Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

3722.0. "Web-based Network Management." by NETCAD::GALLAGHER () Thu Jul 18 1996 14:38

Attached is "INDUSTRY LEADERS PROPOSE WEB-BASED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT 
STANDARDS EFFORT".

References:

  http://weblib.ljo.dec.com/1stbin/readstry.exe/FIRST/960718/0/1/10/1
  http://weblib.ljo.dec.com/1stbin/readstry.exe/FIRST/960718/0/1/8/1

Summary:

  The industry seems to be getting more serious about web-based management
  using SNMP over HTTP.


  Any comments on web-based management from the field?




INDUSTRY LEADERS PROPOSE WEB-BASED
==================================
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS EFFORT
======================================
BMC Software, Cisco, Compaq, Intel, Microsoft and Others
========================================================
Initiate <> 
============




                    

Date: Thursday, July 18, 1996 
Source: PR Newswire 


SAN FRANCISCO, July 17 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc. -- BMC
Software Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Intel Corp. and
Microsoft Corp. today proposed an industry standards effort that will allow
administrators to use any Web browser to manage disparate systems,
networks and applications. The intent of the Web-Based Enterprise
Management effort is to enable the development of tools that reduce the
complexity and costs of enterprise management. 

The Web-Based Enterprise Management standards effort is open to the entire
hardware, software, OEM and internetworking community, many of whose
members will announce support for the effort today. The effort is designed to
integrate existing standards -- such as the desktop management interface
(DMI) for desktops and servers, the simple network management protocol
(SNMP) for networks, and the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) for
communication over the Internet -- into an architecture that can be managed
using any Web browser. 

The initial proponents of this industrywide effort plan to cooperate on
developing resulting standards. Previous industry attempts at integrating
enterprise management have resulted in a variety of frameworks and
incompatible management protocols and data models. 

"Customers have already invested heavily in SNMP- and DMI-enabled
systems and devices, and now many are eager to use Web technology to
access that wealth of management information," said Dr. Jeffrey Case,
president of SNMP Research. "To achieve the integration customers are
seeking, the interface between Web-based technologies and existing
standards must be optimized for interoperability. The exciting effort launched
today provides the foundation for architecting an intelligent, standards-based
approach enabling customers to take advantage of their existing investment in
standards-based management protocols." 

"Today's management applications don't go far enough toward
interoperability," said Jamie Lewis, president of the Burton Group. "The
industry management standards effort announced today provides the industry
with a tremendous opportunity to help corporate customers reduce the
complexity and cost of managing their systems, networks and applications." 

Implementing a solution using the Web-Based Enterprise Management
standards, information technology managers will gain an integrated low-cost
management solution that spans their systems, networks and applications
while preserving their investments in existing management standards and
protocols. 

Components of the Web-Based Enterprise Management Standards Effort 

The effort outlined today is based on existing industry standards. Structured
and unstructured data can be presented by a variety of methods, including
SNMP/UDP, HTML/HTTP and DMI/RPC, as well as new methods being
defined within the standards organizations to support SNMP over HTTP. 

In addition, the effort promotes the use of two new management-related
technologies to provide data modeling, manipulation and communication
capabilities recently outlined at a meeting of the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF): 

* HyperMedia Management Schema (HMMS), an extensible data model 

representing the managed environment 

* HyperMedia Management Protocol (HMMP), a communication protocol 

embodying HMMS, to run over HTTP 

The HyperMedia Management Protocol has been presented to the IETF and is
currently under discussion. The HyperMedia Management Schema will be
defined, maintained and evolved by the Desktop Management Task Force
(DMTF), pending its approval. The schema will be maintained on a public Web
site using specially constructed tools to ensure consistency and longevity of
the data model. 

A portable C++ implementation of a HyperMedia Object Manager (HMOM)
will also be created, with plans to make it freely available. HMOM will
manage elements as objects, integrating management data and coordinating
control through a variety of management protocols and interfaces (such as
SNMP, DMI, etc.) through Web-based consoles and other management
applications. The specification for HMOM and the portable C++
implementation will be placed in the public domain. 

For more information on the components of the Web-Based Enterprise
Management effort, visit http://wbem.freerange.com/. 

Company Backgrounds 

BMC Software Inc. (Nasdaq: BMCS) is a worldwide developer and vendor of
more than 100 software solutions for automating application and data
management across host-based and open systems environments. A Forbes
500 company with annual revenues exceeding $400 million, BMC Software is
the world's 11th-largest independent software vendor and is headquartered in
Houston, Texas. For more information on BMC Software, access its World
Wide Web site at http://www.bmc.com/, or call 800-841-2031 or
713-918-8800. 

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the leading global supplier of
internetworking solutions for corporate intranets and the global Internet.
Cisco's products, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access
servers and network management software, are integrated by the Cisco
IOS(TM) software to link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and
IBM(R) networks. Company news and product and service information are
available at World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com/. Cisco is
headquartered in San Jose, Calif. 

Compaq Computer Corp., a Fortune 100 company and the world's largest
supplier of personal computers, delivers useful innovation through products
that network people with information. Compaq is strategically organized to
meet the current and future needs of its customers, offering enterprise
computing solutions, networking products, commercial PC products and
consumer PCs. In 1995, the company reported worldwide sales of $14.9 billion.
The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and
business practices. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100
countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners.
Customer support and information about Compaq and its products can be found
at http://www.compaq.com/ or by calling (800) OK-COMPAQ. Product
information and reseller locations can be obtained by calling 800-345-1518. 

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is committed to advancing the connected
PC for high-performance business computing while reducing management and
support costs. Information about Intel is available from the company's site on
the World Wide Web at http://www.intel.com./pressroom/. 

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full
power of personal computing every day. 

NOTE: Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. IOS is a trademark of Cisco
Systems Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corp. 

Industry Leaders Voice Their Support for Web-Based 

Enterprise Management 

"As companies move to extend their computing environments into the Internet
and intranets, effective management solutions must follow. As one of the
initial sponsors of this effort, BMC Software is working with other industry
powerhouses to provide this support by broadening the scope of distributed
system, network and application management and enabling easy access to
management information from any connection to the Internet." 

-- Leland Putterman 

Vice President 

Worldwide Marketing 

BMC Software Inc. 

"Cisco believes that many of the same technologies that are driving the
Internet firestorm can be leveraged to build the new types of applications
needed to efficiently manage exploding corporate intranets and the Internet
itself. Cisco is working with BMC Software, Compaq, Intel, Microsoft and
others to develop an open, standards-based foundation leveraging these new
technologies for development of the next generation of integrated management
solutions." 

-- Stephen DeWitt 

Vice President 

Enterprise Marketing 

Cisco Systems Inc. 

"Compaq understands the management challenges customers face when
deploying client/server systems throughout a distributed enterprise. We
launched this effort with BMC Software, Cisco, Intel and Microsoft to develop
a standards-based management foundation that would allow for multiplatform
integration, ease of use, ease of deployment and a reduction in the complexity
and cost of managing networked systems. We look forward to working with
the industry to bring this effort into reality." 

-- Ronnie Ward 

Vice President 

Enterprise Solutions Division 

Compaq Computer Corp. 

"The Web-Based Enterprise Management specifications effort will combine
the strength of the DMI standard with the power of Internet technologies to
deliver new levels of cross-platform manageability. This effort is another key
step in Intel's progress in helping customers reduce the total cost of
ownership of connected PCs by providing building blocks and solutions for
powerful, standards-based management." 

-- Frank Gill 

Executive Vice President 

Internet and Communications Group 

Intel Corp. 

"With these standards, Microsoft will provide customers with an open
Internet-based management solution that utilizes and builds upon existing
standards. We are committed to providing our customers with more
manageable operating systems and applications, as well as a way to ensure
reliable and secure delivery of management information across the Internet." 

-- Jim Allchin 

Senior Vice President 

Desktop and Business Systems Division 

Microsoft Corp. 

/CONTACT: Press Only: BMC Software: Tracy Beaufort, Eastwick
Communications, 408-270-3510, or beaufort@pipeline.com; or Cisco: Marcy
Schrader, Cisco Systems, 408-527-2406, or maschrad@cisco.com; or
Compaq: Jerele Neeld, 713-514-0484, or jneeld@bangate.compaq.com; or
Intel: Mike Green, Intel, 503-264-7550, or michael_c_green@ccm.jf.intel.com;
or Microsoft: Kari Day, Waggener Edstrom, 206-637-9097, or
karid@wagged.com/ (MSFT BMCS CSCO) 

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    So....how much $ have they committed (and people) to build it?  Sounds
    like one company said "hey we can do this" and the others lined up
    behind them with no skin in the game and said - if you can go for it.
    
    Saying "web" today is marketing goodness.  Now doing it effectively is
    another thing.  Besides, if it's all standard "SNMP" it SHOULD be
    portable....duuh..(snickering)
    j