Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) September 14, 2010
Likewise, a provider of software for integrating Linux, Unix, and Mac OS systems with Windows, announced the release later this month of Likewise Enterprise 6 - adding major performance improvements, smart card support, and a Microsoft Active Directory (AD) command-line interface (CLI) administration tool for Linux, Unix, and Mac OS.
Likewise joins desktops and servers running Linux, Unix, and Mac OS to an organization's existing network using AD. This provides a single, secure framework for authentication and access control in mixed networks.
"Likewise 6 builds on our long history of helping companies integrate mixed networks," said Manny Vellon (http://www.likewise.com/blog/?p=416), CTO, Likewise. "Adding smart card support means that enterprise - and government -- customers can extend dual-factor authentication well beyond Windows systems. Our new CLI tools mean that experienced Linux and Unix administrators will be able to create scripts to manage and extend Likewise features."
Smart Card support in Likewise Enterprise 6 addresses demand for dual-factor authentication - especially in government implementations -- by requiring both "something you have," the smart card, and "something you know," the PIN associated with the card. This ensures that a lost or stolen card cannot be used for unauthorized access. The smart card uses strong cryptography to provide much greater security than traditional password authentication. By requiring a smartcard for user authentication, companies can improve security and address compliance requirements.
Likewise Enterprise 6 (http://www.likewise.com/products/likewise_enterprise/new_features.php) also adds an AD CLI tool that can be used for real time administration or in scripts - giving Linux users a more effective way to interact with AD. The command line interface is well-suited for Unix and Linux administrators who prefer a CLI interface and want to create scripts for administration across the enterprise.
Likewise Enterprise includes all the functionality of Likewise Open, the only open source toolkit for joining Linux, Unix, and Mac OS systems to Microsoft Active Directory, and adds reporting, auditing, and administration tools that large organizations need. Likewise Enterprise makes it easy for IT managers to authenticate users, control access to applications and data, centrally manage settings with group policies and create reports for regulatory audits. Likewise Enterprise is also the only tool to provide 100 percent native support for Apple's Workgroup Manager application.
About Likewise
Likewise provides more than 70,000 organizations with integration and authentication tools for mixed networks - enabling secure access of Linux, Unix, and Mac OS systems on networks using Microsoft Windows.
Likewise provides integration and identity management solutions to improve security and operational efficiencies and to help achieve regulatory compliance in mixed networks. Likewise Open lets organizations securely authenticate Linux, Unix and Mac OS users with Microsoft Active Directory. Likewise Enterprise includes all the core authentication technology that comes with Likewise Open, plus world-class migration, group policy, auditing, and reporting modules. More information is available at the company's Web site, http://www.likewise.com.
Likewise is a trademark of Likewise Software. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
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