Beta Program Features What's in it for me? An opportunity to access and evaluate the latest product offerings and enhancements prior to General Availability which helps beta participants gain a competitive edge "Hands-on" knowledge of the product, as well as problem diagnosis experience An opportunity to provide "early user feedback" which may shape the way the product is enhanced prior to release Direct contact with BMC Software development and product marketing What do you need from me? Beta sites are asked to: Have the required hardware/software environment Utilize the software in a non-production environment Install the beta software upon receipt Test according to the beta test plan supplied Provide timely feedback Participate in teleconference calls Consider serving as a BMC Software reference for the product upon completion of testing What can I expect from BMC Software? Products that have been system tested and proven operational through standard quality assurance testing Beta draft documentation Overview of the product's functionality BMC Software technical support Direct interaction with BMC Software development and marketing personnel through teleconferences Product enhancement requests to be reviewed for consideration in future releases How long do the test periods last? Test periods may last anywhere from two weeks to three months, depending on the level of feedback for which a product team is targeting. On the average, a test lasts six weeks. Duration of the beta test is communicated prior to commencement of testing. Do I need to sign any agreements? Participants are asked to sign or accept a BMC Beta Software License Agreement prior to testing beta product releases. Beta Software License Agreements only need to be signed or accepted one time. Subsequent testing of other BMC Software beta products is covered under the initial agreement. For the convenience of our customers, this agreement may be accepted online. What will I be testing? We ask that participants test the products and documentation and provide feedback in several areas including: Installation Configuration Functionality Usability Quality In addition to beta test plan guided tests, we encourage beta sites to perform user-defined testing designed to assess their specific needs. What if I run into problems with the product while testing? At the beginning of the beta you will be given a specific Beta Team Contact. The Beta Team Contact will be the first line of support for problem reporting. Reported problems will be sent to development for prioritization and a timely resolution. Issues and questions can be reported using one of the following methods as determined by the product teams: World Wide Web: Issues may be reported through the Customer Support Web site for designated beta products with a registered Login ID for this site. If you can't remember your login ID, go to http://www.bmc.com/register/lookup.cfm and request that your login and password be emailed to you directly. To find out whether the product you are testing is supported through the Customer Support Web site , log in and see if your product appears in the product list, or contact your Beta Team Contact. E-mail: Participants can send information to their designated Beta Team Contact . E-mail may be checked several times a day to ensure that reported problems are promptly reviewed by BMC Software developers. Teleconferences: During the beta test period, teleconferences may be scheduled with beta participants and the product development team to provide all parties with an opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues. Teleconferences will be scheduled at the participant's convenience. Fax: Issues may be faxed to your Beta Team Contacts for prompt resolution. Telephone: Participants may also telephone their Beta Team Contact to report critical problems. How do I register for a test? Register to participate in a beta test or receive information on available betas.