Systems/Enterprise:

DCML CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY, YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS

One year after the initial launch of the Data Center Markup Language (DCML), organizers are celebrating a year of achievements as the first vendor-neutral data center and utility computing standard moves closer to implementation in IT organizations worldwide. In a year marked by key milestones such as the public availability of a draft framework specification and transition of the standard to OASIS, DCML continues to achieve the goals set forth by its founding members -- Computer Associates, EDS, Opsware and TIBCO. DCML promotes the use of data center automation and utility computing by providing a uniform way to represent the IT environment, enabling data center automation and system management solutions to easily exchange information about the environment under management.

Since its inception, DCML has demonstrated strong vendor and end user participation, tripling in size from 25 members at launch to just over 75 prior to last month's transition to OASIS. With the transition, DCML takes advantage of OASIS' highly respected open technical process, transparent governance, and international reach -- exposing the standard to a broad member base of 3,500 participants representing over 600 organizations and individual members across 100 countries.

Additionally, this year members of the DCML Framework, Applications and Services, Network and Server working groups reached a considerable milestone in the success of DCML when they made a draft framework of the specification available for public comment. Release of the specification is critical as it provides a foundation for other working groups to develop their own set of sub-specifications, and serves as a working model for end users who are interested in the strategic use of DCML within their IT organizations. The DCML working groups were formed to ensure that DCML builds on rather than competes with, existing standards to provide a simplified and unified IT platform. Under OASIS, four technical committees have been created to continue working on the sub-specifications within each of these four areas of technology.

"Last year DCML was born, winning the praise of analysts, end users and the vendor community for its open methodology and practical approach to solving data center complexity," said Tim Howes, co-author of DCML and CTO of Opsware. "Today, we look back at a year of steady progress, culminating with the transition of DCML to OASIS where the draft framework specification will be immediately available to over 3,500 companies and will continue to progress rapidly."

"Our accomplishments over the past 12 months are the collective work of dedicated contributors who share our vision for vendor interoperability and are committed to making utility computing a reality," said Darrel Thomas, co-author of DCML and chief technologist of EDS Hosting Services. "Over the coming year, industry onlookers can expect to see the same great results and more from the DCML Member Section within OASIS, including the development of various DCML sub-specifications and the introduction of DCML compliant products. With the depth and breadth of industry involvement and accelerated process work within OASIS, as well as the addition of other major standards bodies' participation, DCML will not only make major release strides but gain consensus as well."