BMC Software Builds the zSeries Desktop of the Future for System Programmers with New Suite of Management Solutions - BMC

BMC Software Builds the zSeries Desktop of the Future for System Programmers with New Suite of Management Solutions

System Advisor for z/OS Family Provides the Right Tools for Entry-level IT Staff to Manage IBM z/OS and OS/390 Environments

HOUSTON - (April 21, 2003) - BMC Software, Inc., [NYSE: BMC], a leading provider of enterprise management, today announced it is introducing a new strategy and new products to simplify management of the mainframe, meet the needs of less-skilled workers in the market and address tight IT budgets. BMC Software is building a new zSeries desktop of the future for system programmers through the System Advisor for z/OS family of products, an integrated set of products that simplify the configuration and management of base IBM z/OS and OS/390 system components. As part of the strategy, the company is introducing System Explorer for z/OS, the first product in the System Advisor series, which simplifies the complex mainframe environment by offering a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) for the most commonly used interactive functions of z/OS. Addressing the diminishing skill set of mainframe programmers and technicians, System Explorer for z/OS improves return on investment in this mission-critical platform by increasing productivity and reducing labor costs.

"The mainframe environment can be difficult to manage and with the increasing pressure to do more with less, tools are needed to simplify management," said Larry Riggen, principal technology consultant, Cinergy Corp., one of the leading energy companies in the United States. "Achieving performance objectives and increasing productivity of the mainframe is very important and it is good to see more tools come on the market like BMC Software's new Advisor solutions that can help IT better leverage their operational resources."

System Explorer Simplifies Infrastructure Management of Complex IT Environments
The traditional user interface to mainframe environments is through a 3270 terminal and IBM's Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF), a non-intuitive interface that can be hard to learn. Today, personnel familiar with ISPF and knowledgeable about configuration and management of the mainframe are difficult to find. System Explorer for z/OS simplifies the most commonly used functions for managing z/OS, including file management and job management. System Explorer for z/OS also offers a topological view of vital system resources, which affords easy viewing of these key assets. It uses an intuitive interface that is similar to Microsoft Windows Explorer that assists in improving productivity and provides the ability to share z/OS information more easily. The combination of BMC Software's MAINVIEW solutions and System Explorer for z/OS and its follow-on products provides a series of integrated system programmer productivity tools that cover z/OS from end-to-end.

Building the zSeries Desktop of the Future - New BMC Software Mainframe Strategy
BMC Software's strategy with MAINVIEW, the most comprehensive family of products for the mainframe, and the System Advisor solutions is to help IT professionals achieve performance objectives and increase productivity across the z/OS and OS/390 enterprise through monitoring, management, optimization and automation. As part of this strategy, BMC Software will be adding two branches to the new System Advisor family including Configuration Advisor which will provide a series of 20 plus tools that address configuration and usability and Application Advisor which will add approximately three new products that will focus on application-oriented service management. System Explorer for z/OS is part of the Configuration Advisor line which adds configuration management to the spectrum of BMC Software's mainframe management capabilities, delivering complete management of the z/OS platform. System Explorer for z/OS leverages Web and component technology for enhanced productivity and establishes the interface for the rest of the System Advisor product family. The architecture utilizes BMC Software's WebDNA technology found in the company's SmartDBA and IMS products, providing a common look-and-feel across mainframe and distributed systems platforms. All future System Advisor products will snap in to System Explorer for z/OS, providing fast implementation and quick return on investment. In addition, future products in the System Advisor family will simplify the configuration in areas such as Sysplex operation, workload management, system parameters, system logging, restart management, data integrity and mainframe storage.

"BMC Software z/OS and OS/390 customers have to address increasing complexity and volatile e-business workloads with fewer skilled people," said Calvin Guidry, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Systems Management, BMC Software. "The mainframe will play a significant role in new application spaces, including those based on Linux, WebSphere, WebLogic, PeopleSoft, SAP and Siebel, and the System Advisor for z/OS product family demonstrates BMC Software's commitment to this vital platform. The ultimate goal of these solutions is to make it possible for systems administrators, with little or no detailed knowledge of z/OS or OS/390, to configure and manage them as effectively as today's experts."

Pricing and Availability
System Explorer for z/OS is available now. Pricing varies depending on configuration, with a starting price of $11,700.

About BMC Software's MAINVIEW Solutions
The MAINVIEW family of products provides integrated, easy-to-use and cost effective solutions for monitoring, managing, automating and optimizing z/OS and OS/390 applications and resources. Through its unique Single System Image (SSI) support, MAINVIEW collects data from many systems in many locations and displays that data in a single view, allowing customers to monitor and manage multiple OS/390 and z/OS systems as though they were one. MAINVIEW solutions deliver foundation monitoring and automation across the entire mainframe environment, including both traditional and Parallel Sysplex environments, as well as dynamic optimization, application quality management, storage monitoring and capacity planning. Together, these capabilities enable customers to meet service levels, reduce complexity, identify and solve potential problems quickly and reduce the overall information technology total cost of ownership. For more information on BMC Software's MAINVIEW solutions go to http://www.bmc.com/products/products_services_detail/0,,0_0_0_502,00.html or http://www.bmc.com/mainview/.

About BMC Software
BMC Software, Inc. [NYSE:BMC], is a leader in enterprise management. The company focuses on Assuring Business Availability^� for its customers by helping them proactively improve service, reduce costs and increase value to their business. BMC Software solutions span enterprise systems, applications,databases and service management. Founded in 1980, BMC Software has offices worldwide and is a member of the S&P 500, with fiscal year 2002 revenues of approximately $1.3 billion. Visit www.bmc.com to learn more.

Public Relations Contacts:
Linda McDowell
BMC Software
713-918-3518
linda_mcdowell@bmc.com

Julie Redard
Porter Novelli
617-450-4300
julie.redard@porternovelli.com

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