IBM has scooped up network automation software maker Intelliden.

Big Blue announced the acquisition on Tuesday, but it did not disclose the terms of the deal. Venture-backed Intelliden specializes in software that allows telecoms to automate the configuration of thousands of routers, switches, and hubs made by a range of different vendors.

IBM plans to fold Intelliden into its Software Group under the Tivoli systems management brand. Big Blue said it will continue to advance the capabilities of Intelliden while integrating the software with products such as Tivoli Network Manager and Netcool Omnibus.

The company's approximately 70 employees will continue to work at its Menlo Park, California headquarters and at offices in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Belfast, Ireland.

Intelliden marketing chief Rahul Sachdev said during an acquisition conference call that while other firms offer the same capabilities as Intelliden, the main attraction of the firm's software is its ability to scale to hundreds of thousands of devices.

IBM said the ability to offer products that manage and secure devices and access points in data centers will be an important driver of growth in 2010. ®