CA details management and security plans

On-demand computing, flexibility and management tools are central themes at this year's CA World conference in Las Vegas.

Computer Associates (CA) is outlining strategies today focusing on web services and on-demand computing, followed by security and Linux tomorrow. It is also detailing a product code named Sonar, which handles asset management, and a set of management tools called CA Select.

Tomorrow's focus on security will concentrate on eTrust Vulnerability Manager, which analyses and rates vulnerabilities.

Sanjay Kumar, chief executive and chairman of CA (pictured), said many of the vulnerabilities being exploited were known problems for which patches existed but had not been installed. eTrust, he said, "identifies patch levels and components, rates risk and tells customers what can be addressed".

For on-demand computing, Kumar identified four key areas: better service, consolidation of hardware resources, integration (an area where web services will excel, CA said) and flexibility, to give customers more choice.

Linux creator Linus Torvalds and Jon 'Maddog' Hall, president of Linux International, are joining CA on Tuesday to take part in a roundtable debate on Linux and its progress.

Details about CA Select are sketchy, but it is described as addressing security, storage and infrastructure requirements. The firm would not discuss CA Select until after its official launch, but vnunet.com can exclusively reveal that it comprises a range of management modules, plus service and support.

These modules include Job; Security; Storage, which includes support for back-up and recovery, location and disaster recovery. Other modules include Network, for z/OS and OS/390 and integrated management for TCP/IP and SNA; Document; High Availability and Performance, which monitors systems and subsystems and can automatically resolve problems, and Complete for VSE, which provides support for new releases of the OS to meet business requirements.

The final module is Database, which comes in four parts: database performance management, database administration, and database back-up and recovery, all for DB2 for z/OS, and database management for IMS for z/OS.

Under the licensing agreement, CA Select includes on-site support or remote installation, six months priority technical assistance, an annual check-up, and maintenance for customers planning to extend or renew their Select licences and training.