Software connects servers running Windows and Linux

At the end of October 2005, Centeris Corp (a company that currently has 30 US-based employees in Washington) has just released a beta version of Likewise software, allowing Windows network administrators to manage both. Linux server.

Centris started developing Likewise in October 2004. A few months later, they were funded by venture capitalist Ignition Partners LLC, $ 5.35 million.

Centerwise 1.0 said Likewise 1.0 is targeting IT managers at medium and large businesses that are "struggling" to manage both Windows and Linux servers. The company's president and CEO said Centris will allow Linux servers to have a "foothold" in the Windows network.

Using Likewise, system administrators can connect Linux servers to Microsoft's Active Directory system, allowing them to manage and control Linux servers with Likewise or Microsoft Management Console.

Centeris tested this beta with about 20 users, including Omneon Video Networks Inc., a maker of video equipment. in California (USA). IT managers here are very high Likewise reviews and this software will encourage them to deploy more Linux servers to save costs.

According to Gartner Inc., there are currently about 1.4 million Linux servers and this number will be about 2.4 million by 2010. But this growth rate may be higher with the help of homeowners. Production of interoperability software between Windows and Linux such as Centeris, Centrify Corp., and Vintela Inc. (now a subsidiary of Quest Software Inc.).

Likewise, Novell (owner of SUSE Linux) and IBM also have Likewise testing. This software has also satisfied their needs.

Centris hopes, the official Likewise version will be officially announced in December 2005. A permanent license for each management server will cost $ 350. The company also plans to provide support for Likewise. The price of these services has not been decided yet.

The company plans to announce a code section of Likewise for the open source community by the end of 2005, providing support for these code snippets. They are negotiating so that Likewise software will come along when selling Linux operating system.