Zenoss, rPath join on open source systems management appliances

Open source systems management ISV Zenoss will reveal this week a partnership with rPath that will enable it to deliver VMware appliances in the VMware marketplace.

The Annapolis, Maryland software company released its first set of application, server and network management appliances – one a hardware appliance, and the other, a VMware-enabled software appliance-- in September. These appliances are built on a guest Linux distribution.

The new relationship with custom Linux builder rPath and its rBuilder and RPath Appliance platform makes it possible for the appliances to be configured according to Vmware’s specs and gain VMware’s official stamp of approval, execs said Tuesday.

Zenoss offers a core open source build and enterprise editions with subscription for monitoring either 250 or 1000 resources in an enterprise setting.

Zenoss is among a group of four leading open source contenders taking on established proprietary systems management vendors IBM, CA, HP and BMC. The other open source players --referred to as the little four -- include Hyperic, GroundWork and Qlusters.