BMC Software Delivers Heterogeneous Data Management Across Mainframe and Distributed Environments From a Common Console

Enables IT Departments to Lower the Total Cost of IT and Business Operations by Managing More Data with Fewer Resources

Editor's Summary: BMC Software today announced: A significant milestone for customers, enabling them to manage their mainframe and distributed enterprises from a common, Web-based console via the first true integration of mainframe databases into BMC Software's SmartDBA console with the introduction of SmartDBA System Performance for DB2; The industry's only common Web-based console for heterogeneous management of the top four database environments; and The extension of its SmartDBA family of data management solutions that span distributed and mainframe databases.

HOUSTON - (Nov. 4, 2003) - Further extending its seven year lead in the Data Management Facilities market (IDC), BMC Software, Inc. [NYSE: BMC], a leader in enterprise management, today announced the first true integration of mainframe databases into the Company's SmartDBA console with the introduction of SmartDBA System Performance for DB2. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for customers as they can now manage their mainframe and distributed enterprise databases using a common Web-based console. BMC Software is the only vendor that can address IT organizations' challenge of managing increasingly complex environments by providing the ability to manage all major databases (DB2 Universal Database for mainframe and distributed platforms, Oracle, Sybase and SQL Server) from one Web-based console. This integrated enterprise data management strategy provides a closed-loop process for proactively identifying, preventing and resolving database problems before they affect the business. As a result, IT organizations can better manage what matters most, the data that powers their business.

"Data and database management require an integrated, holistic approach actively linked to enterprise competitive operation. Successfully addressing this challenge requires intelligent, automatic management of a complex heterogeneous data environment. BMC continues to deliver products that reflect their clear understanding of the challenge and ability to tackle it," said Rich Ptak, partner, Ptak, Noel & Associates, Inc.

"For businesses to effectively align their IT operations and services with business goals, they must start by gaining control of their IT infrastructure, and data is a key component of that," said Bill Miller, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Data Management, BMC Software. "We are aggressively building upon our data management offerings to provide our customers with solutions that empower IT to deliver strategic business value. The end result for our customers is rapid deployment of tools and faster time to value, which will enable them to better manage their data and IT challenges for optimal business performance."

Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in BMC Software's previously announced (Oct. 2002) blueprint for lowering the cost of managing data across the enterprise. The goal of this initiative is to provide deeper levels of interoperability and integration between management tools for mainframe and distributed database management systems by bridging them with the Company's SmartDBA Web-based console and technologies. With the introduction of SmartDBA System Performance for DB2, BMC Software is extending the advanced functionality it delivers for managing DB2 on z/OS to the SmartDBA console. In doing so, BMC Software is reducing the need for companies to have "experts" for each database by leveraging database administrator (DBA) skill sets across multiple databases.

"Leveraging resources is one of our biggest problems because our database environment is extremely complex and growing. Sybase, IMS, DB2, Oracle, if there is a DBMS out there, we are using it. To complicate matters we are being asked to support more with fewer resources," said Todd Blandford, senior DBA, Duke Health Technology Systems. "Today we have two separate fire-watch rotations to deal with the mainframe versus the non-mainframe dbms. We used to share rotations, but without adequate cross-training it was ineffective to have a mainframe DBA trying to solve distributed problems. The idea of having a standard 'console' that manages all of our dbms, would facilitate cross-training, and get us back into a single rotation is extremely appealing and would be a definite benefit to us."

Also Announced Today
BMC Software also today announced several new distributed and mainframe data management products, continuing the Company's commitment to providing solutions that enable customers to proactively manage their IT infrastructure. The new products are:

• Database Administration for DB2 v2.1 featuring worklist parallelism, which significantly increases application availability by reducing the execution time required for batch maintenance processes. The reduction in execution time is accomplished by driving multiple parallel processes within a single subsystem or distributed across multiple systems in a data sharing environment. Workloads can be dynamically distributed across these systems, allowing for workload balancing and allowing customers to take advantage of underutilized systems
• Database Administration for DB2 v2.2 breaks the 32K size barrier for managing large binary objects (LOBs), making it easier to manage applications containing large objects, such as videos or pictures, that are often impossible to manage because of their data size and type. Available in January 2004, this solution treats LOBs as any other DB2 object, automating change and migration processes that previously required special application programs. For example, users may now migrate application structures containing LOBs, within and across DB2 subsystems automatically, including LOBs larger than 32K in size.
• Application Performance for DB2 V2.1 delivers a number of new enhancements including significant improvements in performance and usability for the DB2 environment. Performance improvements include improved efficiency in collecting DB2 performance data, which will reduce the impact on the DB2 environment. Usability enhancements include enhancements to the integrated DB2 Explain feature of the Application Performance for DB2 solution, improving the productivity of the DBAs and application developers that use this product.
• SmartDBA Performance Solution for DB2 UDB, v2.6 is a powerful Web-based solution for DBAs to detect, diagnose and correct database performance issues. Featuring robust Database Administration, Database Monitoring, SQL Tuning and Space Management capabilities, SmartDBA for DB2 UDB provides DBAs with all of the functionality needed to manage DB2 UDB database environments and ensures optimal availability and performance. This latest version now features support for DB2 UDB 64-bit environments, integration with IBM's Online Reorganization utility and improved administration capabilities including extended database search functionality and formatting and color coding of SQL text.

"Today's DBAs want all pertinent information at their finger tips, instantly. The manual process of hitting the enter key and waiting for the next panel to appear is no longer acceptable when drilling down ISPF panels," said Sherri Sterling, DB2 Systems Programmer, US Treasury Department. "SmartDBA provides all pertinent information on one screen, instantly. It's easy and more user friendly than other solutions, and the colored alerts and warnings on one screen enable us to immediately identify where the problem is, saving us time and helping us avoid confusion."

BMC Software's SmartDBA data management solutions play a central role in Business Service Management, the process of continuously aligning IT operations and services with business needs, so that business managers clearly understand the business impact of IT events. SmartDBA products intelligently and proactively manage enterprise data, so customers can achieve high data availability levels at low costs. For additional information on BMC Software's SmartDBA family please visit http://www.bmc.com/solutions/database/.

About BMC Software
BMC Software, Inc. [NYSE:BMC], is a leading provider of enterprise management solutions that empower companies to manage their IT infrastructure from a business perspective. Delivering Business Service Management, BMC Software solutions span enterprise systems, applications, databases and service management. Founded in 1980, BMC Software has offices worldwide and fiscal 2003 revenues of more than $1.3 billion. For more information about BMC Software, visit www.bmc.com.

Public Relations Contacts:
Julie Akstin-Dearing
BMC Software
713-918-1434
julie_dearing@bmc.com

Starr Million
BMC Software
512-241-2237
starr.million@porternovelli.com