GroundWork Open Source, Inc. (GWOS, http://www.gwos.com), the leader in commercial open source systems and network management software, today launched the latest version of its Enterprise Quickstart as a SUSE-powered virtual appliance. Targeted at small environments, with a price of $59, the new appliance combines GroundWork Monitor Enterprise Quickstart with a fully supported version of SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 from Novell.

Enterprise Quickstart was built as part of the SUSE Appliance Program and offers:

• A fully-supported and licensed version of SUSE Linux Enterprise 11
• The benefits and assurances of enterprise class Linux in a convenient virtual appliance
• A full-featured copy of GroundWork Monitor Enterprise 6.0
• License to use the software for one year to monitor up to 100 devices
• One seat in "Getting Started with GroundWork Monitor" training
• Unlimited email support incidents for a single contact within the first 60 days of registration (requires completion of the training class)
• Fast, certified installation and setup of the monitoring server

“SUSE Linux Enterprise is one of the most popular platforms on which to run GroundWork Monitor and previous virtual appliances accounted for 40 percent of downloads,” said David Dennis, Sr. Director Marketing & Business Development, GWOS. “By using SUSE Studio from Novell to customize the SUSE Linux Enterprise operating system, the Enterprise Quickstart virtual appliance has a 74 percent smaller download size. The pairing of GroundWork Monitor Enterprise with SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 in a virtual appliance gives customers a fully supported enterprise-class Linux, enterprise-class monitoring, and turnkey ease of use, all at a radical price point.”

The GroundWork Monitor Enterprise Quickstart SUSE-powered virtual appliance is available at:

http://www.gwos.com/exchange/flex-quickstart-suse-vm

“The GroundWork SUSE-powered virtual appliance is a great example of how ISVs can easily customize an enterprise-class operating system to create a smaller footprint, improve performance and reduce security vulnerabilities, as part of a software appliance,” said Justin Steinman, vice president of Solution and Product Marketing at Novell. “The SUSE Appliance Program delivers the first fully-supported, business and technical program to help partners such as GroundWork create tailored appliances with SUSE Studio, reduce development and support costs, and reach new markets at innovative price points.”

About GroundWork Open Source (GWOS)

GWOS (http://www.gwos.com) is the market leader in commercial open source network and systems management software, delivering enterprise-class network, system and application management solutions at a fraction of the cost of proprietary solutions.

GWOS's best of breed approach gives customers the flexibility to use diverse open source and proprietary technologies together under a unified interface, allowing users to leverage the advantages of open source while simultaneously preserving existing investments in legacy management tools.

GroundWork Monitor Enterprise Edition powers organizations like Alexza Pharmaceuticals, National Geographic Society, Crocs, National Australia Bank, Siemens, Travel Click and World Bank. GroundWork Monitor Enterprise is available to monitor any environment starting at $49 USD per year.

• GroundWork Open Source Announces New $59 Linux Virtual Appliance