Hewlett-Packard Co has announced two new versions of its HP OpenView for Windows network and system-management software system. The graphical user interface has been improved in version 7.0, and now includes support for Windows 3.1 style guidelines, a status and tool bar for quick access to frequently used commands and simplified application registration. Version 7.0 also supports the simultaneous display of multiple network submaps, enabling network administrators to view different portions of a network at the same time. A new alarm manager performs alarm filtering, sorting and history reporting. The system’s SNMP services have been enhanced to support the IPX protocol, enabling HP OpenView for Windows to work with TCP/IP and IPX protocols simultaneously. This provides SNMP management of NetWare and TCP/IP networks. In addition, the SNMP services now support the Windows Sockets Interface so HP OpenView for Windows will work with any WinSock-compliant stack. Further enhancements to Version 7.0 allow it to run faster and support larger networks on its network map. This August, Version 7.1 will appear, with a new auto-discovery and layout feature, enabling HP OpenView for Windows to find all TCP/IP and IPX devices on the network and lay them out hierarchically on the network map. The auto-discovery feature is designed to be customised by third-party developers that want to add vendor-specific discovery information. The system’s SNMP Manager will enable users to develop simple SNMP management applications, says the company, which will be able to browse, poll and graph Management Information Base variables and can be launched directly from a menu on the network map. The HP OpenView for Windows Version 7.0 developer’s kit is $2,500 and is available now. Version 7.1 of the developer’s kit is expected to be available in August, at no extra cost to developers. The runtime licence for both versions is $600, but volume-purchase and OEM discounts are available.
