Intel Tech Can Fault-Find PCs Remotely
By Richard Ball -- 12/2/2004
Computer makers will be able to remotely fault-find PCs in consumers' homes, if they adopt Intel's upcoming Active Management Technology (AMT), according to the chip giant.
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Although it is primarily aimed at IT departments, Intel's AMT technology, which it recently unveiled at its Intel Developers Forum, could help PC manufactures such as Dell cut the cost of their on-site warranties.
AMT comprises both hardware and software with the former incorporated into the Ethernet controller.
"We want to locate and manage computing assets," said Mark Godding, a field applications engineer at Intel, "but we want to do that whether the PC is in an on-state or an off-state."
The AMT hardware, powered by standby voltage in a PC, responds to requests from a central server or IT department. Flash memory is used to store all the PC's details.
Upgrades to virus protection can be performed overnight, without users being required to leave their PCs switched on. Intel’s own IT department tested the technology, and found that it was overpaying on one software licence by "millions of dollars."
Further, Intel found it could cut over two-fifths of its desk-side visits when a PC problem was reported.
An Intel spokesman confirmed that the technology could be used by PC developers selling to consumers. “There has been interest from large OEMs," the spokesman said. "We are in talks with OEMs.”
Intel demonstrated the technology for the first time last week in London. It plans to roll AMT out to motherboard makers early next year.
The microprocessor company is working with software firms such as Altiris, Check Point, Computer Associates and LANDesk. These companies will include the software side of AMT in their network management and virus protection products, explained Godding: "They will add patches to their existing management software to allow use of the new hardware."
Eventually AMT will be used in laptops and even mobile phone, Intel believes.
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