While at Microsoft TechEd IT Forum in Barcelona, I talked with Barry Shilmover (Senior Program Manager, System Center) about creating System Center management packs. Management packs are the sort of “plugin” parts of the System Center platform that do the discovery, monitoring, and management for System Center in addition to containing the help “knowledge.” Barry walks us through the life-cycle of a management pack when it’s executing – discovery, monitoring, and then executing management tasks as needed – and then walks us through an overview of how management packs are built. As he notes, the underlying model is based on Microsoft’s SDM, which Microsoft is using to create the SML standard.

Disclaimer: Microsoft’s STB group is a client and commissioned RedMonk to film the IT Forum videos.

In this segment from the IBM Software Group Connection Summit 2007, James talks with Jerrilyn Glanville, a veteran of IBM Analyst Relations (“AR” for short). The discuss the role of AR, both on the side of the analyst and executives, some examples of different styles and idiosyncrasies of both analysts and execs, and then talk about the changing nature of analysts. Finally, by way of a question from James on IBM seeming to be more interested in conversations than “transactions” (helping IBM make money directly with increased sales) they discuss the short of ROI on analysts for companies.

Disclaimer: IBM is a client and paig T&E to this event.

While at the IBM Software Group Connection Summit 2007, James talks with IBM Distinguished Engineer Bob Blainey about the present and future of multi-core processors and dynamic languages. They talk about which languages are out in the wilds of the IBM customer and user base, and then discuss some possible scenerios for the future.

Disclaimer: IBM is a client and paid T&E to this event.

In this second part of a conversation with Puppet creator and Reductive Labs founder Luke Kanies, we talk about bootstrapping an open source company. More so than just finding a need and the code to fill it, Luke walks us through the personal risk management thinking he went through before deciding to start his own company. Being in America, he has to content with the American health care system which is no fun for start-ups like him and I. He also goes over the safety-net that an open source project brings should the business-side fail, providing advice on picking an open source project to go with when starting a company.

Your browser does not support JavaScript. This media can be viewed at http://www.podtech.net/home/4453/eclipse-custom-interfaces-and-it-management

While at the Austin InnoTech conference, I talked with John Willis and Mark Hinkle about customizing interfaces for IT management software. We start by hearing John’s take on using Eclipse as a front-end, and then hear some more general commentary from both John and Mark about how interfaces are used and customized – and by who – in the IT department.

Disclaimer: Zenoss is a client, as are Eclipse and IBM.

While at the Austin InnoTech conference, I talked with Luke Kanies about Puppet, the open source server configuration automation (or “provisioning” in my personal lexicon) project. Luke first gives us a detailed overview of Puppet: what it does, how it works, and the puppet DSL. We then discuss the benefits and draw-backs of running the product as an open source project and discuss how Luke is seeking to balance commercializing the project with maintaining the good will of the Puppet community.

While at the Austin InnoTech conference, I talked with John Willis and Mark Hinkle about CMDBs and federated CMDBs. Mark starts out with a general update on Zenoss, and then after briefly talking about model-driven IT management, all three of us talk about CMDBs in general and how federation is doing in that area.

Disclaimer: Zenoss is a client, as are Eclipse and IBM.

In the continuing series of geek bag profiles, while at SAP Tech ’07 in Las Vegas, I talked with Dan McWeeney about his Crumpler Part and Parcel bag. Dan shows us all the nooks and crannies of his bag, explaining that it fits all his computer junk well. The bag just works for said junk well, with no room, really for clothes.

Your browser does not support JavaScript. This media can be viewed at http://www.podtech.net/home/4368/bags-matthias-zellers-waterfield-cargo

While at SAP TechEd ’07, I talked with Matthias Zeller about his Waterfield Cargo bag. I have an over-active interest in laptop bags, so I’m always on the look-out for The Perfect Bag. Matthias’ seemed nice and he details the different compartments, pockets, and little things like if it fits under an airplane seat well. In a pinch, Mattias says, he can fit a t-shirt and socks in there. But, as we get into at the end, he likes to carry a large suit-case with him for the rest of his junk when traveling.

While at SAP TechEd ’07 Community Day, James Governor talks with Dan McWeeney about the new type of designer/developer role and methodology Dan has seen emerge recently.

Rather than build on an open source or closed source only stack, Dan says, these developers pull in whatever code, projects, tools, and data they need to make a sort of development tool-chain mashup. Many of these coders, Dan notes, aren’t traditional types of developers and are, instead, good at mixing together and integrating different stacks and services.

James and Dan then end up with a discussion about how commercial companies like SAP could support this process and the different ways customers, like Dan’s employer, Colgate-Palmolive could manage the support and risk.

Disclaimer: SAP is a client.