INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN FRANCISCO, March 1, 2005 - Intel Corporation today released details of the Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT) specification, a forthcoming platform-level technology inside Intel processors, chipsets and networking cards that will give IT managers more control and manageability over their networked computers while reducing costly on-site technical assistant visits and asset tracking.
Intel AMT is one of Intel's premier *T technologies. The new technology enables IT managers to remotely discover and repair many computer problems that previously required service visits. An IT manager can remotely set up new computers, download software updates, perform asset inventories and find and fix many problems. With Intel AMT, all of these functions are possible even when target systems are turned off, the operating system has locked up or the hard drive has failed.
The new technology is part of Intel's Digital Office initiative to develop new capabilities and usage models for the office worker through silicon design and integration, and the company's high-volume manufacturing.
Intel AMT will be first available on the forthcoming "Lyndon" desktop platform in 2005 and "Bensley" server platform in 2006.
"Intel AMT will greatly improve asset management and help reduce system downtime, technical assistance and operational costs," said >Abhi Talwalkar, vice president and general manager, Intel Digital Enterprise Group. "It is an example of how Intel is integrating platform innovations into silicon to enhance management and security of today's networked computing environments."
Of most interest to designers, the architectural specification released today describes unique interfaces that enable Intel AMT to connect with compatible management and security software, and utilize embedded monitoring and control capabilities in the client platform. Intel AMT will be implemented as a subsystem, completely separate from the host operating system. This independence addresses one of IT managers' major problems today: intentional or accidental disablement of security and management capabilities in PCs.
Being independent from the operating system environment also enables Intel AMT to monitor and remotely manage a client system even if its operating system is inoperative.
To provide controlled access to platform management features while maintaining user privacy and choice, the Intel AMT specification follows industry security and privacy standards.
Beginning in 2006, Intel AMT will use Web Services Management (WS-Management), a Web services protocol specification that helps address the cost and complexity of IT management by providing a common way for networked systems to access and exchange management information. WS-Management provides a valuable foundation for the next generation of management applications because of the breadth of functionality it supports combined with its ability to take advantage of the security, reliability and transactional features of WS-*, the Web services architecture.
The specification also describes complementary applications of Intel AMT with other Intel *T platform technologies, including *Ts Intel® Virtualization Technology and LaGrande security technology, along with Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) for preboot operations. Vanderpool enables an IT manager to partition a portion of a PC for maintenance and software upgrade operations that are transparent to the user. In combination with Intel AMT, those operations can be performed on a system that is turned off or has defective hard disk.
The forthcoming LaGrande Technology and Intel AMT complement each other to provide a secure environment for the total platform. LaGrande will improve platform security, while Intel AMT ensures a tamper-resistant management environment that runs alongside other complementary system capabilities. EFI and Intel AMT together provide management access to systems before they boot up, and a rich execution environment for preboot management and security operations.
Intel also said that the ecosystem developing software to support Intel AMT continues to grow with management and security products planned by a variety of software developers, including Altiris Inc, BMC Software, Check Point Software Technologies, Computer Associates, LANDesk Software, Novell, Symantec, StarSoftComm and Trend Micro.
A technical white paper with further details on the specification is posted at www.intel.com/technology/manage. The full specification is available under NDA. Developers can get more information from their Intel representatives or a local Intel field office.
