Cisco Distribution Deal Boosts Opsware

The big announcement Opsware hinted at over the weekend turned out to be a distribution deal with Cisco that appears likely to boost sales of Opsware's automation products. Cisco will distribute Opsware's Network Automation System (NAS) software under the Cisco brand through its worldwide direct sales force and channel partners. Opsware and Cisco's network management technology unit will also create products built on Opsware's NAS software.

"Opsware's network configuration and change control management solution is an important extension to Cisco's Network Application Performance Analysis (NAPA) solution," said Cliff Meltzer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco's Network Management Technology Group. "This functionality helps customers automate configuration management across increasingly complex IT infrastructures, typically a manual and expensive process, and be able to meet regulatory and compliance procedures."