Net-Itech ramps up in Aust

US-based Net-Itech -- a company that manufacturers a self configuring Linux-based server appliance dubbed Net Integrator -- is ramping up in Australia and has promised reseller profit margins of 20 percent on the product.

The Net Integrator appliance is an all-in-one box that combines broadband internet access, email sharing and file and print serving operating on its Nitix Linux server OS, claimed to be the world's first OS conforming to the accepted definition of 'autonomic computing.'

It is generally accepted that an autonomic computing platform is self-healing and self-configuring, resulting in minimal human intervention. This is exactly what this box does, according to Net-Itech Australia and New Zealand country manager Graeme Shorter.

Shorter -- a local IT industry veteran -- said he was so impressed with the product that he came out of retirement in February to start pushing it to the market.

"I was fascinated by this technology. It sounded to me like this was a real breakthrough. It will do all the things that a human would normally do," he claimed.

Shorter was formerly Asia-Pacific VP for networking company Enterasys and stood-in as Australian managing director prior to the appointment of current Enterasys boss Gary Mitchell.

He has initiated an approved partner program for resellers wishing to sell the platform which promises resellers would receive 20 percent off the end user price, 20 percent off one-off demo purchases and other benefits. Resellers are not required to carry stock.

To date, the company has signed Discover Technology in Sydney, Dycom in Melbourne and Key IT in Auckland NZ as reseller partners.

All sales are through the channel and Shorter said he was looking for partners who see the need for an alternative to the more expensive and complex server environments.

"The types of resellers I'm looking for are those that have a trusted relationship with their end users. Resellers who can see the value and see the potential revenue stream," he said.

Partners would be selected based on their geographic, industry and technology coverage, he said.

The Nitix Linux OS also runs on certified X-86 platforms or the reseller could build its own white-box offering, he said.

Resellers could also sell the platform under a managed services arrangement and charge a monthly fee.

The box includes an internet connectivity system that allows two separate lines to be connected to one Integrator, an intelligent backup system, an emergency recovery system and firewall and VPN functionality. It also ships with collaboration software ExchangeIt!