Novell intends to buy Managed Objects, maker of business service management (BSM) software, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is expected to close during Novell's first fiscal quarter 2009, which ends next January.

Key to Novell's purchase is getting its mitts on the McLean, Virgina-based firm's Configuration Management Data Base (CMDB) software, called CMDB360.

When the deal closes, Managed Objects will switch business cards to Novell's Systems and Resource Management business unit. The Linux vendor's last purchase of note in the data center management arena was the $205m acquisition of PlateSpin. Obviously, the Linux vendor is putting some renewed effort into building up its management ops.

"Novell and Managed Objects are a natural fit because they share a common ideology for openness and vendor neutrality," said Managed Objects CEO, Siki Giunta. "There is very little product overlap and tremendous synergy between the two companies and our respective technology, which is great news for our customers and the market at large."

Novell's chief marketing officer John Dragoon echoed sentiments on the company blog that there will be little product overlap. He reckons, at the same time, the two companies share the same customer base looking for a common data center management strategy. ®

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