Rollcall

1. Thanks
   I found this site via a Podtech.net video. Thanks, Intel, for setting up this community. While there are some Web 2.0 "me too" efforts out there (as pointed out by this post ) I don't see how any company, organization, or project can't host a community. For me, it's more important and helpful than any paid support/materials I get through a vendor. Answers seem to come faster and more complete when you can address a wide variety of voices and expertise, rather than just engineers, or just marketing people, or just account managers. Communities let all sorts of people weigh in. So again, thanks Intel. (also: about time! ;D ) And it's especially unique to have access to your I.T. That's better than a "me too!"
2. About me
   I'm a system administrator for a software company in the NW. I work mostly with Linux, both servers and workstations (an environment of thousands). Current favorite apps: VMware, Drupal.
3. Systems Management interoperability, BarCampESM
   A lot of what we in IT are hearing from Intel lately, both directly and through their OEM partners, is regarding vPro and AMT(Active Management Technology), basically tools that help I.T. manage and monitor systems. This is neat. What complicates things for those of us in I.T., is that we work with many vendors who offer end-to-end management/ monitoring solutions, and getting it all to work together without tons of homegrown stuff is challenging. You of course are aware of this, and AMT has the ability to interoperate with many 3rd party tools. A good start, but it can be better!
   How?
   Have Intel be present at BarCampESM (Enterprise System Management). Achieve interoperability not just via a partner-to-partner relationship (Intel <-> Altiris), but with the direct involvement of your customers and other projects. Just as your new Open Port community will help bubble up best practices, I highly encourage Intel to go to the BarCampESM, where users, IBM, BMC, HP, Nagios, ZenOSS, Dell, the Big 4, and the "Little 4" alike, are all invited to put their heads together to help organizations better manage their systems in the enterprise. \\\\ For those new to the concept, BarCamps are lightly/unstructured conferences/events where the division between attendee and presenter is blurry, and often amazing results are achieved very quickly.
   
   BarCampESM links:
   • BarCampESM sponsor BMC's post announcing BarCampESM (by BarCamp organizer whurley)
   • BarCampESM attendees wiki