations tailored to work with GovMax.

GovMax is a strategic planning, budgeting and performance management application that was first developed by Sarasota County, Fla., and is now available for other government organizations.

PilotWorks for GovMax takes its place alongside PilotWorks, a more generalized enterprise performance management system.

The company has also added sales and marketing resources to target local governments more effectively, said Jonathan Becher, Pilot's president and chief executive officer.

As a hosted solution, PilotWorks for GovMax uses a resource-sharing model in which organizations band together to reduce the individual costs of the solution. That allows local government organizations to take advantage of technologies that might otherwise be beyond their financial reach.