The service, a hosted version of Level Platforms remote monitoring and management platform coupled with delivery methodology and best practices, has drawn about 100 customers since it launched in October 2006. It is designed to enable VARs to roll out managed services without investing in their own monitoring and management infrastructure.

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"We're having the discussion with plenty of partners, but it always comes down to 'we want to sign up when you're ready to roll out everything,'" said John Fago, Director of Sales, for Ingram's VAR South division. "The answer they want is all the bells and whistles that come with the NOC, and it's coming soon."

Once the NOC is rolled out, the distributor has plenty of interest and prospects in the channel, he said.

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The service offers remote backup and recovery and managed security for SMB customers, and e-mail security is in the works.

LPI licenses can be purchased as typical software deals, but the service goes beyond just license resales.

Ingram is building what it calls a Virtual Services Warehouse where VARs can source and procure every aspect of service for their MSP clients, Fago said.

The second option involves hosting. Ingram Micro is negotiating with an undisclosed company to extend the Level Platforms technology to those VARs that have no desire, capability or financial resources to build their own monitoring and management facilities.