Cloud Computing: BMC Buys Another DevOps Start-Up

Grazed from Sys Con Media. Author: Maureen O’Gara.

BMC just bought Varalogix, a two-year-old self-funded start-up and near neighbor located in Austin, Texas, where BMC has acquired a couple of other DevOps companies in the last couple of years that mesh with its latest prize.

Varalogix and its purpose-built VaraLogix Q widgetry does automated application deployment and configuration management for Java and .NET applications and just about everything they might need (think plug-ins) ‘cause it’s got "application awareness" ensuring that the app’s dependencies are covered.

It says "applications don’t exist in a vacuum – databases, web front-ends, networks, external appliances, local support libraries and operating systems – all need to share configuration information and work as a unit for correct application deployment. Systems that only deal with one component of this application ecosystem add just another disparate piece to an already complex puzzle."…

It claims it can make it simple enough that a civilian business user can just hit a button and deploy a business-critical, multi-tier app to any environment – physical, virtual and cloud – and that’s any cloud. In fact, BMC says Varalogix completes its cloud strategy.

BMC bought Furnace in late 2010, which does configuration management. Then it took over StreamStep. It does process management and replaces the clumsy spreadsheets that people have been jerry-rigging for their pre-production checklists.

BMC thinks StreamStep and Varalogix would make a good package as part of its new Release Lifecycle Management offering. Furnace will remain a Java standalone. Either way it thinks it’s got a complete DevOps stack and is the only major software house to be so armed.

IBM has reportedly been diddling around trying to piece existing software into a solution but BMC, which also has entry into the Fortunes, doesn’t regard it as competition. It says the only competition it recognizes comes from pure play start-ups.

Varalogix promises to deliver cutting-edge applications with fewer outages, lower risk and higher ROI.

It’s supposed to overcome the complex technical issues that result in deployment errors and failures and make advanced application specialists unnecessary throughout the deployment process. It says IT teams can deploy applications regardless of programming experience.

Varalogix was started by the people who sold Build Forge to IBM in 2006. It says its "team has spent decades addressing deployment automation, configuration, and build and release management issues at Global 2000 companies such as Apple, State Farm, All State, Wells Fargo, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Lockheed Martin."

It has partnerships with IBM, Microsoft, Red Hat, Oracle, Electric Cloud and Software House International and customers in financial services, retail, telecommunications, entertainment, travel, insurance and education.