Network Management 

HP OpenView is the winner for the second year running, while IBM's Tivoli maintains its second position and even its indexed score. Microsoft SMS Server is the new number three, followed by CA Unicenter and Avaya. OpenNMS exits the User's Choice Club, while Novell's ManageWise and Zenith's SAAZ are new entrants to the Club.

As can be seen from the fact that as many as seven players made the cut off (minimum 10 index points) for making it to the Users' Choice Club, there is tremendous interest and action in this segment.

The big news is obviously SMS Server, which has put up a very strong showing, coming as it is from nowhere, to number three position. And Zenith's SAAZ, a home-grown solution has done exceedingly well to make it to the Users' Choice Club.

In spite of the advent of new players, OpenView maintains its brand loyalty where it was last year, at 77 percent, but there is someone ahead in the brand-loyalty stakes-CA Unicenter at 82 percent. Tivoli, on the other hand, has taken a small dip in brand loyalty, going down to 72 percent from last year's 78 percent. Avaya is at 71 percent and SMS Server is at 60 percent loyalty.

Last year, our brand-switch matrix talked of a consolidation towards HP and IBM. The fact that they have been able to hold on to their positions and indexed scores is validation enough of that prediction. This year, we are seeing further movement along the same lines, with more moves pointing towards HP, IBM and CA. However, it would be unwise to underestimate SMS Server, not just because it is from Microsoft but also because of the rapid strides it has made this past one year.

2003