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Systems Management
 
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
ConicIT 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.
DQL 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.
IKAN ALM 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.
iMatch 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.
iSolve 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.
PerfTechPro for zOS 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.
QuickSelect Db2 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.
SENTINEL 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.
zIRIS 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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