Intel ups the laptop ante

Remote management for notebooks is set to take a giant leap forward

Remote management for notebooks is set to take a giant leap forward following Intel’s first public demonstration of its Active Management Technology (AMT).

Announced in March, AMT will feature in notebook and server processors by the end of the year.

According to Intel, it allows IT managers more notebook control and manageability. For example, it allows them remotely to repair, upgrade and manage it, even if the notebook is turned off, the operating system is frozen or the hard drive fails.

The demonstration at the recent Mobile and Wireless World Conference in the US showed how a notebook infected with a crippling virus could still be accessed, cleaned and rebooted.

IT managers will also have the ability to send out fixes and code to all AMT-equipped notebooks and force the computers to run them, the vendor said.

Intel is already using the software internally and claimed it will save $16m annually in asset management and client support.

Intel AMT will be implemented as a subsystem, separate from the operating system. Intel said this independence addresses one of IT managers’ major problems today, allowing them to override intentional or accidental disablement of security and management capabilities in PCs.

AMT will operate on Intel’s Lyndon desktop platform, launched this year, and its Bensley server platform slated for release in 2006.

Abhi Talwalkar, vice-president and general manager, Intel digital enterprise group, said: “Intel AMT will greatly improve asset management and help reduce system downtime, technical assistance and operational costs.”

Commenting on AMT, Purnima Padmanabhan, director of product management at Marimba, said: “IT organisations supporting mission-critical business operations across distributed machines and end-users will have powerful remote options that have never before been available.”