Centeris Announces Comprehensive Solution for Managing Linux Servers in Windows Networks

Centeris Corporation, a pioneer in developing software used to manage Linux(R) servers in a Microsoft(R) Windows(R) network, today released the beta version of its flagship product, Centeris(TM) Likewise. Likewise reduces the cost and complexity of managing mixed-server environments. Centeris has raised more than $5 million in Series A financing from leading venture capital firm, Ignition Partners.

"Almost all mid-market and enterprise companies are now running a combination of Windows and Linux servers," said Brad Silverberg, founder of Ignition Partners and former Microsoft senior vice president. "They are clamoring for tools that will help them seamlessly integrate and manage Linux servers in a Windows environment. The Centeris Likewise solution makes it easy for a company's existing Windows administrators to manage and configure Linux servers."

Centeris has spent the last year finalizing development and conducting select beta engagements for Centeris Likewise 1.0. The final product is scheduled to be available in December 2005. The company also announced plans to offer a stand-alone component of Likewise as free,open source software later this year.

The Market for Centeris Likewise

According to Gartner Inc., Linux will have the strongest relative growth of any server operating system during the next five years. Shipments are expected to increase from 1.4 million units this year to 2.4 million in 2010, and Linux is already the second most prevalent server operating system(1). Many companies have difficulty managing Linux servers in a Windows network due to the lack of familiar management tools and the challenges of configuring Linux to work seamlessly with Windows.

"Gartner predicts that Windows and Linux will be the only two operating systems with significant growth in the next five years, therefore we see that many of our clients will be struggling with the issue of common management for these two very different platforms," said John Enck, vice president at Gartner. "Vendors that can provide a common management solution are clearly addressing a headache of increasing intensity."

"Our customers tell us that interoperability between Windows and Linux has become a critical issue," said Jeff Hawkins, vice president of product management for Novell's Linux and Platform Services. "Centeris Likewise makes it easy for Windows administrators to manage Linux Servers. The Likewise solution will make it easier for customers to adopt SUSE Linux in predominately Windows networks."

Centeris Likewise simplifies mixed-network management by providing Windows-based tools that enable companies to use the same IT resources for administration of both Windows and Linux servers.

"With the rapid growth of Linux servers and the ubiquity of the Windows platform, most companies will run both platforms for their core IT infrastructure," said Barry Crist, Centeris CEO. "We hear from customers their desire to integrate these platforms and manage them in a common way. Likewise provides familiar management and seamless integration of Windows and Linux servers, helping companies achieve the full benefits of a mixed network."

Company Management

Centeris is led by experienced senior executives from leading technology companies such as Microsoft, F5 Networks, EMC and Mercury. Barry Crist, Centeris CEO and chairman of the board of directors, is a former vice president at Mercury. At Mercury, Crist was responsible for the application management business for the Americas and grew revenue to more than $75 million. Cameron Myhrvold, Ignition founding partner and former Microsoft vice president, and Richard Fade, Ignition venture partner and former Microsoft senior vice president, also serve on the Centeris board of directors.

About Centeris

Centeris solutions give customers the freedom to choose the server platform best suited to their business needs. Centeris Likewise makes it easy for midsized and enterprise companies running Microsoft Windows networks to configure and manage Linux servers. Likewise provides familiar Windows-based management tools and improved integration of Windows and Linux servers, helping companies achieve the full benefits of running mixed networks. Centeris is a Bellevue, WA-based software company funded by leading venture capital firm Ignition Partners.

(1) See "Linux Making Strong Inroads in Server Market" by Jeffrey Hewitt; April 4, 2005

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