A very interesting technote on the optimal sizing of OMEGAMON IMS JLF

The OMEGAMON IMS Journal Logging Facility (JLF) is an important component of OMEGAMON IMS.  The purpose of JLF is to be a high performance capture facility for the collection of history/trace data.  Since an IMS subsystem may have quite a bit of activity, there may be quite a bit of data to capture. 

There are options and cosndierations when setting up JLF.  This technote explains in some detail these considerations:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21633830&myns=swgtiv&mynp=OCSSXS8U&mync=R

Adding more sort columns to an e3270ui screen

So you have an OMEGAMON e3270ui screen that lists a lot of information, but you would like to add some additional sort eligible columns.  Adding the sort option to a column is easy.  Let's look at an example.

In the example below we show the OMEGAMON DB2 buffer pool overview panel, KDPBPOOL.  In the orginal panel you see several columns that are already sort eligible.  What we would like to do is make the Pages In Use column also sort eligible. 

To test out the edits, I again will make a copy of the panel and place it in the UKANWENU library.  What I am looking for is a panel, in this example ZDB2BP,  that has added sort for the Pages In use column.

Below is an example of the ISPF edit required.  The column we are interested in is the BPM_TCBA column.  You can verify that by looking at the DISPLAYCOLS statement to see what column names are being shown.

You then add BPM_TCBA to the SORTCOLS command.  Save the panel and you are done.  Again, as with the prior posts I've shown, I always recommend that modified panels go to the UKANWENU library.  Do not modify the contents of the product provided RKANWENU library.  To invoke the test panel, enter  =ZDB2BP on teh command line and press enter.

An interesting article on the future of the mainframe

Despite many predictions to the contrary over the years, the mainframe continues to be the workhorse platform for businesses and institutions.  There's an interesting article in Enterprise Systems Media that discusses the topic.  "Proof That the Mainframe is Thriving in the Modern Age" talks about how mainframe technology continues to be a strategic investment. 

It's an interesting read.  Here's a link to the article:
http://enterprisesystemsmedia.com/article/proof-that-the-mainframe-is-thriving-in-the-modern-it-age?utm_source=spotlights&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=IT+Mgmt+Spot+-+art&utm_campaign=p0f5q

A customization example - changing the order of the columns on a e3270ui panel

One of the nice things about the e3270ui is you have the ability to easily change and customize the layout of the monitoring displays.  The panels are members in the hilev.RKANWENU library.  To change a panel you can make your edits and save the new panel in the hilev.UKANWENU user panel library.  You can also build new panels and store them in the UKANWENU panel library.

Let's look at an OMEGAMON DB2 example.  In the OMEGAMON DB2 thread display (KIPTHRD) you have quite a few columns of information to review.  Perhaps, in your environment, columns such as Authid and Corrid may not be as useful to view as Workstation Id.  In the example below you have to scroll to the right to find the Workstation Id.

So, Workstation Id is on the panel, but perhaps you would like to see it without having to scroll the panel to the side.  You can accomplish this with a straightforward edit ot the panel source.

Below we see the source code of the panel definition.  Look for the DISPLAYCOLS command, and below that you will see the sequence in which the columns are displayed on the panel.  The column we are looking to move is TDIDWKID.  Use a standard ISPF edit command to move the column reference up in the panel code, as you see in the example below.

Once you make the change, save and exit the panel edit session, and you can invoke the panel.  Note that in the above example that rather than change the product provided panel , KIPTHRD, we made a new panel for testing purposes, ZDB2THRD.  Please note, only make your changes and new panel creations in the UKANWENU library.  Please refrain from changing the product provided RKANWENU library.  To invoke the new panel, go to the original KIPTHRD panel, and then issue the following command on the command line,  =ZDB2THRD.

Here you have the new panel complete with Workstation Id now appearing towards the front.  That's all there is to it.

Building your own enhanced 3270 interface panels

Yes.  You can build your own enhanced 3270 interface panels.  It's actually fairly easy once you've done it once or twice and get the hang of it. 

There are a few tricks of the trade to get it done.  The first thing you will want to get your hands on is the "Enhanced 3270 Interface Guide"  (SC22-5426-00).  This manual contains a lot of the information you need to build and customize your own panels.  Here's a link to the manual:
http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/tivihelp/v15r1/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.ibm.omegamon_share.doc_623fp1%2Fsource%2Fe3270%2Fe3270_interface.htm

The interface guide documents all the keywords, and shows you many examples of how the panels are coded.

The nice thing is that the panels are just members in a PDS.  When you create a new panel, or modify a product provided panel, put the new or updated panel in the   -hilev-.UKANWENU library.  Don't modify the   -hilev-.RKANWENU  members directly.  Make a copy and put them in   -hilev-.UKANWENU. 

Testing a new panel is easy.  Just enter  =panelname  (keeping in mind these are PDS members) on the command line and hit enter and your new panel should come up.

I'm working on some new panel ideas.  And I will be blogging on my results.

Upcoming webcast presentation on System z storage tools

Coming up in May Kevin Hosozawa of IBM will be doing a webcast presentation on  "Enhanced System z Storage Management with improved visibility and reporting".  This presentation will cover how IBM is continuing to enhance the Tivoli System z Storage Management  suite of capabilities to provide new functionality and capabilities in the z/OS Storage Management suite. The new enhancements to existing products provide numerous hard- and soft-cost benefits for IT. The alerting and integration capabilities are powerful and best-in-class and they help to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

The presentation is on May 16th at 11 AM ET.  The price for the webcast is right.  No charge.  To attend here is a link:
http://ibm.co/ZzZjR4

System z and security

You may have seen the stories in the news about cyber attacks on various companies, including large financial institutions in the US.  Even while this has been going on, one thing that is worth noting is what seems to be the inherent security of System z. 

If you have an interest in System z and security, here is a couple link worth taking a look at:
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/os/systemz/security/

And here's a link for Tivoli z security solutions:
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/products/zsecure/