VMware snaps up Shavlik to improve systems management capabilities

VMware is to acquire systems management software vendor Shavlik in a deal designed to build on the two companies' joint SaaS IT management offering, VMware GO.

VMware GO is designed to help small and medium sized businesses, Shavlik's target market, to better manage physical and virtual environments, including VMware's vSphere and Hypervisor products.

The companies said that the focus will be to offer centralised, simplified and automated IT management services covering areas such as patch management, compliance, configuration and data protection.

"Shavlik and VMware share a vision of IT management for now and the future. A vision of delivering solid, easy to use IT solutions to SMBs to enable customers to take full advantage of the efficiencies gained with the latest technologies," wrote Shavlik founder Mark Shavlik in a blog post.

"We will enable our customers to work with new solutions in cloud computing, SaaS, security, virtualisation, IT management and other critical areas by driving VMware GO forward. We will also enter global markets much faster by working with managed service providers and solution providers."

Clive Longbottom, an analyst with Quocirca, argued that systems management capabilities such as those offered by Shavlik are an important part of a "flexible and effective IT environment".

However, he warned that VMware would be unwise to limit Shavlik to managing only VMware kit given the heterogenous nature of most customers' datacentres and the different types of cloud environments being used.

"If VMware insists on pushing Shavlik as its new cloud-based VMware-only systems management solution it will only be attacking one part of the market - those who are VMware addicts," he said.

"By opening up now and providing support for Hyper-V and Xen, and maybe others if the critical mass makes it worthwhile, VMware can create a force in the market that would be impressive."

The acquisition is expected to be completed later this quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed.