Intel Aims To Simplify Desktop Management

Intel sketched out details this week to leverage new technology from Microsoft and emerging desktop management standards to help system administrators secure, manage and control PC maintenence costs.

Intel said the next generation of Intel vPro desktop processors, codenamed Weybridge, and laptops running the company's Santa Rosa Centrino processors will work closely with new editions of Microsoft's Systems Center management solutions. The cooperation will help protect desktop systems from being infected by or spreading malicious code and make it easier to manage end-user systems, Intel said.

Microsoft's System Center Operations Manager 2007 and System Center Essentials 2007 collect and analyze PC performance data, making it easier for system administrators to diagnose and repair end users' systems remotely.

VPro and Centrino processors also will include support for the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) Web Services Management (WS-MAN) standard, which will let third-party management solutions from vendors such as Microsoft more easily administer the Intel-based systems.The Santa Rosa Centrino mobile processors will debut in the second quarter this year. The Weybridge vPro processors are due in the second half of this year.