Deploying changes to multi-tier, distributed applications is a complex and, until now, often error-prone task. Quest Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: QSFT) today unveiled at JavaOne (booth #820) its new application release management solution, code-named Zanzibar. Currently in beta, Zanzibar automates the deployment process across all application tiers for increased reliability and control, correlates change details with performance data for improved problem diagnosis, and records the history of changes and deployment events for effective auditing. Zanzibar is a key component in Quest’s Application Advantage strategy (see related release) announced earlier today.

“The growing complexity of application infrastructure and the challenge of deploying and managing changes to the application environment create significant problems for organizations, often resulting in unplanned interruption of the services that support business operations,” said Tim Grieser, vice president of Enterprise System Management Software at IDC. “Automated, reliable deployment of business-critical applications, coupled with the accountability and insight required to comply with regulatory requirements, would have a significant impact on IT management.”

Rapidly changing business requirements are forcing IT organizations to manage a high volume of application changes and releases while under pressure to meet compliance and control requirements. Current approaches used by release and configuration managers to perform application deployment rely on development tools and custom scripts. This approach does not provide a way for development and IT operations to work together to perform deployments with the control, agility and reliability required to meet an organization’s needs.

The key features of Zanzibar will address these issues, providing automation, control and accountability of the deployment process. As a result, application changes will be deployed faster while increasing reliability, accuracy, security and traceability. Zanzibar will provide embedded processes that combine with an organization’s internally developed scripts to ensure that historical investments in release management are leveraged.

Zanzibar will deliver a deployment modeling engine that enables organizations to create a repeatable release management strategy. This creates reliability that aids compliance and control initiatives by tracking deployment changes and operational activity for auditing and reporting.

“Zanzibar is being designed to address the most prevalent and complex application release management challenges facing businesses today, including limited windows of time to implement changes, complex and error-prone deployments, and lack of visibility into the details of the change process, “ said Ken Barrette, product manager of Quest’s change control solutions. “In addition, by integrating deployment with development and performance management solutions, Zanzibar will enable better accountability throughout the application management lifecycle.”