Power Tools 1993 November - Disc 2/Power Tools Plus (Disc 2 of 2)(November 1993)(HP).iso/hotlines/gsyhl/smposn.txt

Text File | 1993-06-04 | 26KB | 621 lines

Hewlett Packard Data Center Management Positioning

     HP OpenView Operations Center/CA-UNICENTER

                    May 12, 1993

1.  Overview

The purpose of this document is to position HP's recently
announced system management solutions, specifically HP
OpenView Operations Center, with Computer Associates CA-
UNICENTER for Unix. The information contained in this
document will help guide your customer by describing the
features in both the Hewlett Packard and Computer Associates
product offerings. This document's primary focus is to
describe the product functionality available TODAY, although
it will briefly highlight the strategic direction for both
offerings.

The best solution for your particular customer will be highly
dependent on the customer's environment and needs. First and
foremost, it is important to understand the topology to be
managed, and the critical functions needed in the management
of this environment.

In many cases, customers may require BOTH the Hewlett Packard
solution portfolio, as well as CA-UNICENTER, to meet their
network and system management requirements.  Therefore, it is
important to NOT position to the customer that the choice is
EITHER Hewlett Packard's OpenView family of products, OR CA-
UNICENTER.  CA has recently announced their commitment to
integrate CA-UNICENTER with HP OpenView Operations Center, in
order to provide customers with an unparalleled level of
functionality to manage their enterprise.


2.  High-level positioning summary

The following matrix is a high-level guideline which
emphasizes the key strengths of each of the solution
offerings.

     HP OpenView                   CA-UNICENTER
     portfolio

     -Standards-based              -DME is strategic
     -Foundation for OSF/DME        direction
     -"Open" platform with         -Built on CA90s
      APIs for developers           architecture

     -Historical strength          -Historical strength
      in network management;        in glass-house
      unsurpassed in breadth        systems management;
      of offerings                  unsurpassed in depth of
                                    offering

     -Integrating framework        -Integrated solution
      to build "custom"             with comprehensive
      solutions for management      functionality for
      of distributed environments   management of systems


3.  Detailed functional comparison

In order to determine the best solution alternative for your
customer, it is important to consider the following:

I.   High Level Functional Descriptions
II.  Detailed Functional Comparison
III. Interoperability between CA-UNICENTER and HP OpenView
     Solutions
IV.  Technologies Framework and Standards Adherence
V.   High-level summary



                    PORTFOLIO COMPARISON

I.  High-Level Functional Descriptions

CA-UNICENTER:  The product was originally developed
               for IBM MVS and AS/400 systems as well as
               DEC VAX systems.  CA-UNICENTER for UN*X is
               available today on the HP 9000 only.  HP
               will have a 6-9 month advantage before
               CA-UNICENTER is generally available on any
               other Unix platform (likely shipping on
               Sequent and Sun in late '93).

               CA-UNICENTER provides a comprehensive
               approach to managing large UN*X-based servers
               in a "glass house" datacenter environment.
               The product takes advantage of CA's heritage
               in the mainframe world by providing
               functionality for managing jobs, security,
               and archived data.

               CA-UNICENTER's built-in functionality
               enables it to manage jobs, storage (on-line
               and off-line), users/groups, system
               consoles, and output, security, problem
               tracking and reporting, and accounting/
               chargeback.


HP OpenView:   HP OpenView is a complete family of products
               providing integrated network and system
               management (INSM) solutions for multivendor
               distributed computing environments.  The
               HP OpenView solution consists of a family
               of management platforms, a complete set of
               INSM application development tools, and a
               unifying architecture.  OpenView also
               provides solutions for managing TCP/IP
               networks and devices, and through
               HP OpenView Premier Partners, solutions for
               managing SNA, DECnet, and NetWare networks.


               The combination of the following OpenView
               products:

                 + HP OpenView OperationsCenter
                 + HP OmniBack and OmniBack/Turbo
                 + HP OpenSpool
                 + HP PerfView and family of performance
                    tools
                 + HP Software Distributor

               provide functionality for managing output,
               systems, applications, backup storage,
               system and application software, and system
               performance.

               Platforms upon which OpenView solutions
               will run varies by product, although most
               solutions are supported on HP and Sun systems
               at a minimum.  HP OpenView OperationsCenter
               includes IBM AIX and HP MPE/iX systems as
               managed nodes as well.  HP PerfView also
               supports IBM AIX.


II.  Detailed Functional Comparison

The following table describes the management functionality
provided by either CA-UNICENTER OR HP OpenView.  Comparisons
are included wherever customers might perceive an overlap in
functionality (a better understanding of specific
functionality often reveals no overlap at all).  Again, it is
not necessary to assume that a customer must have EITHER CA-
UNICENTER OR HP OpenView Operations Center; the combination
of the two solutions will offer the customer with an even
more powerful solution to their problem.

In the event that a customer feels that they must choose only
one solution, the information below should serve as a guide
to determine the best choice for the customer.  Again, it is
up to the customer to prioritize their requirements in order
to determine the best possible solution for their specific
environment.

CA-UNICENTER is the key management solution for customers
moving from a proprietary mainframe environment to open
systems within a local data center.  The transfer of
management policies from the mainframe to open systems
via CA-UNICENTER can greatly ease the mainframe-downsizing
migration process for customers.

HP OpenView is the key to moving open systems into a
LAN and WAN-wide distributed environment, with
solutions covering management domains from a single
system, local workgroup or site, to enterprise or
business unit involving thousands of systems.

A.  CONSOLE MANAGEMENT

Both CA-UNICENTER and HP OpenView OperationsCenter provide a
means to consolidate console messages from multiple systems
to one central system.

CA-UNICENTER captures information appearing in a distributed
system's syslog, as well as all kernel printf status
messages. CA-UNICENTER allows users to keep, through the
console management, a comprehensive account of all messages
and activity that has transpired on a particular system.

HP OperationsCenter can consolidate system status information
from other sources such as application logfiles, customized
scripts, and SNMP traps.  Because HP OperationsCenter's
message management is based upon the use of an intelligent
agent on the managed node, the product can provide a
significant volume of pertinent information.  Extraneous
information can be filtered out, and events can be triggered
based on the exceeding of preset thresholds.

Although the products offer similar functionality, they are
not mutually exclusive.  CA has stated their plans to
integrate their console capabilities with the message
management of HP OpenView Operations Center.  HP OpenView
Operations Center additionally acts as an applications
integration vehicle for multiple applications.


B.  JOB MANAGEMENT AND WORK LOAD BALANCING:

Much of the functionality within CA-UNICENTER is based upon a
calendar function which can be used to schedule backups and
jobs.  Three  key functions are supported by the workload
management component of CA-UNICENTER:  workload planning,
workload processing, and calendar and event-based scheduling.

This aspect of CA-UNICENTER is distributed throughout
the datacenter, and can be used for job load balancing among
multiple systems on which CA-UNICENTER is installed,
including MVS or other Unix systems.

HP OpenView currently contains no equivalent functionality.


C.  AUTOMATED STORAGE MANAGEMENT:

CA-UNICENTER provides a comprehensive storage facility which,
in the user's eye, blurs the lines between hard disk
storage and secondary storage such as magnetic tape. Files
can be transparently migrated among media.  In addition, CA-
UNICENTER distributes this file management among multiple
systems, creating a single virtual file system spanning
multiple storage devices.

HP OpenView has announced a similar functionality referred to
as "hierarchical storage management," with availability
planned for the second half of calendar 1993.


D. BACKUP

CA-UNICENTER provides a basic backup utility which operates
on a single system view, although it can perform backups
remotely using NFS.

OpenView's OmniBack product provides single point control of
backup for a local network of systems. In addition, the Turbo
component of HP OmniBack/Turbo provides high-speed local
(non-networked) backup of databases to attached devices.


E.  MEDIA MANAGEMENT

CA-UNICENTER also provides extensive tape management
integrated with its backup and archival components.  These
facilities protect tapes by recognizing those that should not
be overwritten, and scratch tapes when the retired retention
criteria have been met.  They also interface with security
facilities to prevent unauthorized use and manage many types
of magnetic media.

HP OpenView OmniBack provides limited tape management
functionality; it will not allow users to overwrite a
previously labeled tape.


F.  USER ADMINISTRATION

CA-UNICENTER provides a point of control for multiple systems
to define user IDs and privileges, tied into
CA-UNICENTER's security component.

HP provides the System Administration Manager (SAM), for user
administration in standalone environments.


G.  SPOOL MANAGEMENT AND REPORT DISTRIBUTION

HP OpenSpool is a distributed client/server print management
application which provides complete single point
administration of a network of print servers, devices, and
queues. HP OpenSpool offers a wide range of end user print
control options offered for both commercial and technical
environments.

CA-UNICENTER's Report Distribution Control component is a
rudimentary interface to UN*X's lp function which facilitates
the distribution of print jobs to multiple print
locations.  CA-UNICENTER provides report tracking to
determine the progress of the report distribution.  You can
also use the workload management component of CA-UNICENTER
for post-printing tasks, such as decollation.


H.  PROBLEM MANAGEMENT

CA-UNICENTER provides built-in a comprehensive problem
tracking component, also referred to as "trouble ticketing."
This module is tightly integrated with other components of
CA-UNICENTER, so that problems from the storage or security
modules could automatically generate problem reports.

HP OpenView OperationsCenter provides a generic interface to
any trouble ticketing system,  allowing customers to match
the solution to specific organizational needs.
OperationsCenter also provides ways to correct problems
through automated response and guided (operator initiated)
response to events.


I.  PERFORMANCE MONITORING

CA-UNICENTER's performance management components monitor all
active processes as well as device utilization and status on
single systems.  CA-UNICENTER does provide historical data
for workload simulations, allowing a user to estimate the
impact in a change in scheduling.  CA encourages their
customers to use the HP suite of performance tools along with
CA-UNICENTER, for enhanced performance analysis capabilities.

Within the OpenView portfolio, HP provides a comprehensive
set of performance management products for network-wide
system monitoring (HP PerfView), in-depth single system
performance analysis (GlancePlus), historical perspective and
performance trends tracking (LaserRX/UX ), and forecasting
(RxForecast).


J.  SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION:

HP OpenView's Software Distributor provides network-wide
distribution and maintenance of application and system
software, based upon key technologies accepted by OSF for its
Distributed Management Environment.

CA-UNICENTER provides no software distribution functionality.


K. RESOURCE ACCOUNTING

CA-UNICENTER's resource accounting system provides a facility
for performing chargeback of UN*X resources.  It includes
facilities to perform account structure specification, rate
specification, budgeting, and charge inquiry.  In addition,
non-computer events, such as phone connect time, can be
integrated in this module. Furthermore, this module can be
integrated with CA's 20/20 spreadsheet.

No equivalent functionality exists as an integrated part of
the HP OpenView portfolio.


L. SECURITY CONTROL

CA-UNICENTER provides an integrated, single point of sign-on
for a single system or network of systems, with global
enforcement of system entry, asset access control, periodic
user password changes, and account suspension.  It protects
HP-UX with an even more sophisticated management system than
mainframe security systems use to protect large computers.
It also offers monitoring modes so that defined security
rules can be tested in simulation mode, enabling security
administrators to check what would happen if full security
were implemented, and record the  activity of specific users
who attempt to circumvent the new security policies.

Most HP OpenView solutions rely on UN*X user and root level
password access on each individual system, however
OperationsCenter provides the concept of a task-oriented
working environment by giving each operator a single point
sign-on with predetermined access rights and capabilities.






SUMMARY OF PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY

HP OpenView's functionality best meets needs for managing a
distributed network of systems, with strengths in system
monitoring and problem management, performance tuning, print
management, data backup, and software distribution.  HP
OpenView OperationsCenter focuses on (1) message and problem
management and (2) application integration, for bringing a
variety of system management solutions into one management
station.  Via APIs and diligent adherence to standards, HP
OpenView's applications allow easy integration of non-
OpenView applications encountered in a distributed
environment.

CA-UNICENTER is comprised of a broad array of "commercial-
grade" system management functionality, specifically:  job
management, automated storage management, report
distribution, problem management, resource accounting, and
security control.  This functionality is integrated into a
cohesive application, which brings the same level of feature-
rich systems management common in mainframe environments.
CA-UNICENTER's array of functionality is well suited for the
traditional data center environment,
as well as workgroups within a department or organization.


III.  INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN CA-UNICENTER AND HP OPENVIEW
SOLUTIONS

CA-UNICENTER is the key management solution for customers as
they move important applications to the open systems world.
HP OpenView is the key to moving open systems into a
distributed environment.  Together, the two products give IS
managers the confidence to accelerate their migration to
open, client/server computing.

Computer Associates will be integrating the capabilities of
CA-Unicenter with HP OpenView OperationsCenter to expand the
solutions portfolio for HP OpenView users with integrated
solutions covering all major disciplines of systems
management.  CA-Unicenter provides enhanced security,
scheduling-and workload-management, enhanced storage
management, report-distribution, help-desk, accounting and
additional console-automation capabilities.  Integration of
CA-Unicenter and HP OpenView OperationsCenter will allow
potential security breaches detected by CA-Unicenter to be
reflected on the HP OpenView map and incorporated into the
automated problem-resolution process initiated by
OperationsCenter.

At shipment release of HP OpenView OperationsCenter in
August 1993, CA plans to integrate CA-Unicenter with
OperationsCenter's Message Browser, Application Desktop and
Problem Resolution Process.

How are the products complementary?
HP OpenView OperationsCenter is both an application and an
integrating framework, used to build custom solutions for
management in distributed environments.  CA-UNICENTER adds to
it many system management capabilities for mission critical
applications, such as:

     + Trustworthy security that can control the super-
       user account, based on security policies that are
       easily maintained and audited.

     + Automated job scheduling to provide tracking and
       dependency controls for critical batch work.

     + End-user file management tools that allow the end-
       user to manage their own file archival.

     + Resource accounting facilities to perform account
       structure specification, rate specification,
       budget charge inquiry, and more.


The best way to view the integration is to consider CA-
UNICENTER as a management application in a datacenter or
distributed workgroup that can interoperate with local or
remote OpenView management stations such as OpenView Network
Node Manager (via SNMP) or OpenView OperationsCenter (via
logfile monitoring).

This way, CA-UNICENTER can provide OpenView management
stations with information such as tracking of critical
workload and notification of special security exception
events.

In summary, CA's integration of CA-Unicenter with HP
OpenView, provides an unbeatable combination for companies
moving important applications to open systems and
client/server computing. The enhanced integration with HP
OpenView OperationsCenter demonstrates CA's intent to provide
system-management solutions that have been integrated with
the market-leading HP OpenView family of network-and system
management products.



IV.  TECHNOLOGIES FRAMEWORK AND STANDARDS ADHERENCE

Computer Associates, through their CA90s architecture,
and HP OpenView, through its Distributed Management and
SNMP platforms, offer foundation software upon which
added value system and network management applications
are built.

HP OpenView has demonstrated a great commitment to standards
through:

     + its OSF DME contribution and use of DME
        technologies such as Palladium in HP OpenSpool,
     + use of pervasive standard technologies such as
       SNMP,
     + commitment to future standard technologies such as
       OSF DCE RPCs and SNMP II, and
     + conformance to specifications established by
       standards bodies such as IETF, OSF, X/Open,
       OMNIPoint 1, and the Network Management Forum.

HP OpenView OperationsCenter, via an API and logfile
monitoring, allows integration of a wide variety of non-HP
solutions.  OpenView Network Node Manager via SNMP can
monitor a broad range of network devices and load MIB data
covering multiple vendors' products.

CA has publicly stated their intent to become OSF DME
compliant in the future. Today, they are based on the CA'90s
architecture.  This architecture provides an Event
Notification Facility (ENF) to transfer events between the
CA-UNICENTER and mainframe environment.

V.  SUMMARY STRENGTHS FOR EACH PORTFOLIO

CA-UNICENTER's Key Strengths

   + Functionality meets needs of the large datacenter
     environment
   + High degree of application integration and user
     interface consistency among functions provided
   + Resource accounting and chargeback
   + Security policy-setting across multiple systems within
     the datacenter
   + Data archival and tape management
   + Central calendar function drives job scheduling which
     balances load among multiple systems
   + Central user administration
   + Integrated Problem Management and escalation


HP OpenView's Key Strengths
   + Solutions for both network and system management
   + Local and wide-area management domain
   + Open architecture
   + Strong adherence to official and de facto standards
   + Central system and application monitoring and problem
     resolution
   + Central distribution to multiple systems of application
     and system software
   + Industry-leading distributed solution for print
     management
   + Network and hi-speed data backup
   + Performance management of standalone and network-wide
     systems
   + Ability to integrate customer and 3rd-party
     applications without changes into a common management
     environment.


The best way for our customers to compare the two portfolios
is by fully understanding the functionality and other
criteria described above.  When this is not possible,
customers should rely upon the following summary
positioning:

                     SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIO COMPARISON


               HP OpenView              CA-UNICENTER
                Portfolio
____________________________________________________________
  CONSOLE      Info gathered from       Monitors system
  MANAGEMENT   system and application   syslogs and kernel
               sources                  printfs

____________________________________________________________
  JOB MANAGEMENT Not provided           Based on central
  AND WORKLOAD                          calendar and
  BALANCING                             integrated
                                        throughout
____________________________________________________________
  AUTOMATED STORAGE Coming 2H93            Transparent
  MANAGEMENT                               file migration
                                           virtual file sys
____________________________________________________________
  BACKUP       Network-wide and         Single system view
                high-speed local
____________________________________________________________

  TAPE         Tape security            Extensive tape
  MANAGEMENT   protection               library management
___________________________________________________________
  USER         SAM (individual          Single point of
  ADMINISTRATION   system admin)        control for
                                        multiple systems
____________________________________________________________
  SPOOL        Network-wide device      Built around lp
  MANAGEMENT   sharing and print
               management
____________________________________________________________
  REPORT       Not provided             Integrated with
  DISTRIBUTION                          other functions
___________________________________________________________

  PROBLEM      Guided response;         Bundled trouble
  MANAGEMENT   open interface to        ticket appli-
               customer's trouble       cation with auto-
               ticketing application    matic escalation
____________________________________________________________
  PERFORMANCE  Comprehensive            Rudimentary
               suite of solutions;      shell around
               enterprise-wide          basic performance
                                        metrics
____________________________________________________________
  SOFTWARE     network distribution     Not provided
  DISTRIBUTION  OSF-accepted technologies

____________________________________________________________
  RESOURCE     Not provided             Allows for
  ACCOUNTING                            chargeback of any
                                        resources

____________________________________________________________
  SECURITY     Rudimentary,             Comprehensive
               application-specific     management of
               access control           all resources
 ____________________________________________________________
  TECHNOLOGIES demonstrated             have committed
  FRAMEWORK    contributions to         to DME compliance
  AND STANDARDS industry standards
  ADHERENCE
 ___________________________________________________________