Sun Patch Management

www.sun.com Sun Microsystems recently announced plans to acquire patch management specialists Aduva Inc. Sun plans to purchase the Sunnyvale, Calif.,-based startup to extend its patch management services to include Linux.

A patch is a piece of code that is a quick fix for a software flaw. Patch management software is designed to help IT shops get out from under the burden of collecting, validating, testing and distributing patches across the data center.
For more information:

Patching the patch process

Sun's patch management software, Sun Update Connection, is delivered in software as a service (SaaS) model or as an in-house application.

Researchers at Sun determined that IT shops spend five hours per server per month on patch configuration. Sun claims its patch update service cuts that time down to 15 minutes per server per month for $120 a year.

Sun services move towards SaaS

This acquisition is part of a larger services strategy for Sun. The company plans to focus on delivering more new tools in a SaaS model. New programs in production include a security management service and power management software, both delivered over the network.

According to Harding, these new offerings allow Sun to focus on technology-based services. The company has jabbed at competing IBM Global Services (IGS) in the past, charging that IBM customers have to rely on IGS administrators to implement IBM technologies.

"IGS mobilizes an army of people -- which is a business model that has worked for them. Sun is mobilizing IP [intellectual property] that will help people be more self-sufficient," Harding said. "This marks a major step in the progression toward network services orchestration -- an inherently multiplatform space. Aduva, combined with Sun Update Connection and the N1 management tools, will enable Sun to define and lead in this emerging business."