SteelWorks - Appliance Management Software

SteelWorks™
Appliance Management Software

There’s a world of difference between delivering your software pre-installed on a standard server, and delivering it as a true network appliance. A true appliance simplifies the customer’s life by minimizing the administration and support burden – and in doing so, reduces the software vendor’s support costs. A true appliance can also open new markets for the software vendor by permitting less technologically astute buyers to consume your products. At SteelCloud, the key to achieving these results is SteelWorks, our proprietary appliance management software which provides critical and disaster recovery capabilities.

SteelWorks Appliance Management Software is the product of years of experience creating appliance solutions for customers. It delivers built-in diagnostics and disaster-recovery. This allows ISVs to deliver a superior appliance with instant product differentiation, with dramatic decrease in product support costs, and a pronounced increase in customer satisfaction. SteelWorks also encompasses a number of features that can be tailored to the unique requirements of your network appliance.

Top Management Requirements for a Network Appliance

1. Easily installed and configured
SteelWorks employs Rapid Configuration Wizards to present an appliance that will adapt itself to the application environment selected at initialization time. This valuable feature allows a single appliance to be shipped and deployed into multiple application environments, simplifying logistics and support and maximizing financial returns.

2. Diagnose problems in the field
To assure reliability, SteelWorks provides system verification tools for troubleshooting in the field. Diagnostic reports can be delivered via email to the appropriate personnel.

3. Recover from a software or operating system crash
In the event of a system crash or unplanned shutdown, the appliance must recover gracefully. SteelWorks will recover the appliance and reset it back to factory settings, or recover it to a predefined stable state. This eliminates the need for a system or network administrator to be present. Thus the appliance can be deployed at sites with little to no IT administration staff.

4. Simple field software upgrades
Over time, appliance software will inevitably need upgrading – and if this can be done in the field by the customer it will reduce costs, reduce downtime and improve customer satisfaction. SteelWorks incorporates a failsafe DVD Upgrade feature that makes software updates a snap, even for otherwise complex upgrades.

5. Reliable performance
SteelWorks can allow an appliance to monitor itself, looking for signs of problems before they become critical. When identified, the appliance can “call for help” by notifying the appropriate party that it requires attention.

SteelWorks offers a number of valuable features tailored to meet specific requirements. These features range from management of the underlying hardware platform to maintenance of the application itself. SteelCloud works in tandem with the ISV’s own software engineers to implement these SteelWorks in a manner that best serves your customers and optimizes your return on investment.

SteelWorks is a powerful example of how SteelCloud works closely with ISVs to develop and deliver true network appliances that deliver far greater value than simply pre-installing the application software on a standard server.

Network Appliances