Pulse is the annual IBM event that covers the wide array of Tivoli solutions. If you did not get a chance to go to Las Vegas to participate in Pulse, now you get a chance check out Pulse as part of Pulse Comes To You. Pulse Comes To You is a series of events at various locations all around the world, and provide you with a chance to learn more about systems management and IBM Tivoli solutions. Pulse Comes To You will be happening in a variety of cities in the next 2 months. For a list of locations, and how to sign up (it's free), here is a link for more information:
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/pulse/pulsecomestoyou/2010/
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Upcoming webcast on mainframe network management
If you are interested in learning more about mainframe network management, there is an upcoming webcast on "Proactive problem determination and automation for IBM System z TCP/IP networks".
This is a free webcast sponsored by IBM that will help you learn how to better manage and optimize mainframe network throughput and technologies with IBM Tivoli System z network management solutions, and achieve the highest degree of mainframe network performance. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how IBM Tivoli can help you get the most out of System z networking components such as Enterprise Extender (EE), Open Systems Adapter (OSA) network controllers and TN3270 applications.
If you are interested, the webcast is June 3rd, at 11 AM ET. Here is a link to sign up for the event:
ibm.com/software/systemz/telecon/3jun
This is a free webcast sponsored by IBM that will help you learn how to better manage and optimize mainframe network throughput and technologies with IBM Tivoli System z network management solutions, and achieve the highest degree of mainframe network performance. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how IBM Tivoli can help you get the most out of System z networking components such as Enterprise Extender (EE), Open Systems Adapter (OSA) network controllers and TN3270 applications.
If you are interested, the webcast is June 3rd, at 11 AM ET. Here is a link to sign up for the event:
ibm.com/software/systemz/telecon/3jun
Monday, May 24, 2010
(You may not realize) NetView offers considerable TCP/IP management capabilities
I was having a discussion with colleagues last week, and the topic of NetView came up. It seems that many IBM customers do not realize that there is a considerable amount TCP/IP monitoring and management capabilities within the tool, along with the SNA functions that have been in the tool for many years. I've mentioned in earlier posts that I view NetView, as a complementary tool that works hand in hand with OMEGAMON XE For Mainframe Networks. Both tools provide considerable network management options, and both tools integrate via the Tivoli Enterprise Portal.
If you want a little more info on NetView, here is a link to a short YouTube video on the capabilities of NetView V5.4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go58kv5o88w
If you want a little more info on NetView, here is a link to a short YouTube video on the capabilities of NetView V5.4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go58kv5o88w
Friday, May 21, 2010
DASD monitoring considerations for OMEGAMON IMS
So far I've talked about the "Big Three" (z/OS, CICS, DB2). Now, I will start to address the DASD and I/O monitoring considerations for some of the other OMEGAMON tools.
OMEGAMON XE for IMS provides DASD and I/O related information in several different areas. In the real time 3270 displays, OMEGAMON IMS provides IMS database I/O rates, IMS Log I/O rate info, Long and Short Message Queue rate info, Fast Path Database I/O info, plus information on the various OSAM and VSAM database buffer pools. This information is often useful from a diagnostic and tuning standpoint, and there are no real overhead concerns in terms of collecting the data.
There are a couple areas where DASD, I/O, and I/O related information can impact the cost of monitoring. One area is Bottleneck Analysis. Bottleneck Analysis is a very useful and powerful analysis tool for understanding where IMS workload is spending it's time. One of the sub-options of Bottleneck Analysis is a database switch (DBSW option). If you have Bottleneck Analysis ON, but the database switch option OFF, you will save some CPU in the OMEGAMON IMS collector task. Another consideration is Epilog history. Epilog does a nice job of gathering historical performance analysis information, but you can save some cost of collection by turning off DASD collection in the Epilog history options. This is done by specifying the NORESC(DAS,DEV) option.
Probably the biggie, related to database and I/O monitoring in OMEGAMON IMS is the Transaction Reporting Facility (TRF). If TRF is enabled, OMEGAMON IMS will typically generate records on transaction and database activity into the IMS log. This data is often useful for performance analysis and charge back, but it is potentially voluminous. If you turn it on, be aware of the options for TRF, and recognize that there will be costs in terms of additional CPU usage by the OMEGAMON collector task, and more data written to the IMS log files.
OMEGAMON XE for IMS provides DASD and I/O related information in several different areas. In the real time 3270 displays, OMEGAMON IMS provides IMS database I/O rates, IMS Log I/O rate info, Long and Short Message Queue rate info, Fast Path Database I/O info, plus information on the various OSAM and VSAM database buffer pools. This information is often useful from a diagnostic and tuning standpoint, and there are no real overhead concerns in terms of collecting the data.
There are a couple areas where DASD, I/O, and I/O related information can impact the cost of monitoring. One area is Bottleneck Analysis. Bottleneck Analysis is a very useful and powerful analysis tool for understanding where IMS workload is spending it's time. One of the sub-options of Bottleneck Analysis is a database switch (DBSW option). If you have Bottleneck Analysis ON, but the database switch option OFF, you will save some CPU in the OMEGAMON IMS collector task. Another consideration is Epilog history. Epilog does a nice job of gathering historical performance analysis information, but you can save some cost of collection by turning off DASD collection in the Epilog history options. This is done by specifying the NORESC(DAS,DEV) option.
Probably the biggie, related to database and I/O monitoring in OMEGAMON IMS is the Transaction Reporting Facility (TRF). If TRF is enabled, OMEGAMON IMS will typically generate records on transaction and database activity into the IMS log. This data is often useful for performance analysis and charge back, but it is potentially voluminous. If you turn it on, be aware of the options for TRF, and recognize that there will be costs in terms of additional CPU usage by the OMEGAMON collector task, and more data written to the IMS log files.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
DASD Considerations for OMEGAMON DB2
So far we've discussed DASD monitoring considerations for OMEGAMON z/OS and OMEGAMON CICS. Now let's consider OMEGAMON DB2.
There are multiple aspects to consider when we are talking about OMEGAMON DB2. OMEGAMON DB2 collects DASD relevant data for such things as DB2 log I/O, EDM pool I/O information, and object I/O data when doing drill down analysis of virtual pool statistics. This information is provided essentially out of the box, and does not have major overhead considerations.
There are some areas where DASD and I/O monitoring can add overhead, and you do have the ability to control if the data collection is on or off. The first major facility is Object Analysis. Object Analysis is an I/O and getpage analysis facility that will look at all the I/O and getpage activity being done on the subsystem, and correlate that getpage and I/O activity by object, and by DB2 thread. Object Analysis does have an ongoing cost of collection. It does not use DB2 traces, but if the Object Analysis collector is allowed to run all the time, it will add to the CPU usage of the OMEGAMON DB2 collector task. In some shops this is not a big issue, in other (usually larger) shops, it is a consideration. You can optionally configure Object Analysis so that it is off by default, but you may start it, as needed. This is a good strategy for those who want to reduce the cost of monitoring, but still have access to the data when needed. I had an earlier post that describes how to configure Object Analysis to achieve this. Another option to consider with Object Analysis is the thread correlation option. If this is enabled, Object Analysis will use more resource, but I find the thread data to be quite useful.
For those DB2 data sharing users, there is another option to consider, Group Object Analysis. If Group Object Analysis is enabled, that means you are running Object Analysis at the level of each DB2 subsystem (i.e. member) within the data sharing group. That means you have the ongoing cost of running Object Analysis at that level, plus you also have the cost at the level of the OMEGAMON DB2 agent task of correlating the data, in particular if thread correlation is enabled. Group Object Analysis is useful data for a data sharing shop, but understand that you will be pulling potentially a fair amount of data on an ongoing basis.
Now let's consider history. In addition to the Accounting and Statistics trace options in the Near Term History setup options, you also have the option to enable such things as SQL, Sort, and Scan data collection. My recommendation, in general, is to set the Scan option to off. The data will give you an indication of some aspects of scan activity done by the thread, but be advised this data is collected via DB2 IFCID traces, and may add more cost to running Near Term History.
There are multiple aspects to consider when we are talking about OMEGAMON DB2. OMEGAMON DB2 collects DASD relevant data for such things as DB2 log I/O, EDM pool I/O information, and object I/O data when doing drill down analysis of virtual pool statistics. This information is provided essentially out of the box, and does not have major overhead considerations.
There are some areas where DASD and I/O monitoring can add overhead, and you do have the ability to control if the data collection is on or off. The first major facility is Object Analysis. Object Analysis is an I/O and getpage analysis facility that will look at all the I/O and getpage activity being done on the subsystem, and correlate that getpage and I/O activity by object, and by DB2 thread. Object Analysis does have an ongoing cost of collection. It does not use DB2 traces, but if the Object Analysis collector is allowed to run all the time, it will add to the CPU usage of the OMEGAMON DB2 collector task. In some shops this is not a big issue, in other (usually larger) shops, it is a consideration. You can optionally configure Object Analysis so that it is off by default, but you may start it, as needed. This is a good strategy for those who want to reduce the cost of monitoring, but still have access to the data when needed. I had an earlier post that describes how to configure Object Analysis to achieve this. Another option to consider with Object Analysis is the thread correlation option. If this is enabled, Object Analysis will use more resource, but I find the thread data to be quite useful.
For those DB2 data sharing users, there is another option to consider, Group Object Analysis. If Group Object Analysis is enabled, that means you are running Object Analysis at the level of each DB2 subsystem (i.e. member) within the data sharing group. That means you have the ongoing cost of running Object Analysis at that level, plus you also have the cost at the level of the OMEGAMON DB2 agent task of correlating the data, in particular if thread correlation is enabled. Group Object Analysis is useful data for a data sharing shop, but understand that you will be pulling potentially a fair amount of data on an ongoing basis.
Now let's consider history. In addition to the Accounting and Statistics trace options in the Near Term History setup options, you also have the option to enable such things as SQL, Sort, and Scan data collection. My recommendation, in general, is to set the Scan option to off. The data will give you an indication of some aspects of scan activity done by the thread, but be advised this data is collected via DB2 IFCID traces, and may add more cost to running Near Term History.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
OMEGAMON Currency Support for z/OS 1.11
If you are looking at going to z/OS V1.11, here is some information on recommended maintenance for OMEGAMON V4.1 and OMEGAMON V4.2. Follow the link for more information:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21382493
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21382493
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Windows on System z
I had heard a bit about this a while back. Supposedly there was a Share presentation in 2009 that mentioned the feasibility of this. Apparently, there is now an appliance that will allow you to run Windows on System z hardware, in a similar manner to how you run Linux on z. I'm not sure yet of its potential, but it sounds interesting, to say the least.
Here is a link to an article on this:
http://www.mainframezone.com/it-management/windows-and-other-x86-operating-systems-on-system-z
Here is a link to an article on this:
http://www.mainframezone.com/it-management/windows-and-other-x86-operating-systems-on-system-z
Thursday, May 6, 2010
More on DASD monitoring with OMEGAMON z/OS
In earlier posts I've talked about the cost of DASD monitoring, and the notion of the more data you ask for, the more it will potentially cost. This concept can apply, as well, when using the OMEGAMON z/OS CUA and Classic interfaces when monitoring DASD.
It's not unusual for large shops to have thousands of DASD devices connected in their environment. What that means is if you do a lot of ongoing monitoring of these thousands of devices, there is the potential for more OMEGAMON cycle usage to gather and display all this data.
One way to reduce this concern is to take advantage of filter options when displaying DASD devices. Do you really need to see every device, or just ones that meet certain criteria, such as high MSR (milli-second response) times, or high I/O rates? Some basic benchmark testing I've done on IBM systems, have shown measurable OMEGAMON CPU savings by using filter options to reduce the amount of data a devices displayed. This is especially true if you, like many users, like to display DASD devices and watch them in auto-update mode.
The example I show here is an example of using the filter options of the CUA interface to focus on the DASD devices of most interest. You can do a similar technique in the Classic 3270 interface.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Managing Workload on Linux on System z seminars
If you are interested in learning more about Linux on System z, there are series of upcoming seminars on the topic. "Managing Mission-Critical Workload on Linux on System z" is a free technology update to learn through case studies how IBM and its Business Partners are implementing virtualized enterprises using Linux on System z.
Some of the objectives of the seminar inlcude understanding how to increase system utilization to avoid investing in and powering unneeded hardware, how to give technical, management and business teams relevant views of the data they need, and how to investigate performance of all mainframe and distributed systems.
Dates and locations are as follows:
Some of the objectives of the seminar inlcude understanding how to increase system utilization to avoid investing in and powering unneeded hardware, how to give technical, management and business teams relevant views of the data they need, and how to investigate performance of all mainframe and distributed systems.
Dates and locations are as follows:
Dallas, May 11
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=QAFNJTES&locale=en_US
Minneapolis, May 18
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=Q72PMKES&locale=en_US
Atlanta, May 20
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=F86QRFES&locale=en_US
Houston, May 25
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=62BRBDES&locale=en_US
NYC, June 1
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=4ZEAU5ES&locale=en_US
Boston, July 7
https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=296A58ES&locale=en_US
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