KACE Networks
Encyclopedia
Dell KACE specializes in delivering appliance
-based computer
systems management
solutions which allow organizations to manage IT
assets. They also provide software
for security
, application virtualization, and systems management products. Established in 2003, KACE is headquartered in Mountain View
, California
with offices in Europe and Asia.
, and Focus Ventures. KACE develops appliances designed to help IT departments manage their networks and desktop and server computers more efficiently. KACE continued its market expansion by acquiring appdeploy.com in 2007 and Computers In Motion in 2008. In 2008, KACE introduced the V-KBOX, fully functional equivalents of its hardware management appliances available as virtual appliances. In 2009, KACE introduced Virtual Kontainers, application virtualization technology integrated within the KBOX Systems Management appliance allowing administrators to create, deploy, and manage virtual applications. On Feb. 11, 2010, KACE announced their acquisition by Dell, Inc.
. Except for initial IP network settings via a console login, all communication with the product is done using the web-based GUI.
databases, Munin graphs
.
Computer appliance
A computer appliance is generally a separate and discrete hardware device with integrated software , specifically designed to provide a specific computing resource. These devices became known as "appliances" because of their similarity to home appliances, which are generally "closed and sealed" –...
-based computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
systems management
Systems management
Systems management refers to enterprise-wide administration of distributed systems including computer systems. Systems management is strongly influenced by network management initiatives in telecommunications....
solutions which allow organizations to manage IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
assets. They also provide software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
for security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
, application virtualization, and systems management products. Established in 2003, KACE is headquartered in Mountain View
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with offices in Europe and Asia.
Corporate history
KACE was started in 2003 when Rob Meinhardt and Marty Kacin founded and self-funded the company for over two years. KACE subsequently received venture capital funding from Sigma Partners, Norwest Venture PartnersNorwest venture partners
Norwest Venture Partners is a global, multi-stage investment firm focused on investments in early to late stage venture and growth equity investments in U.S...
, and Focus Ventures. KACE develops appliances designed to help IT departments manage their networks and desktop and server computers more efficiently. KACE continued its market expansion by acquiring appdeploy.com in 2007 and Computers In Motion in 2008. In 2008, KACE introduced the V-KBOX, fully functional equivalents of its hardware management appliances available as virtual appliances. In 2009, KACE introduced Virtual Kontainers, application virtualization technology integrated within the KBOX Systems Management appliance allowing administrators to create, deploy, and manage virtual applications. On Feb. 11, 2010, KACE announced their acquisition by Dell, Inc.
Main products and services
All KBOX products are sold as "black box" appliances. These systems are delivered as 19" rack Dell servers and are fully installed. The core-software is running under FreeBSDFreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
. Except for initial IP network settings via a console login, all communication with the product is done using the web-based GUI.
Virtual
The standard KACE products are fully installed appliances: the complete software fully installed on a standard Dell server. KACE also offer their boxes as virtual appliances.Architecture
Since KACE was acquired by Dell the appliances are normally sold as physical Dell servers using Dell servers. KBox is developed on a 64 bit version of FreeBSD and it uses many open-source software that offers widely used technologies such as an Apache webserver, MySQLMySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
databases, Munin graphs
Munin (Network Monitoring Application)
Munin is a network/system monitoring application that presents output in graphs through a web interface. Its emphasis is on plug and play capabilities. About 500 monitoring plugins are currently available. Using Munin you can monitor the performance of your computers, networks, SANs, and...
.
See also
- List of systems management systems
- Systems managementSystems managementSystems management refers to enterprise-wide administration of distributed systems including computer systems. Systems management is strongly influenced by network management initiatives in telecommunications....
- Desktop management
- PC management
- Server management
- Application virtualizationApplication VirtualizationApplication virtualization is an umbrella term that describes software technologies that improve portability, manageability and compatibility of applications by encapsulating them from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A fully virtualized application is not installed in...
- Configuration managementConfiguration managementConfiguration management is a field of management that focuses on establishing and maintaining consistency of a system or product's performance and its functional and physical attributes with its requirements, design, and operational information throughout its life.For information assurance, CM...
- Change managementChange managementChange management is a structured approach to shifting/transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. It is an organizational process aimed at helping employees to accept and embrace changes in their current business environment....
- Security managementSecurity managementSecurity Management is a broad field of management related to asset management, physical security and human resource safety functions. It entails the identification of an organization's information assets and the development, documentation and implementation of policies, standards, procedures and...
- Process managementProcess managementProcess management is the ensemble of activities of planning and monitoring the performance of a process. The term usually refers to the management of business processes and manufacturing processes...
- Power managementPower managementPower management is a feature of some electrical appliances, especially copiers, computers and computer peripherals such as monitors and printers, that turns off the power or switches the system to a low-power state when inactive. In computing this is known as PC power management and is built...
- Remote controlRemote controlA remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
- Patch management
- Software distributionSoftware distributionSoftware distribution can refer to:* The process of software distribution, from creator to the user,* A collection of software, also referred to as a distribution, or a distro, which is set of software components built, assembled and configured so that it can be used essentially "as is" for its...
- Software imagingSoftware ImagingSoftware Imaging is an Oxford based, UK private company that is a supplier of printing and imaging solutions.Software Imaging is a solution provider to the world’s major printer & copier manufacturers....
- System administration
- Service desk (ITSM)
- IT service managementIT Service ManagementIT service management is a discipline for managing information technology systems, philosophically centered on the customer's perspective of IT's contribution to the business. ITSM stands in deliberate contrast to technology-centered approaches to IT management and business interaction...
(ITSM) - ITILItilItil may mean:*Atil or Itil, the ancient capital of Khazaria*Itil , also Idel, Atil, Atal, the ancient and modern Turkic name of the river Volga.ITIL can stand for:*Information Technology Infrastructure Library...
- Background Intelligent Transfer ServiceBackground Intelligent Transfer ServiceBackground Intelligent Transfer Service is a component of Microsoft Windows XP and later operating systems that facilitates prioritized, throttled, and asynchronous transfer of files between machines using idle network bandwidth...