Platform Management is one of the fastest growing segments of the information technology (IT) industry because it provides a more cost-effective alternative for enterprises to achieve their business objectives than traditional packaged applications.

This book covers just about every aspect of Platform Management, from high-level overviews of the different technologies that might be appropriate for upper management, to a very nice series of "hands on" chapters that walk you through experimenting with several of the Platform Management options.

Whether you need a quick primer on Platform Management so you can talk shop with those with more detailed knowledge, or want to get a sense of the benefits of the different technologies and how they fit into the big picture of the data center, this book is an invaluable resource. It gives you the vocabulary and understanding of how all the pieces fit together than websites and technical manuals often miss.

All of the major Platform Management technologies are discussed, along with the various drivers for implementing Platform Management, and how to manage migrating to a Platform Management environment.

This book delivers precisely what CEOs, CIOs, IT managers, and technologists need to know.