Microsoft Corp now says that it will launch the Hermes desktop management and software distribution package in the first half of 1994, positioning it both as an end-user product and as a set of technologies to be licensed to others. It has won testimonials from 23 vendors intending to use it. Microsoft splits these into three groups: Enterprise prouct vendors including Computer Associates International Inc, Digital Equipment Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co, Infonet Ltd, Legent Corp, NCR Corp, Netlabs Inc, Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA and Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG, will use Hermes’ desktop management abilities to complement their existing systems managements software. Companion product vendors will use Hermes’ software distribution capabilities to bolster their miscellaneous products: these include Compaq Computer Corp, Microcom Inc, Synoptics Communications Inc and VisiSoft Inc. And software resellers including Corporate Software Inc, SoftMart Inc, Software Spectrum Inc and 800-Software may use it to implement off-site support centres and help desks, detailed planning reports, automatic upgrade distribution and automated billing. Hermes by itself takes software inventory of, and does distribution and installation to, MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT clients. Network applications can be configured and the network manager can also collect a hardware inventory. Hermes-equipped NT management stations will also be able to take control of MS-DOS and Windows clients remotely, useful in helpdesk work, but NT machines will not be able to control each other in the first release since this would invalidate C2 security. Microsoft is using an agent conforming to the Desktop Management Task Force at the client end, with data being deposited into an SQL database that third-party applications can access. The most notable absence from the group of well-wishers is ICL, which is co-developing the technology with Microsoft – an oversight, say the two. ICL developed the base technology used by Hermes to transport software.
