Episode 11 "XI-Ting"

Here are the show notes for Episode 11 "XI-Ting". The show is called "XI-Ting" because, well, it is episode #11 and we had one shot at the Roman numeral to use and took it. 

Mainframe

Our "Mainframe" topic was Marna's experience in trying out the z/OSMF Workflow Editor. The z/OSMF Workflow Editor is a new function in z/OSMF to create your own Workflow, or change an existing Workflow. The Workflow Editor is available on z/OSMF V2.1 in PTF UI43814 and on z/OSMF V2.2 in PTF UI42847.

• "Folders" for information you need to provide: Metadata, Variables, Steps, ...
• You will always have a correctly produced Workflow definition file. Much easier than the old way (Marna used Notepad++ and kept interating).
• Your first Workflow will probably use a "template" (file like JCL, script, or exec in a step) that you want to drive. You will probably have "variables" (customized values in that template) that you want the Workflow user to specify. Always make sure you associate your variables with the steps! Otherwise they won't coordinate together.
• The open source Apache Velocity Engine is used for variable substitution and conditional directives.
• There is a very small checkbox for resolving variable substitution in the Workflow Editor. Don't forget to check it if you are using variables!
• Remember to remove the first "dummy" step when creating a Workflow from scratch. You don't need it.

Performance

Martin had a special guest for a conversation on zHyperLinks, Anna Shugol, IBM Mainframe Technical Specialist. Martin and Anna talked about a Statement of Direction that was released at the beginning of 2017. 

This topic is very important because it is an innovative new IBM I/O and Storage technology to improve performance for DB2-centric applications. This is designed to provide dramatic improvements in I/O latency, and change the I/O paradigm. It complements existing technology, such as Hiper Performance FICON and using large DB2 buffer pools. zHyperlinks is intended to provide short distance (150 meters between the CEC and the storage unit) point-to-point improvements, which are expected to support 8GBs (gigabytes per second) with new protocols.

• Today, there is I/O to the Coupling Facility, and FICON to disk and tape and times associated with those. zHyperlinks is planned to support improvements in the connect and pend times, with Sync I/O wait times being the dominant DB2 components helped with zHyperlinks.
• The IBM Storage device required for this solution will be a minimum of DS8880, with up to 16 zHyperLinks being able to be connected.
• The minimum z/OS and DB2 levels will be provided later.

Topics

Our podcast "Topics" topic has been sub-titled "Some Assembly Required" ; Not the HLASM that mainframers might think that relates to, but actually something in the same vein. Marna's 14-yr old son who is interested in hardware has just built his first personal computer. Marna and Martin talk about how that first computer has a lot in common with a mainframe.

Contacting Us

You can reach Marna on Twitter as mwalle and by email.

You can reach Martin on Twitter as martinpacker and by email and blogs at blog.