Smart Analytics Optimizer : some documentation

In my last post I already mentioned a presentation on the Smart Analytics Optimizer. As it has become available as of November 19, 2010, I thought I might as well gather some more information on the topic.

You can always start with the IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer page, the announcement and its brochure.

Here are a couple of presentations on the subject

• IBM Smart Analytics optimizer by Hendrik de Smet
• IBM Smart Analytics optimizer for DB2 for z/OS by Willie Favero (Share presentation)
  
• IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer for DB2 for z/OS , V1.1 Beta Experiences by William Schray (Share presentation)

There are no specific Redbooks for the moment on Smart Analytics Optimizer (correct me if I'm wrong), but here's a Redguide with a comprehensive overview of the Smart Analytics Optimizer : 'Using IBM System z As the Foundation for Your Information Management Architecture', starting at page 37.

I also found some manuals at the Publication Center

• IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer for DB2 for z/OS, V1.1 Getting Started (GH12-6953-00)
• IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer for DB2 for z/OS, V1.1 Installation Guide (SH12-6916-00)
• IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer for DB2 for z/OS, V1.1 Stored Procedures and Messages Reference (SH12-6917-00)
• IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer Studio V1.1, User's Guide (SH12-6919-00)

As this is the first optimizer for the zBX, I'm really curious how it will be received by our customers. Any comments are welcome of course !

GSE z/OS Working Group Presentations and ITSO

Last week we had our last GSE z/OS Working Group meeting for 2010 at RealDolmen. You can now download the .pdfs of the presentations

• IBM Smart Analytics optimizer by hendrik de Smet
• Detecting Soft Failures Using z/OS PFA (Predictive Failure Analysis) by Jan Tits
• DS8800 by Jacques Glorieux
• Recent evolutions in mainframe related storage by Walter Casteels
• z10 and zEnterprise CPU Measurement Facility by Jean-Paul Goemaere

Also mentioned during the meeting were the upcoming ITSO sessions in December.

06/12/2010 - ITSOZ4BE
IBM zEnterprise System Technical Update
07/12/2010 - ITSOZ3BE
IBM zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager Overview
08/12/2010 - ITSOZ1BE
z/OS Version 1 Release 12 Technical Update
09/12/2010 - ITSOZ2BE
Parallel Sysplex Update and High Availability Topics
10/12/2010 - ITSOZ5BE
z/OS Networking Technologies Update

IBM Announcement : Price Changes on IBM DB2 UDB for z/OS V8

This week there was an announcement about price changes (read : increases) for DB2 UDB for z/OS V8 and related products. The title of the announcement sums up all the products : 'Price Changes on IBM DB2 UDB for z/OS V8, IBM DB2 UDB for z/OS-QMF Distributed Edition V8, IBM DB2 UDB for z/OS-Net Search Extender V8 and IBM DB2 for z/OS Value Unit Edition Software Program Products (ZA10-1062)'

The reason for the price increase (and I summarize) is mainly that DB2 V8 has been around now for more than 8 years and that prices haven't significantly changed during that period allthough lots of functionalities (hence cost reductions) have been added. And "(...) providing the highest quality support on an old version drives additional service costs".

As of April 1, 2011 people still on DB2 V8 will see a price increase with a maximum of 10% for DB2 V8, QMF Distributed edition and DB2 Net Search Extender in all European countries. IBM DB2 UDB for z/OS V8 VUE S&S will have an even higher increase.

I know there's still some time but customers still on DB2 V8 should consider upgrading to DB2 9 or DB2 10 (skip-level migration possible) as DB2 V8 will be end-of-service on April 30, 2012.

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers !

Mainframe Executive November/December issue

It's been roughly four months since the announcement of the zEnterprise and Mainframe Executive (Nov/Dec issue) is putting it into perspective with some articles which are worth your attention. First of all there's 'Behind the Scenes: The Making of IBM’s New Mainframe/Blade Hybrid' where IBM Fellow Jeff Frey gives us a an insight of how the idea for zEnterprise came to life and how people within and outside of IBM needed to be convinced about it.

Next there's 'zEnterprise’s zManager-Tivoli Combination Presents a Fresh Approach to Resource Optimization' elaborating on the zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager and how it relates to the already existing IBM Systems Director.

Another article 'IBM’s zEnterprise Delivers Game-Changing Pricing' focuses not only on software pricing (AWLC, remember) but also on hardware pricing. Mind you, the prices are US prices and may vary in other countries. But I think the overall message remains the same.

You see, reasons enough to have a look at this issue of Mainframe Executive. By the way, you can download to .pdf version over here.

DS8700 : z/OS Distributed Data Backup Redpaper

A couple of months ago I wrote about z/OS Distributed Data Backup (DDB). As an addition to that, there's now a redpaper on the subject : 'IBM System Storage DS8000: z/OS Distributed Data Backup'.

It describes z/OS DDB and FDRSOS (which, by the way, stands for 'Saveguard Open Storage) and how FB logical volumes can be accessed from within z/OS :

"When the zDDB LIC feature key is installed and enabled and a volume group type specifies either FICON or ESCON interfaces, this volume group has implicit access to all FB logical volumes that are configured in addition to all CKD volumes specified in the volume group. Then, using the appropriate software, a z/OS host can perform backup and restore functions for FB logical volumes configured on a storage facility image for open systems hosts".

It also explains how you have to configure such FBA volumes in HCD and further steps to execute in order to use z/OS DDB and FDRSOS. The authors also give some own experiences on using this solution.

If you need more information, you can find a Share (Boston) presentation on FDRSOS over here.

One last remark : it's no coincidence that the title of this post still indicates DS8700. For the moment DS8800 is not yet supporting z/OS Distributed Data Backup.

More presentations and webcasts on software and software pricing

Interested in software presentations from the last two years about Tivoli, Omegamon, DB2, Websphere, IMS . . . ? Here's a link for you : IBM software for System z - Teleconferences and Webcasts. Normally you will have to register first, but it's really worh your while as most presentations also come with the audio recording.

Still, not enough ? Well @craigmullins (yes, twitter again) pointed me to these two vWLC presentations about AutoSoftCapping (wmv, pdf) and SoftCapping to reduce your monthly software bill (wmv, pdf). Well actually they both start with some explanation on vWLC pricing and then continue with an explanation of AutoSoftCapping. This is a commercial product by a company called softwareonz. I have absolutely no relation to this company whatsoever but still, some of you might be interested in the product. More info and a FAQ can be found over here.

Recent z/VSE presentations

If you're interested in z/VSE and you want to stay tuned about new presentations, announcements or other interesting items, you might want to follow z/VSE on Twitter. That's how I came across these presentations. As it's very hard to follow everything you're interested in, you might as well carefully choose some sources that will give you this information. That's what I do with Tweetdeck and FeedDemon, two desktop applications. The first one gathers all the tweets (or a selection of tweets) I'm following, the other one collects all feeds of blogs I'm following. No more looking around at several places, it's all there without even having to start up your browser. But of course you all know that by know, or else, you should.

But back to our Topic. In October there was a Technical University in Boston and all z/VSE presentations are gathered at the Technical Conference page of the z/VSE documentation pages.

Some of the presentations :

	z/VSE Trends and Directions - incl. Software Pricing and zEnterprise System (1.8MB) - Klaus Goebel, IBM
	z/VSE Performance Update (1.2MB) Ingo Franzki, IBM
	z/VSE Tools Overview and Update (3.6MB) Ingo Franzki, IBM
	10 Years for the most successful partnership: z/VSE and Linux on System z (8.7MB) - Wilhelm Mild, IBM
	Linux on System z - the Enterprise hub (6.3MB) Wilhelm Mild, IBM
	z/VSE Applications accessing DB2 on Linux on System z (4.8MB) Wilhelm Mild, IBM
	Disaster Scenarios and Backup procedures for z/VSE, z/VM and Linux on System z (3.7MB) - Wilhelm Mild, IBM
	WebSphere MQ for z/VSE (2.8MB) Wilhelm Mild, IBM
	Workshop: Rational Developer for System z for z/VSE Development (1.6MB) Ingo Franzki,IBM and Wilhelm Mild, IBM

And if you page down a bit, there's also some presentations from an earlier Technical University at Berlin in May 2010.

As I always say : do check them out !