It’s finally here! This is the first release since the NMTools spin off. A lot has happened since then. In fact, there are many changes in the OpenSLIM roadmap that I would like to tell you over the course of the following weeks.

As every new version, this one represents an additional step forward in functionality and also in reliability. Here is the list of new additions and improvements that this new major release incorporates:

1. Systems Decommissioning Management.
2. Improvements on how Virtual Environments are handled.
3. Improvements on the automatic mechanisms that populate changesin a Node Property as long as this Node progresses through different states on a Repair, Virtualization or Decommissioning processes.
   1. All this processes take care of proper Data Versioning.
   2. Benefit 1: ~80% reduction in manual information updates.
   3. Benefit 2: better information quality as the implemented Registration Criteria become mandatory.
4. Quick Reports for Decommissioning Process Analysis.
5. Support for SAN information: HBAs, Ports, WWNs, etc.
6. Ability to document information regarding Systems and Security Audits.
7. Node Qualitative Capacity Indicators: ComputingCapacityIndex and StorageCapacityIndex
8. Improvements in the GUI: new “+” button expands Free Text Fields to ease reading and editing: Notes, HbaLinksInfo, SystemInformationDump, SecurityAuditReport, SystemAuditReport, etc.



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It’s finally here! Once again, this new version represents an additional step forward in functionality and also in reliability.

As previous versions, documentation is something I must work on. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to do it the way it should. But, I will be posting working samples, screenshots, and demo videos that will help on the training aspects of this tools.

Anyway, if you want to help with documentation or any other aspect, just let me know: I would love to build a team to make this project grow bigger and stronger.

Here is a short description of the changes, improvements and fixes you will find in this new OpenSLIM & NMTools release:

• Ability to Remotely Connect to any Node directly inside OpenSLIM.
• Supported “Child of” Node as an Intrinsic Relationship Type.
• Protected Node Editting: Edit/View Mode.
• Improved Tasks & Issues Editing with a Toolbar checkbox to avoid OwnerId Auto-update.
• New/Improved Quick Reports.
• Internal code optimization and bug fixing.

Changes on NMTools:

• General Code reshaping to improve maintainability.
• Support for Configuration Profiles.
• Support for Pipe Line Enabled eXtensions (or PLEX Modules).
• Improved Run-Time Progress Metrics and Statistics (including ETA calculation) to be able to handle long running sessions in a much better way.



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At this point you might be wondering why OpenSLIM and why NMTools provided that there is plenty of software out there that seems to do the same or, at least,  a similar work. And, yes, it’s certainly a good question. Today, you can easily find IT Management Software to deal with Inventory, CMDB, Network Discovery, Distributed Configuration in many of the available software delivery flavors: Commercial, Open Source, ASP, etc… So, why?

The quick answer is that every solution has strengths, weaknesses and particular approaches that make them different even when they share the same market segment. And, there, is where I felt there was a space that cried to be filled: something small, simple, easy to extend, easy to delegate, and pragmatic: Task and Data oriented.

We, as IT staff, are also Information Workers that sooner or later end up having to deal with information inside Microsoft Office. Usual tasks are, documentation, communication, work flow management, analysis, reporting, feeding another Information System, etc. Then, the first question araises: why don’t be close to Office? Why don’t be part of it? Wouldn’t it make things easier? Wouldn’t it open unexpected connection/value opportunities with other Products on the Office System stack?

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