The New York-based company has been expanding its Linux management credentials over the past three years with xMC, which delivers Windows-like administration on a Linux server, with the aim of easing Linux in to Microsoft-heavy environments.
The release of a Windows version of xMC takes that strategy one step further. With it, administrators can remotely manage Linux and Unix servers from Windows Vista or XP clients.
The Windows version of xMC will be delivered with the company’s forthcoming Xandros Server 2, due later this month, as well as BridgeWays, its standalone Linux management platform, scheduled to be available in the spring.
BridgeWays is set to offer server management, deployment management, systems monitoring and storage management capabilities and will support Xandros, Red Hat, Solaris, Debian, Novell, and Oracle Linux servers and desktops.
Our view
Xandros is one of a small number of second-tier Linux distributors trying to forge a niche in a market dominated by Red Hat and, to a lesser extent, Novell. Windows-like administration has always been one of its selling points, and Windows-based administration is likely to make it a more attractive option, especially among SMBs. The BridgeWays strategy provides an alternate revenue stream, not to mention a potential future direction for the company should it fail to make an impact in the distribution business.
