Industry unites around new XML-based modelling language

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Some of the world's leading vendors are working together to create a new specification that will make it easier and more cost effective to manage IT resources.

The Service Modelling Language (SML) is the brainchild of a consortium of top-tier players comprised of Intel, Microsoft, BEA, BMC Software, Cisco, Dell, EMC, HP, IBM, and Sun, It aims to simplify the complexity of IT service provision using extensible markup language (XML) formats.

The group has published a draft specification of SML, which provides a common language to express data about IT resources and services, such as servers, networks and applications. Currently, the same resource can be represented using a variety of language formats, often resulting in confusion or error through translation.

SML is being hailed by its creators as a key enabler in simplifying complex multi-vendor environments as it allows the cross-application and cross-tool sharing of information. It will enable the creation of a model hierarchy of reusable building blocks as opposed to custom service descriptions, according to the vendors.

Using SML, developers will be able to model information relating to a number of core stages from configuration to change and release management. The group also claims that service level and availability management will be enhanced by the new specification.

In joining the other vendors, Microsoft has been able to leverage the work underway as part of its Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI). Its http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/dsi/sdm.mspx (SDM) will now be renamed SML. "This is a great day for our customers operating in heterogeneous environments, with this effort facilitating deep integration across heterogeneous environments and tools based on a common modeling language," said Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president, Windows and Enterprise Management Division, Microsoft.

Zulah Eckert, senior principal technologist at BEA Systems, added: "Employing a standards-based approach is consistent with our view that common specifications and collaborative efforts such as these can speed the delivery of important innovation and new technology to the marketplace."

The vendors will submit the draft specification to an industry standards body later this year. They also announced plans to create a core models library to describe generic resources like operating systems, desktops and storage devices.

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