Unix software vendor The SCO Group has announced a new version of its HipCheck tool that lets administrators manage systems remotely from a mobile device.

HipCheck 1.0.3, available from May, adds support for Windows as well as Unix servers, while a new Java-based client enables IT staff to access systems from a broader range of handsets.

"When something goes wrong, you can be alerted by SMS or email, and if the system in question can be accessed you can connect up via SSL and perform many of the functions you can from the desktop," explained product manager Nigel Simpson.

IT managers can start, stop or restart services on monitored systems from their handset, get a view of all services running, and access user accounts in Active Directory.

The tool consists of a HipCheck Server component, a HipCheck Agent installed on each monitored system, and software clients. Each user license covers both a mobile client and a PC client for desktop access, Simpson said.

HipCheck 1.0.3 enables staff to monitor servers running Windows 2000 and 2003, plus XP desktops, with Windows Vista support to come. Unix servers supported are SCO's OpenServer 5.07 and 6.0, plus Unixware 7.1 and Sun's Solaris 2.8 and upwards.

On the client side, HipCheck supports Pocket PC devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 2003, but the new Java-based client allows J2ME-enabled devices such as BlackBerry handhelds and business handsets from Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson and others to be used.

For security, the HipCheck client can be set to require re-activation at regular intervals, disabling access if the mobile device is lost or stolen.

HipCheck licences cost from £8 to £15 per server per month for 2 users. More users can be licensed for an additional fee.