Conference csc32::consolemanager

149.0. "Marketing/Sales Tools" by MUZICK::KUNG () Thu Dec 30 1993 20:57

    	              PCM Product Profile
                    Date Created or Revised: 15-DEC-1993
            Author of Profile: Ann Dinneen, DTN 227-3736, TOOK::DINNEEN

Product Name:   POLYCENTER Console Manager for ULTRIX/RISC, V1.1 
    		POLYCENTER Console Manager for OpenVMS VAX, V1.1 *
    		POLYCENTER Console Manager for OpenVMS AXP, V1.1 
    		POLYCENTER Console Manager for OSF/1 AXP, V1.1 

==========================================================================
*NOTE: Information on the Merger of VAXcluster Console System (VCS) 
    		with POLYCENTER Console Manager (PCM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

POLYCENTER Console Manager for OpenVMS VAX V1.1 provides a zero cost 
migration path from VAXcluster Console System Version 1.4 for customers 
on maintenance.  We are using the same UPI, V01, so the customer need 
do nothing - the update kit will be shipped to them automatically.  

Customers, who are not under service for VCS, can purchase a PCM update 
license and H-kit which is exactly what they would have had to do for 
any new version of VCS.  This is to be viewed as a product merger 
rather than a migration, and, as such, follow standard field business 
practices.

Logistacally, the VCS LMF will be accepted during the PCM installation 
for OpenVMS VAX and AXP.  Support for AXP is included because customers 
can transfer any concurrent VAX license to Alpha AXP without notifying 
Digital.  For customers who want to move to the UNIX platforms, again
standard field business practices will apply. 

NOTE:  Information on POLYCENTER Console Mangager (PCM) License Change 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

For both VCS and PCM, licensing is by device/system monitored.  For 
VCS V1.4, the implementation of licensing was accomplished through 
concurrent use; for PCM, the user licensing type was personal.  For 
the merging of products, we are changing the license type for the 
POLYCENTER Console Manager for ULTRIX RISC from personal (-2B) to 
concurrent (-3B).  Customers who already own a personal license will 
do nothing.  Personal and concurrent licenses can and will work together 
unimpeded.  

The reason we are changing the PCM licensing is that a personal license on 
ULTRIX RISC acts exactly like a concurrent license, that is, the user need 
not register a name associated with the license.  On OpenVMS, however,
personal licenses require a name associated with the license.  This 
means that every customer going from a VCS concurrent to a PCM personal
license would have to name the device/system being monitored.  This is an
unnecessary and cumbersome task that can be avoided by making all PCM 
user licenses concurrent.  Please help the customer understand this fact.

==========================================================================

Vendor: Digital 

Type of Business Relationship: N/A

Digital Contacts: 
    Ann Dinneen, PMM, DTN 227-3736, TOOK::DINNEEN
    Rich Pietravalle, Strategy PMM, DTN 381-2600, ZEKE::PIETRAVALLE

FRS:  Q3FY93 for POLYCENTER Console Manager for ULTRIX/RISC, V1.0 

    Version V1.1 in Development:    
    	5/31/94	POLYCENTER Console Manager for OpenVMS VAX, V1.1 
    	5/16/94	POLYCENTER Console Manager for OpenVMS AXP, V1.1 
    	6/3/94	POLYCENTER Console Manager for ULTRIX/RISC, V1.1 
    	6/27/94	POLYCENTER Console Manager for OSF/1 AXP, V1.1 

Geographies Where Sold and Supported: Worldwide

Platforms Supported: 
    	VAX OpenVMS 
    	OpenVMS AXP 
    	ULTRIX 
    	OSF/1 AXP 

Product Description: 
POLYCENTER Console Manager is a layered product that centralizes communication
and control of globally distributed, multivendor environments.  It can manage 
any system or device on any platform, so long as it can send ASCII data over an
RS232C line, has an EIA console port, and supports XON/XOFF and I/O buffering.

Features/Benefits: 

    o  Controls up to 200 systems and/or devices from a single host platform

    o  Supports LAT, TELNET, direct and pseudo-terminal connections

    o  OSF/Motif based intuitive graphical user interface

    o  Customizable iconic map of systems being monitored, with point and 
       click access for fast connection; supports user-defined icons

    o  Scans incoming console text for predefined text strings; flags their
       priority through colors that are keyed to ISO severity levels

    o  Alerts computer personnel on detection of specified live console events, 
       or takes automatic corrective action to save them time

    o  Built-in event notification by: electronic mail messages, broadcast 
       messages and single or multiple-event windows; with facilities for
       user-written routines
                         
    o  Conserves disk space by logging all console data to disk on the host
       system, then automatically archiving it for tracking and audit

    o  Provides hardcopy monitoring of console output

    o  Offers an alternative character cell interface for remote connectivity

Required Software Products: 

    o  For RISC ULTRIX:
	- RISC ULTRIX operating system
	- OSF/Motif  

    o  For OSF/1 AXP:
	- OSF/1 AXP operating system
	- OSF/Motif

    o  For OpenVMS AXP:
	- OpenVMS AXP operating system
	- OSF/Motif
	- DEC TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS (for TELNET connections only)

    o  For OpenVMS VAX:
	- OpenVMS VAX operating system
	- OSF/Motif
        - DEC TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS (for TELNET connections only)

Optional Software Products: None

Price Range: 

    	Concurrent (single connection):		$   698
    	Traditional Flat (200 connections):	$74,400	

Installed Base:

o Number of Licenses: 15000* 

* includes VCS and PCM license count

o Industries: 
    - Telecommunications
    - Banking
    - Government/DoD
o Key Accounts: [Top 3 for each industry as sub-bullets].

    - Telecommunications
    	PTT Telecom
    	MCI Communications
    	Bell Atlantic Corporation

    - Banking
    	Bank of NY
    	Chemical Bank
    	BankAmerica Corporation
    	
    - Government/DoD
    	Department of Energy
    	Hughes Aircraft
    	U.S. Navy

When to Sell: 

    PCM INCREASES THE SPAN OF CONTROL

    Whether the customer's data center spans a floor, a building, a city, a 
    country or a continent, POLYCENTER Console Manager provides more control 
    for less cost.  From a single point of control POLYCENTER Console Manager 
    lets the system manager perform any of the following routine tasks on 
    multiple systems enterprise-wide:
	o  Shut down systems
	o  Reboot systems
	o  Run standalone diagnostics
	o  Perform standalone backup operations
	o  Install layered products

    It further streamlines operations by letting the system manager closely 
    monitor the console activity of all the systems: 
	o  View current console output
	o  Review historical console data
	o  Print historical console data
	o  Search for console data by time, events or text strings
	o  Retrieve archived console data	

    PCM SECURITY 

    POLYCENTER Console Manager has its own security interface that restricts 
    access to remote consoles and privileged functions.  

    PCM PROBLEM DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION

    POLYCENTER Console Manager provides a highly flexible and customizable
    method of detecting what is happening on the consoles of the systems being
    monitored.  Event Notification Services quickly alert users to critical 
    system events, and, to save valuable time, can filter and dispatch these 
    events in order to trigger automatic corrective action.  The same event can
    even be dispatched to different users by different means on different days 
    of the week.

    To further simplify operations, events can be grouped into classes.  For
    example, by classifying all hardware events as "hardware", the user can 
    direct events specifically at the hardware engineers in the company.  
    Similarly, grouping all tape mount and dismount events could send 
    notification directly to system operators.

    CUSTOM NOTIFICATION

    Should other types of event notification be required, for example, pager
    systems or an interface to call handling routines, notification routines 
    can be written using the fully documented callable interface. 

 
Competition: 

Product 	Strength		Weakness 		Digital    
    								Differentiation

CA-UNICENTER	- comprehensive and	- no cross platform	- Multiplatform
    		complete product	mixed environment	automation 
    		suite on UNIX		support			capability
    		- integration with				- Distributed 
    		other CA packages				console mgt now

IBM SysMon	- SNMP data collection  - no analysis or 	- Integrated
    					reporting capability	across multi-
    		- System specific 	- limited environment   vendor platform
    		response					- Monitor any
    								RS232 device 
    								from central 
    								location

CIS ROBOMON	- interactive system	- limit of 20 systems	- manages up to
    		control						200 devices
    		- corrective actions	- no remote mgt		- remote control

Similar Digital Products: none

Resources: 

	o  Software Product Description 42.90.01
	o  Software Support Addendum  42.90.01-B
    	o  PID on OPAL
    	o  Fact Sheet (.PS file) - available TOOK::DINNEEN