z/OS Infrastructure Operations: 2020’s Biggest Challenges and Trends for 2021 – Part 2
April 6 | 10 AM ET | 9 AM CT | 4 PM CET
Presenters: John Baker, Todd Havekost, Brent Phillips
Our panel of experts continues the discussion from February 9th, addressing 2020’s biggest challenges to infrastructure operations. They will draw on real-world experiences at many mainframe sites around the world, and where appropriate illustrate their responses with demonstrations using intelligent and automated analysis of RMF and SMF
Topics to be covered in Part 2 of this session will be based on input from registrants, along with overflow topics from the first session, including:
- Measuring the effects of changes: Compilers, CPU, Memory
- Deriving value from Db2, CICS, and MQ data
Save Your Seat
Previous zAcademy Sessions
1. Imagine How Much You Can Learn from SMF Data
April 16 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
The mainframe produces a set of metrics far superior to any other platform. Unfortunately, there are significant barriers to unleashing the learning value of this SMF data.
Attend this session to learn how rapidly you could leverage easy visibility into RMF and SMF data to expand your understanding of how the z/OS ecosystem operates, and renew your passion for the disciplines of performance analysis or infrastructure support!
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2. “What Am I Waiting For” is a basic performance session for anyone
April 22 | Presenter: John Baker
The performance analyst is that rare breed that simply must know – in excruciating detail – what makes things take so long, whether the “thing” is a DDF transaction from the web or a line at the store.
Regardless of your job, we all hate to wait, so understanding these principles can be quite satisfying. Take a stroll with John as we shed some light on these concepts. No degrees, certifications, or programming necessary – this intro session is for everyone.
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3. Reining in HSM
April 29 | Presenter: Jack Opgenorth
You’ve already heard some good advice on optimizing HSM, but what about the new z15 features? What about your different tape compression options? Or changing your storage management strategies?
We’ll use some comparative data to outline some opportunities to consider going forward. Previously referenced recommendations will be emphasized, and other good practices will be highlighted to help you rein in your HSM demand.
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4. Boost the Value You Derive from CICS and Db2 SMF Data
May 6 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
This session will present the benefits of modernizing how you understand and leverage SMF data for CICS and Db2 Performance analysis.
Instead of being overwhelmed by massive volumes of CICS and Db2 SMF data and combing through countless static reports, discover how interactive analysis using an intuitive GUI interface with context-sensitive drilldowns can elevate your effectiveness to an entirely new level.
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5. Lessons on Optimizing Processor Cache From z15 Upgrade Case Studies
May 12 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
Since it is likely that 1/3 to more than half of your total CPU cycles are spent waiting for data to be staged into level 1 processor cache, it is critical to understand and have visibility into this significant component of your CPU consumption.
This is not ivory tower theory… every main point in this presentation is backed up with real-life case studies from more than 70 sites across 8 countries.
And though these concepts have been presented before, the presentation continues to be enhanced with additional before-and-after data from sites quantifying the CPU reductions they have achieved through more effective utilization of processor cache.
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6. The All-Flash datacenter: How come my I/O Response isn’t twice as fast?
May 20 | Presenter: John Baker
In IT, the term “Flash” is both ubiquitous and vague. The solid-state drive in your laptop, the new memory in your z15, your new all flash storage array – these all boast flash technology that promises to make everything faster.
Many datacenters have adopted flash technology and are observing that their I/O response times are not dramatically different. Why? John breaks down this relatively old invention to understand what it can – and cannot – do for your datacenter.
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7. Value and Visibility into zERT Network Encryption Data
May 27 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
Given the importance of security in today’s world, managing network encryption is a critical requirement for almost every z/OS environment.
I consider the introduction of zERT SMF 119.12 records to be perhaps the greatest advance in SMF data since CPU Measurement Facility (CPUMF) began providing instrumentation of processor cache metrics through SMF 113 records in 2008.
Attend this session to learn more about the value provided by this new zERT data, and to gain the visibility your security team needs to derive great value from this data.
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8. Why did my job run so long? Understanding and applying z/OS Performance Concepts
June 3 | Presenter: John Baker
There are few things more annoying than a daily job running dramatically longer for no apparent reason. Such delays can trigger financial penalties leading to pressure on the performance team.
Performance Analysis is about identifying the distribution of response times and dealing with each component. In this presentation, we will explain the meaning of some the most useful components and provide practical recommendations on how to improve application and overall system performance.
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9. Boost the Value You Derive from MQ SMF Data through a Modern Approach
June 10 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
IBM’s MQ is very widely used across today’s z/OS environments. But reporting capabilities for MQ SMF data have lagged behind those of other subsystems.
This session will present the benefits of modernizing how you understand and leverage SMF data for MQ performance analysis.
Instead of being overwhelmed by massive volumes of MQ Accounting data with very limited visibility, discover how you can elevate your effectiveness to an entirely new level.
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10. Getting to Know Your WebSphere for z/OS Workload
June 17 | Presenter: Dennis Moore
WebSphere Application Server is mission-critical for many businesses today. However, for many mainframe performance/capacity specialists, these workloads can be a bit of a mystery – a black box of resource consumption that is hard to get your arms around.
There are many areas of WebSphere that can leave even a seasoned z/OS performance specialist scratching their head. Knowing what you want to see and where to look is one hurdle to overcome, but even then, how do you access that data? And more importantly, how do you visualize it in a way that makes sense? This webinar will help you:
- Gain a better understanding of your WebSphere workload through SMF data
- Quickly see transaction rates, CPU/zIIP utilization and response times
- Spot trends, patterns and unusual conditions
Join us to learn how you can shine a light into this otherwise black box!
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11. Life in the Fast Lane: zHyperlink
June 24 | Presenter: John Baker
The z14 and z15 support a completely new I/O method called zHyperLink. This is easily the most substantial I/O announcement from IBM since the introduction of FICON. We all know that the best I/O is no I/O but every record won’t fit in your buffer pools, so I/O is a fact of life. What about more cache or flash drives? The many options to accelerate your speed on the I/O highway can make you lose your mind – come check out the fast lane!
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12. Does IBM’s Recent Tailoring of Tailored Fit Pricing Make It a Better Fit for You?
July 1 | Presenter: Cheryl Watson of Watson & Walker
Every IBM software pricing option has a set of customers that it will benefit. For the remaining customers, one of the other options might make more sense. IBM’s Tailored Fit Pricing option had some aspects that limited the set of customers that it was a good fit for. In this webinar, mainframe maven Cheryl Watson describes recent, unannounced, changes to TFP, and explains how those changes might alter your calculation about whether TFP is right for your company.
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13. Is a Sub-Capacity CPC the Right Move for You?
July 8 | Presenter: Frank Kyne of Watson & Walker and Todd Havekost of IntelliMagic
Most installations tend to upgrade their CPCs to the equivalent model in the newer generation – for example, from a z13 710 to a z15 710. Accordingly, IBM’s capacity planning tools are designed to model upgrades to newer generations within the same speed range (7xx to 7xx, 5xx to 5xx, and so on). There are numerous stories of customers moving to a lower speed range (z13 7xx to z15 6xx, for example) and finding that the performance exceeds their expectations. But if the IBM tools are not intended to model such moves, how do you evaluate if such an upgrade would be right for your workloads? In this session, Frank and Todd will discuss the attributes that they use to evaluate such upgrades.
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14. The Value of Automated z/OS Performance Change Detection
July 15 | Presenter: Todd Havekost
With all the complexity and workload variability present in today’s z/OS systems, it is important to have significant deviations of key metrics from their historical norms called to your attention. Built-in “change detection” functionality to automatically identify these deviations accompanied by intuitive capabilities to investigate the underlying causes provides another important step forward facilitating effective availability and performance management. This session will show how this capability complements health assessments using built-in instrumentation of z/OS best practices and will show real-life examples of how it can add value across several areas of the z/OS infrastructure, including CPU, CICS, Db2, CF, Disk replication, and batch jobs.
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15. Tune your TS7700 Cache Capacity
July 22 | Presenter: Katja Denefleh
You have multiple functions and parameters at your disposal to define which logical volumes will remain in the TS7700 cache, regardless if you use a TS7700 Disk-Only or a TS7700 with Tape attach. This session gives you detailed information about the different options. Learn more about Cache Partitions, Retention Policies, Preference Groups, Autoremoval, and parameters like COPYFSC and RECLPG0.
We will discuss how these parameters control the cache content and how they may influence recovery times. After this webinar you will be able to optimize the cache usage.
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16. Your Datacenter Under TFP: The New Rules of Measurement
September 17 | Presenters: Cheryl Watson of Watson & Walker and John Baker of IntelliMagic
Tailored Fit Pricing is no longer an abstract concept as many data centers have adopted this new pricing model. For those that held back, recent enhancements from IBM have made TFP potentially more attractive. While TFP has the potential to greatly simplify software costs the Capacity Planner/Performance Analysts (CP/PA) needs to adjust many of their tried and true methods for tracking – and controlling – MSU consumption. Are you paying too much? Have your measuring tools and techniques adapted to these new rules? Join Cheryl Watson and John Baker as they dive into this critical subject. They’ve been known to have an opinion or two.
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17. Preparing for and Managing Peak Periods in 2020 and beyond
October 15 | Presenters: Brent Phillips and Jerry Street
2020 will undoubtedly go down as a year to remember for each and every one of us. The way that every business has adapted to the changes shows resiliency and creative professionalism in positive ways. One thing that has not changed is the need to ensure that our infrastructure and applications can handle peak loads at any time. This webinar will demonstrate how to quantify risk in the z/OS infrastructure to ensure better availability in peak periods, and how intelligent navigation through the RMF/SMF data can accelerate problem resolution times and display newly supported SMF data.
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18. Transparency in z/OS Infrastructure Performance Analysis – The Benefits of Collaborative and Explainable Analytics
November 17 | Presenters: Dan Speer and Todd Havekost
Analyzing and optimizing performance and cost across the different z/OS infrastructure areas has led to many “silos” of expert knowledge which often create natural barriers to collaborative and quick problem-solving. It also makes it difficult for managers and LOB executives to easily understand the performance health and cost optimization status for their applications. This webinar will discuss the historical reasons why these silo barriers exist, their ramifications, how to achieve greater transparency and collaboration, and a roadmap to help break down the silos one application at a time.
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19. How long is the line? Practical Applications of Queueing Theory for The Rest of Us
December 15 | Presenter: John Baker
Your mainframe has the capacity to service many requests concurrently. However, as with any system, there are limits. As utilization increases, queues will inevitably develop. This session will look at the applications that are impacted, and whether you need more hardware or can optimize with tuning.
You don’t need to be a mathematician or programmer to answer these “queueing theory” questions. Join this session and learn how IntelliMagic Vision can provide clear answers to these and other questions in your z/OS environment. With direct visibility into delays and the reasons for them, as well as predictive analysis, who needs theory?
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20. z/OS Infrastructure Operations: 2020’s Biggest Challenges and Trends for 2021
February 9 | Presenters: John Baker, Todd Havekost, Brent Phillips
Last year, over the course of 19 zAcademy educational sessions, we learned of some of the most pressing issues affecting data centers, ranging from CPU Consumption and new pricing models to performance issues in Db2, CICS, and systems components, to configuration best practices for an optimal environment.
Learn best practices for configuring your environment for optimal performance, selecting the best pricing model for your site, and how to navigate performance issues in your Db2, Systems, CICS, and other z/OS components simply by accessing the RMF and SMF data available to you.