Centeris wants VARs to sell cross-platform suite

Vendor looking to woo resellers with offering that enables both Linux and Windows servers to work together

Written by Trevor Treharne

Server management vendor Centeris is looking for UK channel partners keen to make Linux and Windows work together.

Centeris provides a cross-platform suite for managing Linux and Windows servers and hopes to boost business for resellers working with either vendor.

Manny Vellon, vice-president of product development at Centeris, said: “We make Windows and Linux work better together. Our focus is to make Linux easier and the central aim is to let end-users manage Linux servers with Windows management tools.”

Vellon said even the most resistant firms are now demanding Linux and making Linux work with Windows is an issue of concern for channel players.

“Our target market is mid-sized to large companies with 200-plus employees. We deliver the ability to use their Windows staff to manage the Linux servers,” he claimed.

Vellon said that some firms are warned off using Linux as it would involve the replacement of current Windows skilled staff.

“Our product will be a channel product through OEMs, resellers and integrators. Our target is to have five partners which will provide a step to having a permanent footprint with a UK office by the end of the year.”

Vellon claimed a combination of Linux and Windows resellers will offer the right mix, but resellers with a networking background will also benefit from the Centeris product set.

Alan Harte, director at VAR Alcom Systems, said Centeris will have to push its products hard to the channel to build a solid reputation.

“Centeris is going to have to sell themselves to the reseller community and there will be a certain amount of breeding needed to push business.

“A lot of organisations have a mix of Linux and Windows, but regardless of the firm they look for the best solution and if that comes from Linux that is the direction they will go,” he said.

Harte added that Alcom gets requests for multiple platforms and there is still scope for a vendor to provide a cross-platform suite for managing Linux and Windows servers.

trevor_treharne@vnu.co.uk

See also:

reader comments

related articles

 

O2 plans indirect enterprise drive

Mobile operator O2 is looking to push deeper into enterprise accounts and is using the channel as its weapon of choice 17 Dec 2007

Aruba urged to police its channel

Vendor urged to deal with unaccredited resellers who undercut authorised partners 25 May 2007

Arrow points to desktops

Distributor launches scheme to help firms deal with IT complexity issues 09 Jul 2007

latest news

Honeyfone Tribunal ruling tastes sweet to HMRC

Mobile phone trader loses tribunal appeal against Extended Verfication policy 16 May 2008

Zultys blasts Milnes for R&D credential outburst

IP telephony vendor claims it is stronger than ever despite claims by former head 16 May 2008

Ricoh resellers benefit from price rise U-turn

UK VARs attending Ricoh’s Partner Summit were heartened by news that the printing vendor has shelved a proposed 9.5 per cent price hike. 16 May 2008

poll

Defeating the pirates?

Defeating the pirates?

Do you think the UK will ever be free from software pirates?

Previous poll results

CRN Product Cast: Cisco Unified Communications

In this exclusive video, commissioned by Cisco, resellers can discover how to reap the benefits of Unified Communications in the SMB space.

Toughbook

CRN product cast: Panasonic Toughbooks

This exclusive video, commissioned by Panasonic, provides a unique demonstration of the latest Toughbook notebooks

events

Channel Expo 2008

Channel Expo 2008

The 2008 Channel Expo in May will be bigger and better than ever

CRN Fight Night logo

CRN Channel Fight Night 2008

CRN's inaugural white-collar boxing event aims to raise money for a variety of good causes

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Advertisement

White papers

Search white papers

Top categories