Dell Acquiring Kace to Handle Application Virtualization

Dell, already one of the world's top three IT hardware sellers, remains focused on building up its data center software catalog.

The server, storage and computer maker took a giant step toward optimizing and untangling complicated virtual machine administration Feb. 11 when it announced it will acquire systems management appliance maker Kace Networks.

Dell did not disclose terms of the transaction at this time.

Kace makes Kbox, an application virtualization hardware and software package tailored to the requirements of midsize businesses and public-government, education and health care-institutions.

The Kbox Systems Management Appliance offers a list of capabilities, such as device discovery, system inventory and asset management. Enterprises also use Kbox for power management software distribution and operating system deployment as well as for its application security features.

Kace's secret-sauce application virtualization software is called Virtual Kontainers. The appliances support Windows, Mac, Linux and integrated application virtualization, Kace said.

"We talk directly to thousands of these customers and they tell us they need systems management tools geared for their environment," said Steve Felice, president of Dell's Consumer and Small and Medium Business unit. "The Kbox family of appliances is highly capable, quick to deploy [and] simple to use and provides a rapid return on investment, exactly the sort of best-value solutions we're delivering to customers."

Kbox is ideal for midsize operations and is often deployed into production by organizations within a week or less, said Kace CEO Rob Meinhardt.

Almost two-thirds of Kace customers said the products paid for themselves in less than three months, Meinhardt said.