UC4 Workload Automation Suite - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was the UC4 Workload Automation Suite created?
Our goal is to provide our customers with the best IT environment where they benefit from the functionality found in both of our existing products, enabling the ability to combine their IT systems and business application landscape. The UC4 Workload Automation Suite will enable organizations to establish a centralized process automation platform that will support their business needs from enterprise scheduling to straight-through processing.
Our focus is to make life easier for anyone who uses our systems and to fully enable every key role and function within our customers’ organizations. Our first initiative is to provide our customers an additional look and feel for our solutions, with significantly improved usability.
Q: What is the vision for the UC4 Workload Automation Suite?
The merger of UC4 Software and AppWorx Corporation brought together companies with competencies in two key areas; enterprise-wide data center automation and deep business application integration functionality. Workload automation the components of traditional job scheduling, data center automation, application integration, and management services to provide customers unified access to all processes and the ability to join these disciplines.
UC4 Software now has common services; each module interoperates with the other, providing a unique single point of control that spans the enterprise landscape from managing IT infrastructure tools through to business applications.
Strategically, the next step of development will focus on advanced integration capabilities which require a common workload automation platform and will lead into a single architecture with a structure designed to key business functions, and product screens differentiated by roles.
Q: Why was a renaming of the products necessary?
Our objective is to integrate our existing products into a product suite capable of addressing all workload automation requirements. This new solution will be known as the UC4 Workload Automation Suite with each product becoming constituent modules. As part of this initiative, UC4:global is now UC4 Operations Manager and AppWorx is UC4 Applications Manager.
Q: What impact will this renaming have on my installation?
This change will not impact your current use of existing UC4 products or the support of solutions which have already been purchased, implemented, or are in use.
Q: What are the focus areas of development for the UC4 Workload Automation Suite?
The focus areas are:
• Common Integration Technology
The Common Integration Technology allows developers to build new agents for a broad variety of applications and call them within both modules. The new software development kit will cover agent level as well as UI level integration. This framework enables rapid application integration into 3rd party solutions. The component in an important building block for the future architecture of the Workload Automation Suite.
• Enhanced Monitoring and Simulation
The first set of a new Workload Automation related functionality will give users a time-based graphical view of their processes (Gantt View), as well as the ability to monitor single or multiple processes. Depending on more detailed specifications and scoping, the first step might also include basic simulation capabilities, such as Critical Path Analysis. This functional group will be a central component of the UI for Workload Automation Suite.
• User Interface Initiative
The goal of this enhancement group is to create “the face” (in the US they call these “skins”)of the Workload Automation Suite. This includes a new joint look and feel for both modules as well as the use of a common terminology. The existing navigations will be modified to make the experience more streamlined, especially for new or novice users.
Q: Is there a roadmap available?
Details about the next product releases are available in the Customer Zone (link to CZone https://czone.uc4.com) or upon request (please contact news(at)uc4.com).
In Q1 2008, we will release the new version of the UC4 Workload Automation Suite, consisting of version 7.1 of UC4 Applications Manager, and delivering interoperability with version 6.0 of the UC4 Operations Manager. We are planning the release of version 8.0 of the UC4 Workload Automation Suite in early in 2009. We anticipate completion of the integration of our existing product modules into the UC4 Workload Automation Suite by early 2010.
Q: With the introduction of the UC4 Workload Automation Suite, will there be any changes in functionality or interfaces that I am currently using?
No. The functionality and interfaces you use today will be available in the UC4 Workload Automation Suite.
Q: Will I have to migrate to a new product?
Migration is not required for the next releases of UC4 Operations Manager and UC4 Applications Manager. The fully integrated version of UC4 Workload Automation Suite will be available beginning in 2010. Customers who want to take full advantage of the Suite will have the opportunity to migrate to this new platform using automated upgrade routines.
Q: What are the support and maintenance plans for the UC4:global 6.0 and AppWorx 7.1 products?
UC4 projects continued end-of-life support for UC4:global 6.0 and AppWorx 7.1 until the end of 2012. As details become available, current customers will receive information regarding the new features and functions available in UC4 Workload Automation Suite. Those customers who wish to upgrade to the unified platform will have adequate time and appropriate support to do so, and can use automated upgrade routines.
Q: Will there be any changes in Support?
No. Our support staff and centers located in Bellevue, WA and Wolfsgraben, Austria will be at your service as usual.
Q: Do these changes have any influence on partnership relations with resellers, IT or service companies?
No. There will be no change in the support of and collaboration with our partners.
If you have additional questions please contact us.