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Systems Management Solutions Overview
Managing the IBM zSeries Mainframe ecosystem
is a significant undertaking requiring Systems Management utilities &
tools that collect data, but more importantly formulate that data into
meaningful information. Such information (E.g. Reports, Decisions, Optimization
Opportunities, Issues, et al) can be leveraged from, formulating future
strategies, resolving existing problems, while optimizing resource usage.
Systems Management is perhaps one of those IT functions observing the
80/20 rule, where the software product can do 80% of the work, but only
the final 20% of work performed by the Mainframe technician will deliver
any real benefit to the business. Therefore just implementing the software
tool is not the final solution, the final & most important step
is to leverage from the meaningful information available, formulating
activities, both for the short & long terms.
Generally, the majority of Systems Management software is delivered
by few ISV’s for the IBM Z Mainframe platform (E.g. ASG, BMC, CA, IBM),
typically delivered in an all-encompassing Enterprise software license
agreement, where the actual cost of a particular software product is
not necessarily easily calculated. However, we must consider the cost
versus value conundrum, and there is little & in fact no point,
deploying or paying for a software product that does not get used or
delivers little or no value.
Value-4IT works with several Systems Management ISV’s with a passion
for delivering cost optimized high-function software products, delivering
functions required by the typical Mainframe user, not always available
in the larger & broader ISV software portfolio. Therefore these
software products deliver high value for lower cost, but their potential
can only be leveraged from, by the savvy Mainframe customer, looking
for best-of-breed software, as opposed to the potential me-too product
from those ISV’s with significant software portfolios...
IBM zSeries Systems Management Solutions
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ConicIT - A
non-intrusive software solution processed on a Linux server,
either external or zLinux based. Easily implemented into existing
infrastructures, ConicIT manages other z/OS monitoring products
(E.g. ASG-TMON, BMC MAINVIEW, CA SYSVIEW, IBM Tivoli OMEGAMON)
using available information to analyze system performance, predict
trouble ahead. Whether in the form of an evolving performance
problem, or a pending increase in capacity charges, the system
immediately alerts operations, preserving the data necessary
for problem analysis & repair. |
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DQL - Dino Query
Language is a robust utility for all, Systems Programmers, DBAs,
Storage Administrators, RACF Administrators, Auditors, Application
Developers, Business Analysts, et al. If you know SQL you will
know DQL! DQL uses SELECT, FROM, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses,
just like SQL. DQL was designed to interrogate systems data,
the WHERE clause may interrogate bit patterns, data set names
using filters and other features not readily available in SQL.
Since DQL is modelled on SQL, an ISPF interface is also supplied
with DQL, very similar to that used by SPUFI. |
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IKAN ALM -
IKAN ALM - Delivers a uniquely integrated web-based Application
Lifecycle Management (ALM) platform for both Agile & traditional
software development teams. It combines Continuous Integration &
Lifecycle Management, offering a single point of control, delivering
support for build & deploy processes, approval processes,
release management & software lifecycles. Being an open
framework & ALM 2.0+ compliant, IKAN ALM fully integrates
with any versioning tool & any issue tracking tool, providing
ALM reports across repositories. |
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iMatch - A solution
that assists Development, Technical Support & Helpdesk experts
reduce Problem Resolution time for technical support activities.
Additionally, iSolve provides self-help for end users, empowering
them to resolve their own problems, thus reducing the amount
of problems escalated, improving overall service accordingly.
iSolve works in harmony with existing Technical Support &
Problem Management processes, integrating seamlessly with Service
Desk systems, Technical Support software, Bug Tracking systems,
CRM, Knowledge bases, et al. |
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iSolve - A solution
that assists Development, Technical Support & Helpdesk experts
reduce Problem Resolution time for technical support activities.
Additionally, iSolve provides self-help for end users, empowering
them to resolve their own problems, thus reducing the amount
of problems escalated, improving overall service accordingly.
iSolve works in harmony with existing Technical Support &
Problem Management processes, integrating seamlessly with Service
Desk systems, Technical Support software, Bug Tracking systems,
CRM, Knowledge bases, et al. |
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PerfTechPro
for zOS - A Capacity Planning and Performance Measurement
tool specifically designed for the cost conscious and savvy
21st Century data centre. PerfTechPro provides sophisticated
capacity and performance management capabilities, affordable
by any sized data centre. PerfTechPro for z/OS is a simple-to-use
and cost-efficient solution, allowing customers to quickly save
time and money from their Capacity Planning and Performance
Measurement solution. Ultimately the bottom line objective for
PerfTechPro for z/OS is to provide a best-of-breed solution
for a very competitive cost. |
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QuickSelect
Db2 - A dynamic & transparent
z/OS SQL CPU optimization solution eradicating repetitive static
SQL processing, without requirement to change/recompile/relink
application source or rebind packages. QuickSelect caches frequently
requested Db2 SQL result sets, returning these results to the
application from QuickSelect cache, when a repetition of the
same SQL is encountered. Meaningful CPU reduction (E.g. 20%)
in the Db2 SQL direct processing; typical. 10%+ peak time CPU.
Transparent implementation, with application changes required,
source code, load module or Db2 package. |
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SENTINEL -
Enables companies to police z/OS FTP server usage using existing
security facilities (E.g. ACF2, RACF, SAF, et al), stopping
all unwanted FTP activity, before resulting in a problem or
exposure. SENTINEL reduces the complexity of managing
FTP by merging & reporting upon all FTP servers in an enterprise
(Distributed Systems, z/OS, et al). SENTINEL provides
real-time monitoring of FTP usage throughout the entire enterprise
via ISPF & Windows based interactive analysis, consolidating
reporting of FTP activity, failures, exceptions, et al.
With SENTINEL, FTP security compliance is achieved by controlling
access & managing exceptions. |
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z/IRIS - Delivers
a lightweight simple, cost-efficient & resource optimized
IBM Z APM solution, seamlessly working with all other mainstream
Distributed Systems APM solutions, providing a simplified view
of end-to-end business application performance, regardless of
platform. z/IRIS incorporates OpenTelemetry observability for
IBM Z Mainframe systems & applications, enriching traces (E.g.
Db2 Accounting, Db2 Deadlock, zOS Connect, JES2, OMVS, STC,
TSO) with attributes to facilitate searching, filtering & analysis
of traces in today’s 3rd party enterprise wide APM tools (E.g.
AppDynamics, Datadog, Dynatrace, IBM Instana, Jaeger, New Relic,
Splunk, Sumo Logic). |
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Simplify IBM Mainframe Management Processes &
Optimize Resource Usage.
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| Quotation |
| Good
management is the art of making problems so interesting &
their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to
work & deal with them. |
| Paul Hawken |
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