Unicenter TNG

Computer Associates (CA) Unicenter TNG (short for The Next Generation) is big. Really big. Mind-bogglingly big. But Unicenter's size stands to reason because it can manage an entire enterprise. Unfortunately, a complete review of every Unicenter feature could fill more than 50 pages. So to keep this article within reasonable limits, let's look at just those features new to the TNG release.

In late 1995, Windows NT Magazine did a first-look review of a prerelease version of Unicenter for Windows NT (see John Enck, "The Unicenter of the Universe," October 1995). CA has been shipping the NT version of its final product for more than a year (after several years in the UNIX, AS/400, and Novell markets), and we recently received the latest version--Unicenter TNG--for review in the Windows NT Magazine Lab.

TNG is a suite of interrelated modules. Each module addresses a different aspect of end-to-end enterprise and systems management: The WorldView user interface includes 2D and 3D network maps, object browsers, and discovery wizards; the Enterprise Managers include applets for managing event logs, actions, users, and so on; a software development kit (SDK) lets you develop custom interfaces and integrate third-party management applications; and new agent software enables everything from remote administration to asset tracking. You can add modules for software distribution, advanced Help desk, remote control, and other enterprise tasks.

Like all information handling systems, TNG creates a lot of data. The product houses this data in a repository using Microsoft's SQL Server or CA's OpenIngres. CA refers to the information within a repository as a management domain (not to be confused with NT domains). You can run TNG and SQL Server (preferably version 6.5) on the same system or have a dedicated database server on your network. The latter option can be handy if you have multiple TNG administrators. You can distribute your management load by creating multiple small repositories across your enterprise (only one per SQL Server). You can then use Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) traps to notify you when TNG identifies a fault for any of the events in these management domains (for more information on SNMP, see the sidebar, "Understanding SNMP."

You have manual control over data objects in a repository. For example, you can manually set an object to critical status to inform other administrators that you are managing that object, or you can have TNG automatically generate an event--and log it--to notify users of the service interruption. Objects automatically return to normal status after you correct the fault, or you can manually intervene and set the object to normal after you finish managing a resource.

Getting Started
TNG covers various aspects of system and network management, inventory control, workload scheduling, backups, security, user management, and remote control/Help desk for any SNMP-enabled device (e.g., computers, printers, routers, and managed hubs). The ultimate goal of TNG and every other NT enterprise management tool is to provide single-seat administration so you can use your network to analyze and fix almost any system-related problem (except for changing physical hardware components) without having to leave your desk. CA positions TNG as the do-everything, end-to-end enterprise management solution (i.e., if you have TNG, you shouldn't need anything else). Unfortunately, no one package delivers full single-seat administration. You have to pick two or three, or perhaps more, solutions that work together with minimal hassle to provide everything you need across your enterprise.

TNG integrates with other systems management products such as Microsoft's Systems Management Server (SMS) through SNMP. Although many people used to view TNG and SMS as competing products, they now consider TNG and SMS to be complementary. SMS adds to TNG's features by providing enterprise desktop management tools, such as software distribution and NT user management--for information on SMS, see Tim Daniels, "SMS 1.2,".

If you are planning a large-scale TNG installation, CA will typically assist you on an on-site consulting basis. You don't have to use CA's services, but they can be helpful when you configure and customize your management system and train your administrators. The software is easy to install, although the basic pieces involve several steps (all server components run as NT services). However, the program is monolithic enough that moving to an online production mode takes effort.

What you install (and what you pay for) depends on the size of your network and what you hope to accomplish with TNG. If you want basic management, you need to install TNG's server components on the SQL Server and management system and SNMP service and agents on all servers and workstations you want to manage. This basic level of installation gives you all of TNG's main functions, such as event notification, backup, and security. For more complex operations, such as remote control and remote systems management, you need to install optional agent software on every system you want to manage, regardless of whether these machines use NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.x, UNIX, Novell, Mac, or other operating systems.

   Previous  [1]  2  3  4  Next