From:	 <berto@gsbrgo.uchicago.edu>
To:	 lwn@lwn.net
Subject: PIKT, Problem Informant/Killer Tool, v1.15.0 released
Date:	 Mon, 15 Oct 2001 07:28:15 -0500 (CDT)
Cc:	 robert.osterlund@gsb.uchicago.edu



PIKT, Problem Informant/Killer Tool, v1.15.0 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 1.15.0:

--Implemented per-slave authentication keys (so that the piktmaster shares
  a unique set of secret keys with each slave system).
--Introduced a new utility, rkey, for generating random authentication keys
  in keys.conf.
--Added the 'piktc -p' option for installing to slave systems PIKT.conf
  files with updated keys.
--Added ARP (MAC/ethernet address) piktmaster authentication.
--Completely revamped the configs_samples, increasing modularity,
  maintainability, clarity, ease of use, comprehensiveness, and accuracy.
--Revamped the configs_starter, and expanded the Tutorial to include
  Getting Started material.  The expanded Tutorial is now based on the
  configs_starter.
--Introduced command path overrides (e.g., of arpcmd) in PIKT.conf.
--Fixed several bugs, clarified some error messages, and made other code
  improvements.

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

Other significant developments:

--We've moved!  The official URL for the PIKT Project is now http://pikt.org.
  This is actually a link to the PIKT page at the Open Channel Foundation
  (OCF; http://http://www.openchannelfoundation.org/), the project's new
  organizational "home".
--OCF's commercial arm, Open Channel Software, is offering, at modest cost,
  technical support services and (fairly soon) other PIKT "add-ons" and
  peripherals.  For more information, please visit the OCF PIKT page at
  http://www.openchannelfoundation.com/projects/PIKT.
--In spite of this new relationship, "core" PIKT--the essential framework,
  basically everything accomplished by the project so far--is now and will
  forever remain GPLed, free in cost, and freely available.  Work on
  improving and extending the PIKT "core" will continue.

PIKT is distributed under the GNU General Public License.  Available now for
GNU/Linux, AIX, Digital UNIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, OpenBSD, SCO OpenServer,
Solaris, and SunOS.  For more info, and complete source code, documentation,
and sample configurations, please visit the PIKT Web site at:  http://pikt.org