Bull ISM Integrates Comprehensive Windows NT and Enterprise Asset Management Facilities into its ISM/OpenMaster Management Suite; New capabilities make ISM the only enterprise management platformthat handles both NT- and NetWare-based PC workgroups in a common environment.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1996--Bull's ISM business unit today announced integration of a full range of Windows NT management capabilities into ISM/OpenMaster(TM), making it the only enterprise systems and network management suite able to manage both NT- and Novell NetWare-based PC workgroups in a common environment. In 1995, NetWare and NT together represented more than 75 percent of all LAN workgroup installed worldwide, according to market research firm International Data Corp.

ISM also has added enterprise asset management capabilities to ISM/OpenMaster. Integrated with ISM's inventory management and trouble ticketing capabilities, the asset management module for the first time enables close coordination among three critical information systems management functions in large organizations: systems and network management, asset management and end-user support ("help-desk"). The professionals responsible for each of these three functions can now exchange information easily, thereby improving service and the overall reliability of a company s IT resources.

In addition, ISM has expanded the range of workgroup clients and servers supported by PC OperationMaster, ISM's workgroup management component. New additions include Windows 95 and Windows NT on the client side, and LAN Manager for AIX and Advanced Server for AIX (AS/X) on the server side.

"The ISM platform has evolved to the point that we're now delivering business benefits, not just technical capabilities," Denis Attal, president of Bull's ISM business unit, said. "The rich array of management functions integrated within the ISM environment enables companies to create and support ever more valuable information-based products and services for their customers' applications which are now beginning to fulfill the promise of distributed, client/server computing."

Comprehensive Windows NT Management

ISM/OpenMaster now offers the full range of management capabilities for Windows NT environments. These include monitoring, configuration management, performance measurement, inventory and asset management, and software distribution. In addition, ISM is fully interoperable with Microsoft's SMS PC management tool.

"Windows NT is rapidly becoming a popular operating environment for both clients and servers in large organizations," ISM s Attal noted. "For an IT management platform to be useful across the enterprise, it must support NT as well as Novell NetWare, since they are the ubiquitous PC workgroup operating systems. Today, only ISM/OpenMaster offers such heterogenous workgroup support."

ISM integrates Qualiparc Asset Management

ISM's new integrated enterprise asset management capabilities are the result of a partnership with PS'SOFT (Paris, France), developer of the Qualiparc asset management software suite. Qualiparc has a worldwide customer base of 350 leading companies, making it one of the most market proven asset management solutions available. It is an open package that easily communicates with whatever applications and technical products are necessary in order to efficiently manage an organization's IT equipment, networks and systems. It scales easily to manage tens of thousands of inventory items.

Qualiparc's components include:

o Nucleus module -- for centralized management of objects and

their history; o Finance module -- for managing the entire procurement cycle,

from ordering to billing; o Help desk/hotline module -- for streamlining support and

trouble-shooting functions by providing all asset information to

Help Desk personnel, managing calls, technical problems,

interventions, preventive maintenance and on-going projects; o Stock module -- for maintaining the correct level of stock to

avoid both supply interruptions and overstock; and o Query module -- for evaluating IT management operations,

decision support and reporting.

Links to Other Tools Facilitate IT Management

The integration of Qualiparc into the ISM environment enables an industry first: A smooth flow of asset management information to various MIS personnel -- such as asset managers, systems and network administrators, and help-desk/user support staff -- involved in maintaining and supporting an organization's IT infrastructure. Because ISM integrates best-in-class automatic alarm collection, automatic inventory, help-desk, asset management and such systems management functions as software distribution, all MIS personnel can more easily understand the full picture and thereby make more prudent decisions and take more timely action to rectify problems.

"This represents a fourth-generation approach to integrating IT management applications, and transforms these capabilities into a real business solution," Attal said. "The relatively rudimentary integration of automatic alarm collection or inventory and help- desk applications that other vendors are only now starting to offer, pales in comparison to the deep integration and robust functionality available today from ISM."

Pricing and Availability

ISM's new asset management module is available immediately in the U.S. from ISM's direct sales representatives and its third-party distribution partners, including Bull HN Information Systems, Amdahl, Tandem, Wang, Cap Gemini and Sema Group. Pricing varies based on system configuration, starting at $8,000. The Windows NT management capability is available immediately as part of ISM's PC OperationMaster module. Pricing varies based on system configuration, starting at $2,500.

Background Information

ISM/OpenMaster is Bull's object-oriented, platform-independent, management software for monitoring, controlling and maintaining PCs, workgroups, UNIX systems, mainframes, data and voice networks, enterprise-wide security and database systems. It is already used by more than 500 large organizations worldwide. ISM/OpenMaster entered the U.S. market in 1995 and has earned considerable praise from industry analysts and publications for the software suite's advanced technology.

Founded in 1992, the ISM business unit is part of Bull's Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) division. Its ISM/OpenMaster software generated about $50 million in revenues in 1995. ISM has operations in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. The ISM/OpenMaster software suite was recently named one of Data Communications magazine's Hot Products of 1996. Information about ISM/OpenMaster can be obtained in the U.S. by calling [phone] and via the World Wide Web at http://www- ism.bull.com/ism/.

With a presence in more than 90 countries, over 25,000 employees and combined revenues of more than $5.4 billion, Bull is one of the world's largest information technology (IT) companies and a major systems and technologies integrator. Bull offers a comprehensive range of solutions, services and support capabilities for use in complex, multivendor IT environments. -0-

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CONTACT: Bill Bradley

Bull HN Information Systems Inc.

508/294-5812

[e-mail]

or

Dave Manley

Duval Public Relations 

617/241-8000

[e-mail]