Big players join forces on desktop diagnostics standard

Intel, Microsoft and IBM have teamed with PC-Doctor, a supplier of PC hardware diagnostic tools, to develop a standards-based architecture for remotely diagnosing computer problems.

The Common Diagnostics Model (CDM) is based on the Common Information Model (CIM) and is intended to work in all computing environments, although it will initially run only on Intel-based servers based on Windows NT and 2000.

CDM will be defined under the auspices of the Desktop Management Task Force, an industry body that works on unifying management standards for the desktop.

Aki Korhonen, PC-Doctor's joint founder and chief technology officer, claimed that the Diagnostic Application Program Interface under development would make it easy for companies to add their own specialised tests, third-party vendor test modules and system information modules to the framework.

Independent hardware vendors will be able to write their own diagnostics module directly, although "that is more difficult", said Korhonen. But software developers kits will also be made available.

"Companies can buy a new PC which is CDM-enabled," he said. "IBM is pushing to have this or it can go to a company such as PC-Doctor which will make the system CDM-compliant."

Although the work has been done in the US, Korhonen expects the standard to be adopted worldwide.

PC-Doctor has just changed its name from Watergate Software to coincide with its expansion into Europe, Taiwan and Japan.