4G Vpro technology introduced | Bangkok Post: tech

NEW PLATFORM

Intel has launched its fourth generation Vpro technology which brings server-room class remote management to the corporate desktop to help make the task of IT support easier while at the same time help set the user free.

In a teleconference, Ricardo Echevarria, Intel Vice-President, Intel Architecture Group, Business Platform Division, said that now is the right time to introduce a new platform as the economic crisis has left many organisations beyond the usual three year refresh cycle, the economy is now recovering and coupled with the release of Windows 7, it is now a perfect time to upgrade. Another reason is increasing compliance regulations demanding greater security and encryption.

Vpro 4 is available on the new Core i5vpro and Core i7vpro processors which are coupled with the new Q57 (or QM57 for notebooks) chipset.

Since the PC arrived in business, it has been a push and pull between those who use PCs and those who manage them; freedom versus control. The 2010 Fourth generation Intel Vpro is a no-compromise platform that allows IT to maintain fleets of PCs and mobile notebooks as well as supporting new compute models such as virtualisation without sacrificing manageability.

Each week, 1,000 laptops are lost at airports. Each will cost the average business $49,000 (1.6 million baht) in security and lost productivity.

Smart security is part of the Vpro DNA with automatic disabling of PCs and laptops if stolen. A message can be left for a good Samaritan or a thief. Features to lock down a PC and keep data safe are part of Springpeak, the building blocks of Intel anti-theft technology.

Encryption is now hardware assisted with up to a three-fold improvement over a typical three-year-old desktop running software encryption. This makes it easier to implement fully encrypted hard drives as well as DRM (digital rights management). The new CPUs have a new instruction set, AESNI (Advanced Encryption Standard - New Instructions) that speeds up encryption.

Most importantly, Vpro 4 now has low-level based KVM (keyboard video mouse) over IP to provide IT support with remote control and view of a system. This includes both text mode from the moment it starts up with BIOS and POST (power on self test) as well as any graphical environment that uses the integrated graphics of the Q(M)57 chipset.

Other features, from previous versions of Vpro are still there, such as remote boot from an ISO image.

Also part of Vpro 4 are new wireless LAN chipsets that, Intel claims, proves that not all 802.11N implementations are created equal.

Vpro4 can replace lots of dedicated hardware and servers that used to be needed to provide this level of automation and allow IT to maintain a fleet of PCs and notebooks anywhere in the world without having to pay a on-site visit.

"That way, everyone is delighted, even the crusty old CFO," he said.

The KVM part starts work with IT logging in remotely and then the user has to provide a code over the phone to allow access to the features, even if it is stuck on blue screen of death or any OS be it Linux or an old version of Windows.

Asked how he felt about AMD's assertion that Vpro was proprietary and not based on open standards, Echevarria said that Intel was very supportive of industry standards. Over the evolution of Vpro, the majority of features have been added because of customer requests and Intel has shown its willingness to listen to the customer. Intel also has the Vpro expert centre that helps its partners to develop solutions based around Vpro.