Novell is to release a beta version of its ZENworks 6.5 resource management tool product suite next month, allowing IT chiefs to manage servers, desktops and handheld devices across multiple platforms.

Speaking at Novell's BrainShare conference in Salt Lake City, chief executive Jack Messman told delegates that ZENworks 6.5 will help enterprises consolidate IT resources.

The new release will support Linux and Windows 2003 environments, and includes automated patch management for greater network security.

"We are responding to security risks, and open source is secure," said Messman.

By combining Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise and ZENworks Patch Management into one product suite, Messman claimed that the identity-based architecture will allow enterprises to enforce business policies through policy-driven automation.

This will give customers automated management of applications, assets, patches and updates, according to Novell.

ZENworks 6.5 will also offer centralised software management of Linux-based workstations and servers using Ximian Red Carpet Enterprise.

The release of ZENworks 6.5 follows last Friday's announcement at CeBIT that the vendor would release ZENworks Patch Management by 29 March to increase security.