Overview

This course gives technical support personnel in a z/OS installation a clear understanding of the tasks involved in effective performance management. It covers conceptual performance issues as well as the significant technical considerations, such as parameters and I/O configurations.<br><br>The course also provides a comprehensive overview of the Workload Manager functions. All the key features are described during this course. The course will also include a number of practical online exercises.<br>As well as covering conceptual performance issues the course concentrates on the significant technical considerations of I/O tuning.<br><br>This course is available 'on demand' (minimum 2 students) for public presentations or for one-company, on-site presentations.
Read more

Prerequisites

To benefit from this course, participants need familiarity with z/OS internal operations. This prerequisite can be met by completing the courses 'z/OS System Fundamentals Workshop - Part 1 and z/OS System Fundamentals Workshop - Part 2.
Read more

Delegates will learn how to

  • explain system performance requirements
  • explain the role of a performance person
  • apply basic MVS tuning
  • explain the important WLM considerations
  • evaluate a WLM setup
  • utilise RMF reports to tune MVS
  • define service policies, service classes and classification rules
  • describe the mechanisms for managing and balancing any workload in a WLMPlex
  • explain the implications of using Workload Managed Batch and Resource Affinity Scheduling
  • utilize the latest technology to optimise I/O performance
  • decide on what to monitor
  • utilise RMF to tune MVS I/O.
Read more

Outline

What is Performance?

What is performance?; the performance issues; performance related activities; performance management; a transaction; transaction delay time components; measuring delays; MVS tuning and the Systems Programmer; three kinds of tuning; corrective tuning; preventive tuning; negative tuning; knowing your system.

z/OS Data-In-Memory

Data spaces and hiperspaces in MVS; Data Space & Hiperspace use in MVS; VLF, LLA, DLF and Hiperbatch; VLF and DLF; what is VLF?; setting up VLF; VLF macros; example of VLF parameters; what is LLA?; running LLA in MVS; LLA module staging; example of LLA parameters; Data Lookaside Facility and Hiperbatch; using DLF and Hiperbatch; the DLF Connect/Disconnect exit; Coupling Facility exploitation; IBM software that uses Coupling Facility; VSAM Record Level Sharing; CICS VSAM file accessing applications.

Input/Output Processing

Why I/O processing?; what is I/O?; MVS support for I/O processing software; MVS and I/O processing; Application I/O; the application program; the DD statement; going to the Access Method; the Access Method; getting the channel program started; EXCP - an IOS Driver; IOS 'Front End'; actually starting the I/O; the I/O engine at work; the Channel Sub-System (CSS); Hardware System Area (HSA); "The I/O Farm"; the I/O Interrupt; IOS Post processing; back to the Access Method; the I/O process from A to Z; starting the I/O; going back from starting the I/O; I/O complete; caching concepts; Read Hit; Write commands; Write Hit; Read Miss; Write Miss; cache modes; review questions - Input/Output processing.

Hardware I/O Performance

What is FICON?; FICON features; System attachment considerations; FICON guidelines; the IOSQ time problem; overcoming restrictions; multiple allegiance and Parallel Access Volumes; PAV and cache; PAV RMF support; managing PAVs; what are PAV limitations?; Intelligent Resource Director (IRD); IRD LPAR CPU management; IRD LPAR CPU management (2); Dynamic Channel Path Management (DCM); DCM requirements; DCM definitions and concepts; configuring DCM; RMF Channel Path Activity report; DCM and the I/O queueing report; I/O priority prior to IRD; I/O priority queuing; WLM I/O priority management; UCB & DASD CU I/O priority; CSS I/O priority; enabling Channel Subsystem Priority Queuing; review questions.

RMF Reports for I/O

Resource Measurement Facility; CACHE - Cache Subsystem Activity reports; CHAN - Channel Path Activity report; DEVICE - device activity report; Monitor I shared DASD; Monitor I shared tape activity report; FCD - FICON director activity report; IOQ - I/O queuing activity report (1); PAGESP -Page/Swap data set activity report; PAGING - Paging activity reports; VSAM RLS activity by storage class; VSAM RLS activity by data set; RMF I/O performance exercise.

Workload Management Overview

The Workload Manager (WLM); WLM Goal Mode and Parmlib members; WLM concepts; Service Policies; Multi-system workload management; Workload reporting; Building the service definition; Service Policy; Creating workloads; Creating resource groups; Creating service classes; Goal types; Creating Service Classes; IBM specified subsystems; Work qualifiers; Subsystems and work qualifiers; Classification Groups; System-provided Service Classes; Defining service policy overrides; Specifying overriding Goals for a Service Class; The Service Definition; Classification rules for subsystems; Implementing WLM; Create performance objectives; Manuals on WLM.

How WLM works

WLM components; WLM Considerations; Dispatchable Units (DUs); SRB types & priorities; SRB scheduling with IEAMSCHD; SRB Enclaves; Dispatcher queues; Performance Index; Donor and receiver determination; Dispatching Priority Control; Dispatching Priority Assignment; INITTMP; Swap control; Work Requests to WLM; Server Topology; Monitoring environment - CICS & IMS; Enclave management; DASD I/O priority management; Sysplex I/O Priority Management; Parallel Access Volumes (PAV); Policy Adjustment Function; Resource Adjustment Function; Workload management services.

Workload Manager Applications

TSO workloads; Emergency TSO Service Class; WLM Batch Initiators; Scheduling Environment; WLM or JES Initiators?; Batch workloadsBatch workload Goals; Special Service Classes; STC default Service Classes; STC Service Class considerations; SYSSTC Service Class; DB2 Address Spaces; DDF enclaves; Classification rules for DDF; DDF Goal types; DB2 Stored Procedures; Sysplex Query Parallelism; CICS - Types of Goals; CICS Region Management Goal; CICS Transaction Management Goal; Transaction goal rules; Unix System Services (USS); Why USS uses WLM; UNIX Services fork and spawn function calls; USS Service Classes; USS Classification rules; Definitions for OMVS subsystem type work.

Understanding RMF Reports

Resource Measurement Facility; SMF Records; Monitor II; Monitor III; Postprocessor Reports; Workload activity report reporting options; Workload activity report - Goal mode; RMF monitor I service class period report Goal mode; Monitor I workload group and service class period report; CACHE - Cache subsystem summary report; CHAN - Channel path activity report; DEVICE - Device activity report; Monitor I shared DASD activity; Monitor I shared tape activity report; FCD - FICON Director activity report; IOQ - I/O Queuing activity report ; HFS - Hierarchical File System global statistics report; HFS - Hierarchical File System statistics report ; OMVS - OMVS kernel activity report; PAGESP -Page/Swap data set activity report; PAGING - Paging Activity report; VSAM RLS activity by storage class; VSAM RLS activity by data set.

zFS Performance

USS workloads; USS & VLF; environmental variables; cache sizes; resource limit management; PARMLIB issues; monitoring USS; USS performance tools

Read more

Why choose QA

Dates & Locations

Frequently asked questions

See all of our FAQs

How can I create an account on myQA.com?

There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.

If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".

If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.

Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.

How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?

Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.

We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting (more details in the link below) to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.

Learn more about our Virtual Classrooms.

How do QA’s online courses work?

QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.

All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

Learn more about QA’s online courses.

When will I receive my joining instructions?

Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.

When will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

Contact Us

Please contact us for more information