Dell Updates KACE Appliance Software Management

Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

Dell has released its first major update to the KACE K1000 Management Appliance, rolling out a set of features aimed at improving businesses configuration and aiding in the power management settings on both Window and Macintosh computers.

The KACE K1000, which Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) acquired last February, had been previously sold under the KBOX brand name. KBOX systems handle device discovery, system inventory, asset management, configuration management, power management and a number of other deployment and monitoring functions. They’re aimed at the mid-level market that can’t afford more expensive, higher-end products.

The primary focus is on simplicity of use, Marty Kacin, CTO and vice president of engineering for the K Line at Dell, said in a YouTube videoreleased along with the new software.

“As soon as you get some level of critical mass for your population of computers, you need to think about bringing in software and automation like KACE has to manage those computers,” Kacin said. “But when you bring in that tool, you don’t want to spend a lot of time getting trained, designing and deployment, trying to understand a lot of complex stuff that has nothing to do with what your business does.”

The new K line, as Dell now calls it, features quick and easy setup and configuration for management of client computers, predefined reports that display energy savings achieved through KACE management.

Another major update is a revamped helpdesk feature, now called Service Desk. This is a task-based or policy-based feature compliant with Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) guidelines on IT service management best practices.

Finally, the new K Line introduces enhanced Smart Label technology that dynamically groups managed machines for easier reporting and more fine-grained automated policy-based management.

The new Dell KACE K1000 series, priced at $8,900 for a system that can manage 100 nodes, is intended to be an entry-level complement to the existing Dell KACE K2000 series.

Andy Patrizio is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.