Open source systems management tools slideshow: Open core versus open source software

 

Open core versus open source software


Some companies offer what's considered "open core" systems management software. At the base level is a functional, free open source tool (like Zenoss Core or Hyperic HQ), and there is a separate proprietary enterprise version with special add-ons and features. This business model rankles some open source advocates, but it offers companies the chance to use a tool risk free, and oftentimes organizations can make the free version work.

Ryan Matte, a data center admin at Ottawa, Ontario-based Nova Networks Inc., uses Zenoss Core to manage more than 1,000 devices, monitoring Windows, Linux, Solaris and network devices. Matte considered Nagios, Zabbix, and OpenNMS. "In terms of ease of use and setup and having all the monitoring capabilities in the product, Zenoss was the best choice," he said. "There's an IRC channel chat room -- I'm in there quite a bit. There are always people in there. The [community] support is pretty good, but you have to come in during business hours."

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This was first published in September 2010

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