Canonical adds advanced enterprise features to latest version of systems management tool

New 'Landscape' supports Ubuntu 10.04 LTS migration and cloud deployments for enterprises

Canonical today announced the latest version of its Ubuntu-dedicated systems management tool that simplifies enterprise deployments with tools to configure multiple servers, connect with single sign on (SSO) authentication systems and manage cloud topologies.

Landscape 1.5 provides powerful, automated systems administration capabilities such as management, monitoring and provisioning of packages across multiple machines, lowering per-systems cost of management and administration. Landscape is used by a wide range of businesses both as a 'software as a service' hosted by Canonical and as a dedicated version where it is deployed behind a company's firewall. The features of Landscape 1.5 are available in both deployment scenarios.

“Landscape 1.5 adds great features that reflect the growing use of Landscape in enterprise deployments and delivers the capability to deploy and manage Ubuntu in large scale use and in the innovative realm of cloud computing,” said Ken Drachnik, Landscape manager, Canonical. “Landscape 1.5 will see the new features that larger scale users of Ubuntu have been requesting, giving them the ability to easily deploy, scale and manage Ubuntu in an enterprise-class environment.”

Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) is a key element of the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS release and many businesses are investigating the possibilities of delivering a range of IT services as an internal cloud, running on UEC. Landscape 1.5 enables enterprises to more easily view a cloud topology and manage the machines in that configuration.

Features

• Configuration

  System Administrators can define profiles (lists of packages) that constitute a configuration (e.g. a Web server) then deploy that list of packages to a new system and apply scripts to configure it. By automating the process of configuring new systems, Landscape can save time and reduce errors associated with routine tasks.

• Authentication

  Landscape now supports LDAP and AD SSO authentication so users can simply log into the Landscape application with their enterprise credentials. This simplifies the use of Landscape and helps enforce enterprise security protocols.

• Long Term Support (LTS) upgrade

  Upgrading to the next version of an OS can be time consuming and error prone. Landscape can automatically upgrade to the next Ubuntu version or from LTS to LTS.

• Package Pinning

  Users often need to prevent certain packages or applications from being upgraded to prevent them from interfering with other applications. Landscape now supports server-side package pinning allowing system adminstrators to manage which packages do not get upgraded.

• New client registration

  Improved client registration capabilities enable users to mass register thousands of clients automatically or register a client from the client. This saves users time by automating routine tasks, and maintains system security with inclusion of the ability to require a registration password.

• Cloud Topology

  Understanding the topology or architecture of your cloud environment is important to managing all the elements in your Cloud. Now Landscape features a topology view module that helps system administrators better visualize their cloud environments to more efficiently manage components.

Useful Links

• Sign up for a free 60 Day Trial
• Read more on Landscape
• Register for an upcoming Landscape Webinar on May 27^th

About Canonical

Canonical provides engineering, online and professional services to Ubuntu partners and customers worldwide. As the company behind the Ubuntu project, Canonical is committed to the production and support of Ubuntu – an ever-popular and fast-growing open-source operating system. It aims to ensure that Ubuntu is available to every organisation and individual on servers, desktops, laptops and netbooks.

Canonical partners with computer hardware manufacturers to certify Ubuntu, provides migration, deployment, support and training services to businesses, and offers online services direct to end users. Canonical also builds and maintains collaborative, open-source development tools to ensure that organisations and individuals can participate fully in innovations within the open-source community. For more information, please visit www.canonical.com.