Although Citrix has shifted responsibility for the core MultiWin operating system (OS) extensions to Microsoft, Citrix still hopes to establish a market for its value-added solution, Citrix MetaFrame. MetaFrame builds on Terminal Server by adding client-session-configuration, load-balancing, and license-pooling capabilities. Citrix had stripped these capabilities from its WinFrame 2.0 project before shipping it to Microsoft. MetaFrame also reintroduces ICA to Terminal Server, so having an installed base of dual-function RDP/ICA terminals based on Windows CE gives Citrix an established client market in which to sell its value-added solution.
No doubt, Microsoft would prefer that Citrix left Windows alone, but Microsoft can do little to stop Citrix from targeting Windows users. Unlike RDP, which Citrix can apply only to Windows client platforms because of a joint licensing agreement between Microsoft and Citrix, Citrix can apply ICA on any platform because ICA is Citrix's proprietary protocol. And if Citrix's ICA-on-Windows CE announcement is any indication, Citrix intends to use this loophole to its advantage.
CA's New Partner Holds Some Weight
Get ready for a shake-up in the IS jungle. Microsoft's decision to include portions of Computer Associates' (CA's) Unicenter TNG Enterprise Systems Management (ESM) platform in Windows NT Server 5.0 will ruffle the feathers and bristle the fur of competitors.
According to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, the new alliance will bring part of CA's ESM platform into the core NT 5.0 feature set. Specifically, Microsoft will license CA framework technology that runs over Microsoft's Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) architecture, adding true ESM capabilities to NT 5.0.
Most analysts are interpreting the alliance between CA and Microsoft as an endorsement of WBEM by CA. More important, the alliance is marking Microsoft's growing dominance in ESM circles, which is likely causing panic at CA's rival Tivoli. Until now, Tivoli has been the ESM market leader, a position obtained partly because of Tivoli's close relationship with Big Blue parent (and high-end platform provider), IBM. But the tables might turn--CA is partnering with its own 800-pound gorilla.
Tivoli isn't backing away with its tail between its legs. In response to this threat, Tivoli announced its new NT 5.0 initiatives, which include shipping NT 5.0 Tivoli-ready. Beginning with beta 2, NT 5.0 will include the WBEM-based Tivoli Management Agent. NT 5.0's inclusion of Tivoli Management Agent isn't as noteworthy as its inclusion of a complete Unicenter TNG implementation, but Tivoli Management Agent 's presence means Tivoli Management Environment (TME) customers will be able to immediately plug NT 5.0 systems into their existing TME framework.
Although CA might gain market share because of its new heavyweight partner, the real winner in the alliance is Microsoft. With both CA and Tivoli producing WBEM-based agents and with CA framework technology WBEM-enabled, Microsoft has successfully used the lure of NT 5.0 to further consolidate ESM standards.
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