TOOLS AND TEMPLATES

TOOLS AND TEMPLATES

The technologies IBM introduced to ISV developers along with the technology map include the following:

• Log and trace tool — Designed to locate problems, it frees up time for systems administrators by eliminating the manual task of tracking down the cause of a system problem by putting the log data from different system components into a common format. IBM expects this tool will help bridge the gap between identifying glitches and debugging affected applications and middleware.

• ABLE (Agent Building and Learning Environment) Rules Engine for Complex Analysis — ABLE is a set of learning and reasoning components built with software agents that, through the use of special monitoring software, can capture and share individual and organizational knowledge.

• Monitoring Engine providing Autonomic Monitoring capability — Developed by IBM's Tivoli brand, this technology detects resource outages and potential problems before they impact system performance. The monitoring engine features self-healing technology to allow systems to quickly recover from situations.

• Business Workload Management for Heterogeneous Environments — This tool helps isolate the causes of bottlenecks in the system through response time measurement, reporting of transaction processing segments, and dynamic learning of transaction workflow through servers and middleware. This technology will begin to roll out in the IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Transaction Performance product. Chapter 15 will have more on the autonomic workings of IBM's Tivoli product.

AUTONOMIC COMPUTING BUSINESS PARTNER INITIATIVE

IBM is already working to make autonomic computing systems a reality with the introduction of advanced technologies across the IBM portfolio of products and services. These exciting developments in autonomic computing technologies are delivering to customers computing systems that are more self-managing, resilient, responsive , efficient, and secure.

Because business partners are an integral part of making this vision a reality, IBM announced the autonomic computing Business Partner initiative. As part of this initiative, IBM offers technical consultation that will provide a high-level exchange on design and architecture topics to qualified business partners who are in the process of building similar autonomic computing solutions.

Among the offerings are:

• Marketing and sales support

• Education and certification

• Technical support

• Incentives

• Financing

• Relationship management and membership communications

As a link connecting IBM and its customers, the global network of reselling and ISV partners is crucial to the successful delivery of any technology.

As Figure 13.1 shows, there are many benefits to be gained by becoming an IBM business partner.

If ISVs want to extend their products and become major players to be reckoned with in the global market, they have to make use of strategic alliances. These alliances need to be made with organizations, such as IBM, that dominate the marketplace . Other industries, such as transport, airline, and building and construction, that are only now realizing the benefits of partnering and alliances could have used this lesson. These industries recognize that few organizations have the skills or resources to meet the demands of their market.

The software sector needs to acknowledge this too. With the convergence of the IT, telecommunications, and content markets, new alliance business models—which will be a mix of technology, regulation, competition, globalization and skills—need to emerge.