BMC Software Heightens External PATROL Development To Include Certification and I2O Off-The-Shelf Manageability; New PATROL Developer Network Yields 30+ Charter Members and Prepares to Release 50+ Knowledge Module Products

Business Wire, Sept 22, 1997

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1997--BMC Software Inc. today announced a preview of the PATROL Developer Network (PDN), a new BMC Software program that extends external PATROL development by including opportunities for certification and third-party application development for I20 devices. The PDN consists of two key components: the PATROLMARK(TM) program and product development through PDN Pack--four unique toolkits that include the industry's first I20 toolkit to be offered within an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) program. More than 30 charter members representing 50 products are currently in the program--some of which are planned for release in the coming months. They span major system integrators, hardware suppliers and network vendors including Cabletron Systems, Digital, Intel, NetOps New Dimensions, Novadigm, Proxima Technology, Opcom Solutions, Seagate Software, Sterling Software, TASC and CommVault Systems.

"The PDN is a strategic milestone for BMC Software and PATROL. We are implementing a formal and aggressive program to provide customers with reliable application management functionality across the entire enterprise," said Phil Quigley, director of the Independent Software Developer program at BMC Software. "As a result of the beta portion of the PDN, we are finding more customers claiming application availability as the top priority in evaluating products. Based on demand and coupled with high quality standards, we anticipate within the next year the "Certified for PATROL" label will become a de facto industry standard."

PDN Pack Offers Choice and the Industry's First I20 Toolkit

Members of the PDN receive a PDN Pack to develop any application management products. The PDN Pack is a set of toolkits that offer vendors flexibility in development based on the way in which they choose to use the finished product. Toolkits include:

I20 Application Management Toolkit: This toolkit provides the industry's first formalized I20 toolkit within an ISV program. It enables vendors to use an inexpensive add-in to create ready-to-run I20 management applications, expanding the opportunities for server or board vendors, system integrators and VARs, who otherwise would be unable to collect data from the I20 subsystem via a management product. Additionally, the toolkit opens a path for linking the I/O subsystem activity to application activity to increase availability of the entire solution stack.

"Intel is pleased to see the availability of BMC's I20 Application Management Toolkit," said Mike Wall, Intel's I/O Processor product line manager. "The I20 Application Management Toolkit allows the i960 RP I/O processor and the PATROL Agent to extend application management into the I/O subsystem, allowing IT managers to better manage the performance of enterprise critical applications."

OEM Console Integration Toolkit: This toolkit enables vendors to integrate the application management functionality of PATROL into a system or network management product. With this toolkit, vendors can create a new product from the combined feature/function of both the third-party and PATROL product. Additionally, vendors can decide the level of integration--problem reporting, problem determination or problem resolution--that best suits their product functionality.

"We became a development partner with BMC Software because we think PATROL offers unique management capabilities that no one else provides," said Louise Funke, director of product management for Seagate Software. "We believe the PDN will go a long way toward facilitating our development of new PATROL-based management solutions."

PATROL Knowledge Module (KM) Toolkit: This toolkit provides the tools necessary to build new PATROL KMs or modify existing KMs. It enables third parties to build management functionality for any application, database, messaging/ middleware, operating system, Internet server or other business-critical technology across the enterprise. The PATROL KM Toolkit includes extensive new documentation, KM Testing Tools, PATROL Script Language (PSL) examples for the developer and guidelines on developing a KM documentation set.

"We are excited about becoming a Charter Member of the PATROL Developer Network from BMC Software. Digital is developing a Knowledge Module for the Digital Transaction Router (RTR) software product," said Lee Stommes, RTR Product Manager, Digital Equipment Corporation. "The PATROL Developer Network will facilitate our access to the tools, training, support, certification and branding we need to maximize our development efforts in building and delivering powerful management solutions based on PATROL."

PATROL Development Bundle: This toolkit comprises the underlying technology components required for developing application management solutions. This bundle includes a one-year license of the PATROL compiler, console and agent which allows vendors to build a basic product and deploy it in a lab setting for testing purposes.

Product Certification and Branding Through the PATROLMARK Program