IBM is
pleased to announce a Beta Program for the new release of ITCAM for
Microsoft Applications.
IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager (ITCAM) for Microsoft Applications is
a Microsoft system and application monitoring tool that provides the
capabilities to comprehensively monitor, alert and report on the availability
of Microsoft applications and the environment they run on. ITCAM for
Microsoft Applications is a Tivoli Enterprise Portal (TEP) based solution that
provides IT Operations with comprehensive monitoring of: Active
Directory, SQL Server, Exchange Server, .NET Framework, BizTalk Server,
SharePoint Server, IIS, Cluster Server, Hyper-V, Host Integration Server,
Internet Security and Accelerator Server, Office Communication Server (Lync
Server), and Windows OS, as well as lightweight network monitoring.
This release will usher in a new era in monitoring data visualization;
Tivoli Integration Portal (TIP) based new dashboard for SQL Server DBA will
provide next generation visualization enhancements and significantly improve
productivity and usability in the application administrator's operations.
Program
Overview
The Beta program team is looking for
worldwide participants (customers or business partners) to participate in this
Program for ITCAM for Microsoft Applications.
Participants will receive access to the
product beta code and documentation during the program. Participants will also
receive direct support from the product development team. This support will
help participants to evaluate the product in their own environments and provide
feedback on the product.
The goal of this program is to involve
participants in our development process, generate customer feedback to the
development team and help make the product successful in the marketplace.
Program Objectives
·
To obtain feedback on design of new features
·
To obtain feedback on the functional enhancements.
·
To validate GA readiness in customer environments
·
To identify potential reference account leads
·
To increase customer satisfaction and to decrease support costs through
early identification of defects.
·
To identify new product requirements
·
To improve the IBM product offerings against competition.
Benefits to participants
The participant benefits include:
• Product education on release enhancements
• The opportunity to discuss problems and
share ideas with product experts from IBM and other customers
• The ability to install, configure and
evaluate the new product code in the Beta participant’s own test environment to
validate new functionality
• Dedicated support provided by the beta
team and development for the duration of the beta
• The opportunity to influence the product
and future directions
Program Milestones
Milestones
|
Timeframe
|
Beta Kickoff
|
Sep 2011
|
Beta Code Drop
|
Sep 2011
|
Beta Closure
|
Apr 2012
|
Participant Support
•
A password protected website
including a discussion forum will be used for problem support and discussion of
questions, issues etc. This forum will be monitored by product development.
• Product related education will be
provided.
•
All support will be provided
during regular business hours for the duration of the beta program.
•
Code and documentation defects
will be addressed by the development and IDD team. This process will be
expedited by the beta team.
Key features of the new planned release
Consumability, High-Value New Features
·
TIP based dashboards (SQL Server DBA)
·
Cross-agent integration (new composite workspaces)
·
Installation prereq checker facility
·
Self describing agent facility
Currency
·
SQL Server 2011 support and exploitation
·
Exchange Server 2010 SP2 support
·
Implementation of selected customer enhancement requests
Integration
·
Enhanced integration with TADDM (SharePoint DLA)
·
Cognos TCR reports delivered out-of-the-box
·
Bundle with ITM 6.2.3 Interim Feature 1
Hardware & Software specifications
·
Active Directory (Windows 2003, Windows 2008, Windows 2008 R2)
·
Exchange Server (2003, 2007, 2010)
·
SQL Server (2005, 2008, 2011)
·
.NET Framework (1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0)
·
BizTalk Server (2006, 2009, 2010)
·
SharePoint Server (2003, 2007, 2010)
·
IIS (6.0 - Windows 2003, 7.0 - Windows 2008, 7.5 - Windows 2008 R2)
·
Cluster Server (5.2 - Windows 2003, 6.0 - Windows 2008, 6.1 - Windows
2008 R2)
·
Hyper-V (2008, 2008 R2)
·
Host Integration Server (2006, 2009, 2010)
·
ISA/Forefront TMG Server (ISA
2006, Forefront TMG 2010)
·
Office Communications Server
2007, 2007 R2, Lync Server 2010
·
Windows OS (2000 Server, XP Professional, Sever 2003, Server 2008, 2008
R2, Vista, Windows 7)
Nomination Process
Step 1:
Interested customers:
Please contact your local IBM account team member.
Account Team members: Complete an on-line nomination form for
each customer and/or business partner that you would like to nominate for
participation in the Beta Program. The nomination form URL is:
https://w3-01.sso.ibm.com/software/support/trial/earlyprograms/form/nomination.wss?id=3177
You will need your IBM Intranet ID and
password to access this site.
Step 2:
Your nomination will be confirmed &
intimated as soon as possible.
Step 3:
After selected participant gives final
acceptance to participate, they will be required to accept a legal agreement to
protect IBM’s confidential information. The legal agreement will be presented
on a program-specific web site where the authenticated customer will click on
‘I agree’ check box. It is a standard agreement that has been approved for
use within IBM Software Group. This agreement must be accepted before the
customer can participate in design feedback sessions, receive any product beta
code or have access to the program web site.
IBM Participants:
We welcome nominations for IBM employees
at outsourced accounts. A nomination form should be completed for that
participant.
IBM internal employees not working at an
outsourced account may also request access to beta facilities, however the
support will only be available as development bandwidth allows. A nomination
form is not required for this access. An e-mail should be sent to Kalyani
Deshpande with following details:
• Name of the company you are associated
with
• Name of the contact
• Email address
• IBM group, role, or project
Customer Nomination Considerations
Customers or Business Partners who are
interested in participating in this Beta must:
•
Commit time and resources to the
testing of the product.
•
Seriously consider being a
reference account.
•
Install and test early code (US
English only) and provide feedback results.
•
Report problems via the formal
problem reporting process (Web forum).
•
Provide test status as
requested.
•
Work with development during
analysis and resolution of reported problems.
•
Have a separate test environment
to install beta code. The Beta code drops must not be installed in a production
environment.
•
Complete a Ship Readiness survey
and a Final Exit survey as requested during the program.
The local IBM Account Team needs to
facilitate the following activities:
•
Submit a nomination as described
above.
•
Assist in obtaining completed
surveys if necessary.
•
Assist WW Customer Reference
Team in gathering information for reference activities.
Beta Contact
If you have any questions regarding this
program or the nomination process, please contact, Kalyani Deshpande, at
dkalyani@in.ibm.com
Disclaimer
IBM's statements regarding its plans, directions, and intent are subject to
change or withdrawal without notice at IBM's sole discretion. Information regarding potential future
products is intended to outline our general product direction and it should not
be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information mentioned
regarding potential future products is not a commitment, promise, or legal
obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. Information about
potential future products may not be incorporated into any contract. The development,
release, and timing of any future features or functionality described for our
products remains at our sole discretion.
Tags: 
microsoft
itcam-for-msapps
monitoring