Server Specs: IBM updates Tivoli CMDB

IBM said the new suite is built on service-oriented architecture and can be customized to a particular industry, such as healthcare or retail. A capacity planning module will follow in the second half of 2006.

More on this topic: Get to know your data center with CMDB Roadmap to mainframe modernization

BMC Software Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM recently announced plans to create a new interoperability specification designed to enable customers to federate and access CMDB information from multivendor data centers. The companies plan to submit a draft specification to an industry standards organization later this year.

Platespin launches server consolidation planning tool
Toronto-based PlateSpin today announced the general availability of a server consolidation planning tool. The software, called the Consolidation Planning Module for PlateSpin PowerRecon, is designed to determine the optimal fit between application workloads and server resources.

The tool takes hardware, software and performance information and recommends an optimal allocation of servers to the most appropriate virtual hosts, such as VMware ESX Server, VMware Server or Microsoft Virtual Server. It uses CPU, disk, network, memory and time to determine the proper distribution of servers to a set of virtual hosts.

The Consolidation Planning Module is available for purchase immediately. Existing customers with maintenance agreements can download the update at any time. Customers who buy PowerRecon before the end of June 30 will receive this new module for free.

CA rolls out new mainframe database management
CA Inc. this week rolled out a two new releases of its Unicenter Database Management software, DB2 UDB for z/OS and IMS for z/OS databases.

CA's new Unicenter Database Management r11.5 for DB2 UDB for z/OS is designed to optimize database performance, administration, and backup and recovery. CA said the enhancements include extended support for DB2 UDB for z/OS v8, as well as a number of usability improvements, such as:

CA says it has also streamlined deployment and usability of its Unicenter Database Management r11.5 for IMS, giving database administrators new capabilities to:

CA's Unicenter Database Management r11.5 for IMS for z/OS is available immediately. Unicenter Database Management r11.5 for DB2 for z/OS v8 is scheduled to ship later this quarter. Earlier this month, CA announced its intention to deliver "day one" support for DB2 v9 for z/OS when that product becomes generally available.

IBM acquires Rembo
IBM has agreed to buy Rembo Technology, a Swiss software company that assists companies in upgrading operating systems on large server clusters.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of June. Financial details were not disclosed.

IBM says the Rembo products will make it easier on a data center manager. Rather than sending out employees to every workstation at every office, an IT administrator can install operating systems from a centralized location. Some of Rembo's 800-plus customers include the city of Munich and the University of Wisconsin.

"Rembo software makes installing an operating system across thousands of physical and virtual computers fast and efficient," said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM Tivoli software, in a statement. "With Rembo software, organizations can bring down the cost of managing and securing software across open, diverse environments, which is a key benefit of IT service management."