Vendor says it's only a matter of TME for Tivoli

IBM's Tivoli unit is expected to complete the integration of Big Blue's traditional SystemView mainframe-based systems management software with its own client/server-based offerings by December.

By June, users will be able to manage their mainframe environment from a Tivoli management console and eventually undertake functions such as software distribution and administration across the enterprise, including OS/390-based mainframes.

Industry watchers have until now criticised the inability of the Tivoli Management Environment (TME) to look after the mainframe world, something that put it at a disadvantage against arch-rival, Computer Associates.

Glenda Lyon, Tivoli product manager for System 390 systems management software, said: 'Some of our offerings such as systems automation have been totally rewritten for OS/390, while others have just been upgraded and integrated into Tivoli. It's taken a while to roll out the OS/390 products because it's not a known platform for us and we wanted to ensure they were stable. They'll be integrated with the S/390 packaging over time.'

She added that the TME 10 Software Distribution would replace the traditional IBM NetView Distribution Manager (NV/DM) later this year. However, users may be reassured by the fact that the Tivoli Migration Team has already completed more than 700 product migrations this year.

New OS/390-based TME modules include an accounting option for the Performance Reporter product, which enables administrators to calculate the cost of using IT resources for customer charging purposes, and a module for managing the MQ Series messaging environment.