What is a server appliance hardware platform?
An appliance platform is a pre-configured server engineered to deliver application-specific software functionality using standard hardware components. When properly constructed and deployed, appliance platforms will simplify software installation challenges, improve manageability, increase availability, and accelerate time to value. And when equipped with health monitoring, event alarming, and update management capabilities, appliance platforms will lower the lifecycle costs related to overall ownership and maintenance. ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) rely on appliances as an effective way to deploy their applications with out-of-the-box functionality.
Speed and ease of installation are attractive to both ISVs and their enterprise customers. To get an appliance up and running, one typically only needs to power up the server and provide it a secure connection to the network. The user’s only involvement is to provide suitable housing and perform the basic set up. Once that’s done, the client can usually just step aside and let the software begin doing its job.
A properly equipped appliance also offers a degree of security since its core OS and application are self-contained and generally not accessible by its users. Appliances act as a deterrent to would-be hackers and tinkerers by providing the secure, reliable, trouble-free operation that clients expect from their software vendors. More importantly, appliances provide a level of control over the customer’s experience with the software. All of which leads to improved customer satisfaction by hiding its operational complexity while enabling the highest possible performance.
Appliances have become an increasingly popular choice for ISVs and their customers because of the increasing complexity of today’s IT infrastructures. By using an appliance platform, even non-savvy IT departments can realize the application’s full benefits and keep up with the changes and revisions to its OS and software components. When software is delivered as an appliance, ISVs and their users have more time to perform value-add duties.
Enterprises today want applications that run with less complexity, and at the same time provide more scalability, manageability, and reliability. ISVs can better meet the needs of these clients by deploying their applications on appliance platforms. By delivering software this way, the customer gets a self-contained, highly functional product and the ISV gets greater control of the customer’s experience and improved brand loyalty.
Interested in deploying your application as an appliance platform?
Contact NEI at _(877) 638-3262 or visit our Hardware Appliance Deployments page at NEI.com to learn more about how an appliance platform_ simplifies software installation challenges, improves manageability, increases availability and accelerates time to value. Working with NEI to build your solution allows you to focus on your core competency and reduce costs.