Customer requirements survey: A tool to manage performance trends and trigger IMS Application Performance Analyzer (APA)

We see the solution as constituting, broadly, of these three components: • A performance metrics “extraction” for select z/OS subsystems. • A performance historical database to store performance history and identify trends. • A trigger mechanism that uses information in the database to trigger APA with the appropriate parameters. This survey helps Fundi Software and IBM understand your requirements for each of these components.

Your company's name

Your name

Contact e-mail address

Today's date

Which z/OS subsystems would you like to monitor?

BatchCICSDB2IMSWebSphere MQWebSphere Application Server for z/OSOther

Which performance tools do you currently use? OMEGAMON XEDB2 Performance ExpertCICS Performance AnalyzerIMS Performance AnalyzerIMS Problem InvestigatorIBM Transaction Analysis WorkbenchTivoli Decision SupportOther

Of the sites that you manage, how many use each of the following SMF collection methods?

Number of sites using MANx VSAM data sets:

Number of sites using SMF log stream:

List the key criteria you require for trend information for each of the subsystems listed below. For example, if you use IMS TM CPU and Elapsed time, enter "CPU" and "Elapsed time" in the space provided. If you do not want to monitor a particular subsystem, leave the field blank.

Batch

IMS TM

IMS DB

CICS

CICS TG

WebSphere application server (WAS) for z/OS

WebSphere MQ

DB2 for z/OS

Other subsystems (please specify)

List the key parameters you want to pass to the tracing program for each of the subsystems listed below. For example, if you want to trace by program name and IMS region, enter "Program Name" and "IMS region" in the space provided for IMS. If you are not interested in a particular subsystem, leave the field blank.

Batch

IMS TM

IMS DB

CICS

CICS TG

WebSphere application server (WAS) for z/OS

WebSphere MQ

DB2 for z/OS

Other subsystems (please specify)

What is the maximum amount of time you can tolerate from when an exception is identified and when IMS Application Performance Analyzer (APA) is started?

Trace must occur on next executionUp to one (1) secondUp to sixty (60) secondsWithin one (1) hourI will trigger APA manually, as required

How willing are you to introduce new address spaces? Note: The current proposed solution does not perform any active monitoring and does not require a new address space.

Willing - no significant inhibitorWilling, but it would be somewhat undesirableWilling, but it would be highly undesirableUnwilling

Why?

Which of the following is most important to you when considering any proposed solution?

Minimize the processing costs of z/OSMinimize the latency between exception and APA executionMinimize the number of new address spaces I require

What is the ideal duration for which you need to retain data for performance trends?

None - no retention is desired, but need the duration of events within a given log fileDaysWeeksMonthsOne yearMany yearsOther

What is the minimum duration for which you need to retain data for performance trends?

None - no retention is desired, but need the duration of events within a given log fileDaysWeeksMonthsOne yearMany yearsOther

If you have the option to store the operational data required for trends outside z/OS (for example, on a Linux or Windows server), this would be...

EssentialDesirableUndesirable, but an acceptable solutionUnacceptable. I would not want this option.

Why?

What is your preferred method for specifying and reviewing the application exception criteria?

Manual entry into a PDS member (no specific user interface)ISPF dialogEclipse plug-in for z/OS ExplorerEclipse plug-in for CICS ExplorerOther

With respect to your organization, please rate the importance of the following proposed features of the historical performance database.

Unimportant Low Importance

Neutral Important Very Important

Ability to visualize performance trends

Management reports

Dynamic aggregation

Text search

Use for security auditing

Use as a training aid

Access data off-host

Do you currently have an enterprise-wide initiative for using big data analytics for your operational data (logs and traces)?

YesNo

If yes, what is it based on? IBM solutionSplunkElasticsearch ('ELK')HadoopOther

Additional details:

IBM Transaction Analysis Workbench for z/OS forms a key part of the proposed solution. Please select from the following list of workbench features that you might find useful in your organization.

Ability to automate workflows for selecting and extracting log files for analysisAbility to extract, transform, and load (ETL) mainframe operational data to big data platformsAbility to provide an interface for helpdesk to raise issues and drive these workflowsAbility to analyse CICS Aux traceInteractive log analysis (ISPF dialog) for CICS, IMS, DB2, MQ, WAS, SYSLOG

What is your preferred delivery timeline for the proposed solution?

Within three (3) monthsWithin six (6) monthsWithin a yearWithin two yearsOther

If there is any additional information you would like to include, please write it in the space provided.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.