From:	 berto@gsbrgo.uchicago.edu
To:	 lwn@lwn.net
Subject: PIKT, Problem Informant/Killer Tool, v1.13.0 released
Date:	 Tue, 8 May 2001 07:15:59 -0500 (CDT)
Cc:	 robert.osterlund@gsb.uchicago.edu



PIKT, Problem Informant/Killer Tool, v1.13.0 has been released.

PIKT, an innovative new paradigm for administering heterogeneous networked
workstations, is a cross-platform, multi-functional toolkit for monitoring
systems, reporting and fixing problems, and managing system configurations.
You can also use PIKT as a basis for managing system security.  PIKT
consists of an embedded scripting language with unique, labor-saving
features; a sophisticated script and system config file preprocessor,
scheduler, and installer; and other useful tools.  PIKT is a category buster
with many, many different uses limited only by your ingenuity and imagination.

Highlights of 1.13.0:  Introduced the #include|#verbatim "file" ["proc"]
variants, for including process output (not just file content) into config
files.  Added the '-I' piktc option, which--together with including process
output--can auto-update your configuration files.  Pikt scripts may now be
stand-alone (exist outside of .alt files) and directly executable (much like
scripts in other languages).  Introduced a new, "official" PIKT utility,
piktx, which does remote command execution with PIKT-style macros and
command-line (+H and -H) host lists, also allows concurrent operation from
any PIKT host, not just the piktmaster.  Introduced a new alerts.cfg keyword,
execcmd, for registering crontab-like, one-liner command entries in piktd.conf.
Added the new #setdef directive, also other new piktc options.  Improved
logging, various operational aspects, and ease of use.  Fixed many bugs.

See the "PIKT Changes" section of the distribution NEWS file, also the
ChangeLog file, for further details.

PIKT is distributed under the GNU General Public License.  Available now for
GNU/Linux, AIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, OpenBSD, Solaris, and SunOS.  (Other
Unix ports may soon be available.)  For more info, and complete source code,
documentation, and sample configurations, please visit the PIKT Web site at:

                      http://pikt.uchicago.edu/pikt


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Osterlund, Unix Systems Manager                berto@gsbrgo.uchicago.edu
Grad School of Business, U of Chicago                       phone: 773/702-8898
1101 E. 58th Street, #309, Chicago, IL 60637, USA             fax: 773/702-0233