Sun Picks a Patch Manager

Sun Microsystems today agreed to acquire Aduva, which makes software that
automates and manages the deployment of patches to Solaris and Linux
servers.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aduva makes OnStage, a software application that runs an active dependency
service for Solaris and Linux servers so that systems administrators don’t
have to pipe a constant barrage of patches and updates to data center
equipment.

OnStage’s job is to “detect, analyze, and resolve any deviation, conflicts
or drift from compliance, ensuring security and high system availability,”
Aduva said in a statement.

Sun said Aduva’s technology, which competes with offerings from Levanta, Red
Hat, PatchLink and BigFix, will be tucked into its Solaris operating system.

As enterprise customers continue to add different pieces of software to make
their computers more productive and self-reliant, patches and updates are
needed to keep IT operations online and safe from malware and intruders.

Don Grantham, executive vice president of Sun Services, said adding Aduva’s
patch management software will help Sun address a top pain point for IT
administrators.

“By integrating this technology into our offerings and services, Sun can
enable customers to update thousands of systems at the touch of a button.”

When the deal closes in the fourth quarter, Sun will make Aduva’s services
available for customers to run behind their own firewalls, or as an
automated service from Sun’s Grid offering.

The deal, Sun’s first acquisition bid of 2006, follows Sun’s big buys of
SeeBeyond and StorageTek last year.