CA-Unicenter 1.1 with SNMP support unifies systems and network management; released today, CA's client/server systems manager interoperates with HP OpenView, SunNet Manager and NetView 6000.

ISLANDIA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 1994--With built-in SNMP support, today's release of CA-Unicenter 1.1 sets a new standard for the secure administration of client/server computing: interoperable systems and network management from a single workstation.

"Streamlining and automating operations results not just in higher productivity and system availability, but in huge reductions in the cost of management," said Yogesh Gupta, CA senior vice president for open systems.

The addition of SNMP support brings CA-Unicenter 1.1 unparalleled integration with such popular network management platforms as HP OpenView, SunNet Manager and NetView 6000.

"Without CA-Unicenter 1.1, even the best network management solution won't tell you when a hacker has breached security, unless by accident he shut down the machine," Gupta said. "By combining hardware and software management, users can now take full control of their networks, from a single point, with far fewer people.

"What's really remarkable is that this enhanced version of CA's complete systems management solution is now being shipped while would-be competitors are still groping in the dark."

With CA-Unicenter's new SNMP support, network administrators now have the benefits of added event management, integrity, security and automation.

Release 1.1 also adds significant new functionality to all of the integrated CA-Unicenter systems management disciplines including file backup, archive and automatic restore, help desk, security, job scheduling, report distribution and event management.

Praise From Clients and Analysts

David Dubnick, manager of technology operations, CCH, Inc., Riverwoods, IL: "CA-Unicenter 1.1 is a direct and well executed response to the emerging needs of our growing client/server environment. The SNMP facility in CA-Unicenter 1.1 allows us the ability to integrate our network and systems management for more efficient service to our users."

Peter Kastner, vice president, Aberdeen Group, Boston: "CA-Unicenter's SNMP support enables users to better manage distributed environments by bringing together the best-of-breed network and systems management on the market today. It raises the standard of what users should expect."

Carol G. Mills, general manager, General Systems Division, Hewlett-Packard, Cupertino, CA: "With HP as the first shipping hardware platform to support this integration between CA-Unicenter 1.1 and HP OpenView, our clients can take the next step in integrating network and systems management. For example, an administrator can now see a CA-Unicenter security violation on an HP OpenView console, and take immediate action."

Michael Goulde, senior consultant, Patricia Seybold Group, Boston: "As companies rely more on client/server technology, having the ability to integrate network and systems management into one coherent environment becomes extremely critical. CA's introduction of SNMP support in CA-Unicenter release 1.1 will help customers take a big step toward converging their network and systems management platforms, help streamline the task of managing distributed systems, and provide a more integrated environment."

Dennis Yaro, vice president of enterprise management development, SunSoft, Mountain View, CA: "With the strong development relationship and partnership we have with CA, we have taken advantage of these new enhancements to provide strong integration between SunNet Manager and CA-Unicenter. This integration provides the distributed and seamless systems management that is critical to IS executives in today's network centric enterprises."

SNMP Integration

Registering as a manageable application with the network management platform, CA-Unicenter sends and receives SNMP traps.

A trap can be sent by CA-Unicenter on any event such as the detection of a security violation on a CA-Unicenter client platform or the exceptional termination of a job scheduled with CA-Unicenter anywhere in the network. The CA-Unicenter event thus acts like any other significant exceptional network event. Depending on user-configuration, the network topology map blinks or changes color. Following notification, the network management platform may invoke the CA-Unicenter GUI on the client platform in the precise CA-Unicenter application which sent the trap. This allows the administrator to immediately investigate, analyze and respond.

As a registered network application, CA-Unicenter takes pre-defined actions affecting CA-Unicenter's own behavior (such as re-routing a print job) or executes a pre-programmed sequence (such as issuing an e-mail). Receiving SNMP traps and a wide variety of non-SNMP events (such as those logged by the system), CA-Unicenter's comprehensive event management facility can monitor and interpret the event before taking pre-determined action.

A single CA-Unicenter management console can thus monitor and manage a widely distributed heterogeneous environment.

"Network managers benefit from both access to a much richer, critical set of systems events and from the ability to respond to events through a robust set of CA-Unicenter applications," said Gupta. "Systems administrators benefit from the availability of network events and response to them through integration with CA-Unicenter."

Pricing

CA-Unicenter 1.1 is available at no additional charge to clients with active maintenance contracts.

From desktop to mainframe, Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA) leads the world in client/server software. Guided by CA90s open architecture, 8,000 dedicated employees in 30 countries develop, license and support more than 300 integrated products that include systems and database management, application development, financial and manufacturing applications and consumer solutions. The world's major industrial, government and research organizations depend on CA, whose fiscal 1994 revenues exceeded $2.1 billion. -0- All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Computer Associates International, Islandia

Bob Gordon, 516/342-2391