BMC Software on Wednesday will launch its initiative to extend enterprise management functions to Linux.
Linux is one of four high-growth areas targeted by the Houston management software provider as part of a restructuring announced last week.
The Linux initiative calls for BMC to extend its enterprise management tools to manage Linux production environments ranging from Intel-based platforms to IBM Z Series mainframes. A number of Fortune 1000 firms are evaluating Linux on the zSeries as a server consolidation and cost reduction move, according to Fred Johannessen, director of Linux strategy for BMC in Austin, Texas.
“Last year we saw a lot of customers running pilot programs [for Linux on zSeries processors]. Now we are seeing a movement toward the deployment process. With Linux there is a great [return on investment] story and with the zSeries with server consolidation. We want to play in both areas,” he said.
“Its an indication that Linux has moved into the mainstream,” echoed Rich Ptak, an analyst at Hurwitz Group Inc. in Framingham, Mass. “Its going to have a position as a serious operating system alternative. I dont think itll push out Windows or Unix, but its definitely been accepted, and it will be a commercial server platform.”
At the same time, BMC took an undisclosed equity stake in Aduva under which BMC will resell Aduva Director software distribution and configuration management tools for Linux. BMC is rebranding it the Deployment Manager for Linux. It is already available on Intel processors, and BMC will release a version for the zSeries in the second quarter.
Also on the docket for Linux support are Patrol–Perform and Patrol–Predict for historical data collection, reporting and workload needs analysis. That tool set is available now on Intel processors and will support the Z Series this summer.
BMC also intends to combine its Mainview for Linux operations management tool into a single offering for Linux Server Management for both Intel and zSeries. That combined offering is due in March, along with Patrol for Internet Server Manager for Linux and Control-M job scheduling for Linux.
BMC does not, however, have first mover advantage among its large competitors in the enterprise management space, Ptak pointed out. Rival Computer Associates International Inc. last summer announced support for Linux that was due to ship in the third and fourth quarter of last year.
