Systems Center Inc has announced a new release of Net/Master for general release in the fourth quarter. Version 2.2 has support in the Network Control Language for Advanced-Program-to-Program Communication, enabling any Control Language application to communicate with LU6.2-capable devices in the network. Also new is Map Data Services, described as a strategy for data representation that allows for encoding and decoding of foreign data forms so that more can be incorporated into the Net/Master environment. Map Data will serve as the basis of future Open Systems Interconnection and Simple Network Management Protocol enhancements. In addition, an optional database support facility enables SQL access to information in databases like DB2. Other enhancements include client-server network management with support for the IBM Corp Program-to-Program interface, enabling asynchronous communication beween external applications and Net/Master. Event Distribution Services provide a facility to distribute user or system-created events, and the Network Tracking Systems has been enhanced to provide a single image of session information in a multi-domain environment. Users can view session information from a central location, even if the sessions involve multiple hosts. There is a new line command request response architecture, and line command procedures enable users to pass information on to other procedures in an automated operations environment. The Resource Status Monitor has been extended and the monitoring function permits monitoring and control of non-SNA resources. The Search Facility is expanded to support generic field names; wild card searching; bracketing of search arguments; ranges or lists of arguments; and ascending and descending output lists. The Reading, Berkshire-based company has also announced its Solution Series of data centre management application software that comprises Solve:Problem, Solve:Change, Solve:Configuration and Solve:Automation. The first is a problem management system, the second is a change management system, the third is a configuration and inventory sytem and the last is a set of applications for the automation of operations management. At the core of the Solution Series is Systems Center’s Network Control Language which can gather information from either a Net/Master or NetView network. Finally, the IBM AS/400 agent, Bluebird Software Plc, has been appointed as exclusive distributor for AS/Hub and AS/Cen ter systems. AS/Center is an AS/400 turnkey product that auto mates scheduling, tape management, back-up, housekeeping, print man agement and security. AS/Hub, when used with AS/Center, provides that means to manage a network of remote AS/400s from a central location.
