ITM 6.2: Build your own point products
Do you ever find yourself defending the benefits of centralized systems management? Do you have to fight specialist products that can monitor and report on a set of metrics not covered by ITM? If the answer is 'yes', the 6.2 release of ITM gives you extra tools such as a simple-to-use Agent Builder and new agent attributes to easily create tailor-made monitoring solutions for your managed environment. Visit us here [http://www.axibase.com/tivoli/itm6.2.htm] to download 6.2/6.1 attribute reports, and sample WMI agents as well as Warehouse Designer for ITM 6.2 trial software.

IBM Pulse keeps beating stronger and stronger!

IBM Pulse 2008 is shaping up as the industry's premier service management event.
Set for May 18-22 in Orlando, Fla., IBM Pulse 2008 will be the first global conference that brings together Tivoli, Maximo and Tivoli Netcool users and business partners, along with industry experts, thought leaders, and more.

You can do it all at IBM Pulse 2008 -- network with peers and experts, share information and best practices, learn the latest about industry trends and Tivoli strategy and solutions, gain valuable training and certification, and much more. If you haven't already, register today and save $600 with the Early Bird Special. For an overview of IBM pulse, including an agenda, training and certification information and more, <click here>

Be sure to come to Pulse - - better yet, present a paper there! We are pleased to invite our valued TUG members to submit papers for presentation and publication that show how IBM helped unlock innovation, manage risk and compliance, optimize investments, and accelerate growth across business and technology assets.

IBM Pulse 2008 will offer a rich curriculum with 7 diverse tracks and 16 subtracks.
Key focus areas include:
- Enterprise Asset Management
- Service Assurance for Communications Service Providers
- Service Availability and Performance Management
- Service Delivery and Process Automation
- Security, Risk Management and Compliance
- Storage Management

Benefits of Speaking at IBM Pulse 2008 Upon acceptance of your proposal, we will send you a letter of acknowledgement including guidelines to help you prepare your presentation. Your paper will be published in the IBM Pulse 2008 proceedings, and you will have the opportunity to present as part of the formal agenda. Qualifying abstracts are eligible for Maximo's annual best practices award. If your proposal is accepted, you will receive:
- Free admission to the conference, a $1,900 value
- An $1,800 travel stipend
- An invitation to a special customer speaker reception
- Access to the Customer Reference Hospitality Area during the event

Important dates for submitting papers for IBM Pulse 2008:
Dec. 14, 2007 - Call for papers opens
Feb. 15, 2008 - Deadline to submit a paper
March 13, 2008 - Proposals selected are notified
March 17, 2008 - Proposals not selected are notified

Interested? For more information, including an audience profile, paper requirements, and how to submit a paper for IBM Pulse 2008, <click here> or send your inquiries to pulse08@us.ibm.com. See you at IBM Pulse 2008!

Communication is what the Tivoli User Group is all about. Here's news on all kinds of communications capabilities and deliverables.

Be Heard!
Last issue we introduced you to Be Heard! - a new tool that enables TUG members to communicate and share thought and information. Read more about this new capability in this Tivoli Beat feature article.

Tivoli Newsstand is the new name for the former Tivoli portal for publications. There you can subscribe to 10 free IBM and Tivoli publications and even save the link to IBM TV.

Tivoli Web Features offer a broad, synergistic perspective on Tivoli software solutions and other IBM software offerings.

Tivoli Client Newsletters on the Web
To access the current Tivoli Newsletters click on the links below. To subscribe to the Newsletter, send an e-mail to tivnew@uk.ibm.com with "Subscribe to XXX Newsletter" in the subject line (where XXX is the name of the Newsletter)
Security

Monitoring

Netcool

TPC

Hot off the press - a new IBM book on ITIL®. If you're an IT leader, manager or practitioner who's looking for a practical, start-to-finish guide to ITIL configuration, check out "Implementing ITIL Configuration Management" by Larry Klosterboer of IBM. The book can help you establish a clear roadmap for success, customize standard processes to your unique needs, and avoid the pitfalls that stand in your way. You'll learn how to plan your implementation, deploy tools and processes, administer ongoing configuration management tasks, refine ITIL information, and leverage it for competitive advantage. Click here for information and how to order.

Welcome to Our New Tivoli User Groups since November:
IBM Maximo Marine & Offshore User Group
Australia & New Zealand IBM Maximo User Group - Western Australia
Australia & New Zealand IBM Maximo User Group - Queensland
Australia & New Zealand IBM Maximo User Group - Victoria
Australia & New Zealand IBM Maximo User Group - New Zealand
Australia & New Zealand Maximo User Group - South Australia
Australia & New Zealand IBM Maximo User Group - New South Wales

Recent product releases from Tivoli Software

IBM Tivoli Unified Process (ITUP) tool V7.1.1 - Dec

IBM Tivoli Security Operations Manager V4.1 - Dec

Tivoli Identity Manager V5.0 - Dec

IBM Tivoli Netcool Enterprise VoIP Manager V1.1 - Dec

IBM Virtuo Mediation - Dec

IBM Tivoli Compliance Insight Manager V8.0 - Dec

IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager V7.1 - Dec

IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus V7.2software - Nov

IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for Software V5.1 - Nov

IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler for Applications V8.4 - Nov

Check out two new solution demos:

Active Energy Management with IBM Maximo and Tivoli Solutions
This demonstration shows how IBM Maximo and Tivoli Solutions provide a new monitoring and management capability integrating geospatial visualization, device monitoring, and the ability to "take action" to manage energy efficiently.

Tivoli Application Management Solutions
This demo shows how you can monitor your environment to achieve high customer satisfaction using IBM Tivoli Application Management Solutions (including ITCAM for Response Time & ITCAM for Web Resources).

For more Tivoli demos click here

Security Product News:
A closer look at new features in IBM Tivoli Identity Manager V5.0 TIM's highly customizable self-service user interface can be easily modified to match the look and feel of intranet and extranet portals. It provides users with a wide range of self-service options to manage their role membership, access rights, passwords, personal information, and approval tasks, such as:

• End users and line of business managers can view current access rights, personal profile information and status of pending requests; request new access to roles, accounts, or fine-grained Access Entitlements (for example, shared folders or LDAP groups); update profile information; change or reset passwords; and take action on management tasks such as approving new access rights or recertifying existing access rights for an employee.
• Customize the look and feel of the self-service user interface and easily integrate into existing an intranet or extranet. Custom modification of the user interface is done via style sheets and on/off configuration options such as whether or not to show navigation "bread crumbs," header banner, etc. This allows extensive customization of the user interface while providing an upgrade friendly set of customizations that do not need to be implemented again during future software upgrades.
• Comprehensive request-based provisioning for end users, managers, or delegated administrators to easily request user access to roles, accounts, or fine-grained Access Entitlements such as shared folders, mail lists, LDAP groups, application modules, and Web portlets.

Read more/Order
New TIM press release:
New TIM podcast:

IBM Security Leadership announcement - November 1
The G&RM program announcement highlights the new IBM security leadership story including Tivoli security, IBM Rational Appscan, IBM Internet Security Systems, for Payment Card (PCI) Industry Data Security Standard Solutions.
Read the press releases:
IBM Acts to Transform Risk Management for Businesses
IBM Announces Industry's First End-to-End Solution for PCI Compliance

Storage Product News:
Tivoli Beat article: Tivoli Storage Manager v5.5
In the category of business resilience solutions, few technologies are as central as data backup/restoration/archiving. This article points out many reasons why IBM Tivoli Storage Manager stands out as a premier enterprise-class backup solution.

Which Tivoli Storage Manager solution is right for you? View comparisons of the solutions in this family of offerings that's designed to provide centralized, automated data protection that can help reduce the risks associated with data loss, while also helping to reduce complexity, manage costs, and address compliance with regulatory data.

View the Solution Sheet on Storage products titled: "Help protect critical data with an innovative business continuity solution from IBM"

IBM Pulse 2008, the industry's premier service management event, is set for May 18-22, 2008, in Orlando, FL. It targets all Tivoli customers and business partners, including past attendees of the TTUC, Maximo World and Netcool User Symposium events. For complete information, including a call for papers, click here

Service Provider Webcast: (Archived) Register for this complimentary webcast to hear analysts Frost & Sullivan and IBM discuss how to apply best practices to ensure quality service and a positive customer experience while delivering complex next-generation services across wireless, wireline, and IP networks.

TUG Webcasts offered through the TUG Community:
Archived: The Future of Asset Management - Consolidation and Convergence

Archived: Better Ways to Store and Manage Your Data with Tivoli and AMD

Archived: IBM Tivoli and Maximo Asset Management Development Update & Maximo 7.1 Preview

Security Events
IBM Tivoli Security podcast series:
Stay Ahead of Security Threats with IBM Tivoli security

IBM Security webcast series - replays available!
Check out the replays below to learn more about how IBM security can help you address your significant security issues.

Webcast: Leveraging security information and event management for policy compliance, security monitoring, and incident response
Nov. 1, 2007
Focus solutions: SIEM solution from Tivoli + ISS suite
Abstract: Audit and compliance requirements affect most organizations, through federal regulations, industry regulations or service level agreements. The challenge is addressing them in a cost-effective and efficient way, with the least disruption to business processes. This webcast shows you how.

Webcast: Moving out of PCI Purgatory: Compliance roadblocks and real-world successes
Nov. 8, 2007
Focus solutions: Tivoli Security Management solutions + ISS suite
Abstract: Stuck in PCI purgatory? You've passed your first assessment, so what's next? How do you implement all these plans to stay in compliance? Join us for an informative session with IBM PCI-certified experts to learn how other companies have successfully tackled these issues.

Webcast: Reducing risk in your organization - a look at security
Nov. 15, 2007
Focus solutions: Tivoli Security Management solutions + Tivoli CCMDB + Rational Watchfire + ISS suite + IRIS
Abstract: The most innovative companies keep their competitive advantage by leveraging information as a strategic asset. But as the volume of information grows and regulations increase, it's even harder to meet compliance requirements and control costs. Join us and learn ways to stay ahead of the competition - and stay secure.

Storage Events
Webflash: Tivoli Storage Management for the Healthcare Industry
The Tivoli Storage Management webflash looks at the fundamental need to store and protect data, and investigates how smaller businesses can compete with their larger competitors. Hear the story of how Tivoli Storage Management solutions helped prevent a near-disaster at Citywide Doctors Clinic.

Webcast: Data Protection for your Microsoft Environment: Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail Demonstration - View the Archived Webcast

Webcast: Application Aware Business Continuity, Protecting Key Business Applications: Tivoli Storage Manager Demonstration - View the Archived Webcast
Focus solutions: The newest Tivoli Storage Manager offering for application protection -- Tivoli Storage Manager for Microsoft SharePoint.

2007 Tivoli Technical User Conference Recorded Presentations on CD -- Free to Tivoli User Group Members ONLY

Your Global Tivoli User Group Council selected the most popular presentations from the 2007 TTUC and asked Tivoli Training to record these presentations and make them available to User Group members on CD. The CD is now available. To order your FREE TTUC CD, contact your Tivoli User Group Leader.

Recorded IBM Presentations from the 2007 GTUG Face-to-Face Meeting
The Global Tivoli User Group Council (GTUG) is composed of appointed leaders from 20 user groups spanning the globe. It represents the overall TUG population in monthly conference calls to IBM, in which new topics and concerns are presented directly to IBM staffers for consideration and response.

This free CD contains recordings of the presentations given by IBM Services personnel at the May 2007 GTUG council F2F meeting. Instead of tool-focused presentations, this year IBM was asked to present their strategy from an overall service management perspective focusing on ITIL process automation. IBM presented their strategy to accomplish a service management vision focusing on integration of the IBM product portfolio.

All Tivoli User Group members can order these free CDs through their TUG Leaders. Contact your TUG Leader to order your CD today.

IBM Tivoli Training at User Group Meetings Continues in 2008
The Twin Cities Tivoli User Group had free training direct from Tivoli Education at their last meeting and YOU CAN TOO. Quote from Brian Laney - COTUG Leader: "Thanks to each of you for making the Sept 25th TSM User Group meeting a success. We had our best attendance to date with 30 folks from a variety of companies. Overall the feedback forms were 'Very Positive.' The user group presidents (Celeste and Robin) were very pleased with the content, delivery and facilities."

In the April and October 2006 surveys of the Tivoli User Group community, we asked you "What is the best way for IBM to reward you for being a good IBM customer?" Almost 50% of those who responded selected "Free Education Classes" as the best reward.

So in 2007, Tivoli Training is offering free, in-depth technical training delivered by technical product experts via e-meeting at regularly scheduled Tivoli User Group meetings. And you and your user group leader select the product and topics to be taught at your meeting from a list of over 225 courses covering over 80 Tivoli products.

What do you need to do to make this happen? Contact your user group Leader and work with him/her and the other members of your user group to select the product, course, and topics you want taught at your next meeting.

FREE Web-based Course: IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundations Version 2 to Version 3 Differences
Update your knowledge for the basics of Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and discover the importance of a systematic approach to management. The ITIL Foundations Version 2 to Version 3 Differences Course contains a comprehensive description of updates to the processes involved in managing IT infrastructures. Build your awareness of the best-practice approach to IT service support and service delivery. Gain an understanding of the changes from ITIL Version 2 to Version 3, as well as the importance of an IT infrastructure and IT service for an organization, a process-like approach to business organization, the ITIL management framework, basic terms, and concepts of the work processes used to manage an IT infrastructure.

Score More Savings with an IBM Education Pack Online Account! For a limited time, when you spend $25,000 in an IBM Education Pack online account you'll receive your usual 10-percent savings PLUS an extra $2,000 posted to your account. Take advantage of our Score More Savings promotion and score up to $10,000 in bonus training! Offer good from October 9, 2007 to February 15, 2008. To purchase, visit www.ibm.com/training/us/savings/edpack or call 1-800-IBM-TEACH (1-800-426-8322).

Cognos Gives IBM the Front-End Tools

Within one year, the market for traditional, front-end BI software -- the reporting and analysis tools used primarily by executives and financial and business analysts and managers -- has undergone a major shift from one dominated by independent vendors to one that will soon be dominated by the world's largest software companies. IBM's planned acquisition of Cognos for $5 billion follows SAP's pending acquisition of Business Objects for $6.8 billion and Oracle's acquisition of Hyperion for $3.3 billion.

IBM's acquisition of Cognos is an extension of the database-oriented "Information On Demand" strategy that it's talked about over the past few years, which includes many investments in technologies to cleanse, organize and store data. Cognos completes the Information On Demand picture for IBM by providing the front-end tools for accessing cleansed and organized data.

IBM's Information On Demand has largely been a strategy of acquisitions: data-integration vendor Ascential for $1.1 billion; content management vendor FileNet for $1.6 billion; metadata management company Unicorn; natural language search company iPhrase; customer data integration company DWL; and identity resolution company SRD. Some of that technology, particularly what IBM got from Ascential and Unicorn, make up IBM's Information Server, a package comprising several WebSphere application servers that conduct various data-integration tasks.

Recent years sure have been the acquisition years for the big vendors. In trying to keep BI choices open to customers, IBM was likely already engaged in acquisition talks with Cognos when it announced last month a deal it reached with Business Objects, which will soon be owned by SAP and is Cognos' top competitor. Under that deal, Business Objects will distribute and resell IBM DB2 Warehouse with Business Objects XI and CFO Performance Management software, and IBM will distribute a limited license of Business Objects XI with DB2 databases and warehouses. I am sure SAP will have something to say about it.