EADM - Easy Analyze DASD Mainframe

EADM is a simple and innovative solution that monitors z/OS DASD performance and I/O behaviour.

Every day, EADM automatically analyzes disk performance and Workload manager metrics from RMF data. EADM produces user friendly dashboards specially designed for the z/OS storage team to help them implement a proactive performance management strategy.

Disk storage is one of the largest line items in modern data centres. Maintaining fast and reliable access to enterprise data is essential. Properly monitoring an ever more complex z/OS infrastructure can be challenging because many enterprises simply lack the resources to do so on a regular basis. While a single z13 mainframe CPU can process over one hundred million transactions per hour, daily changes in hardware and software configuration create availability risks and can jeopardize SLAs.

Previously there was a very simple synergy between the IBM mainframe and its disk I/O subsystem (DASD). There was simply a direct connection between the mainframe and the physical disk (3390). Over the years, major improvements in DASD subsystems added many layers of technology (Cache, Memory, FICON Channels, RAID Storage, Proprietary Microcode, etc.).

From a DASD subsystem viewpoint, there is no longer an obvious one-to-one direct connection. An increasing number of technological advances, both microcode and hardware (Memory, Fibre Channel, Function Assist Processing, etc.) have reduced the requirement for accessing the data directly from the physical device. Modern mainframe incorporates multiple cache level CPU chips (Relative Nest Intensity), substantial processor memory resources, high-bandwidth Fibre Channel subsystems (FICON, zHPF) and a hierarchy of DASD memory (SSD/Flash, Cache).

With this new technology, it’s not uncommon to consider an I/O that requires a physical device access as a problem!

This new technology introduces greater complexities in managing disks I/O subsystem. Performance Analyst must now gather meaningful information from an ever-increasing amount of performance data.

EADM - Easy Analyze DASD Mainframe

EADM is an automated Storage Performance Management tool for z/OS DASD I/O Subsystem. It is specially designed for z/OS mainframe Storage Managers, Systems Engineers, Service Managers and Capacity/Performance Analysts. EADM significantly reduces time spent on searching for I/O incidents. EADM has three main objectives:

• Reduce time required for analyzing DASD performances
• Optimize DASD performance
• Simplify DASD management and consolidate internal mainframe skills

Real time monitoring does not allow for in-depth detection of bottlenecks and system glitches that impact performance. Often, when an alert is issued, the mainframe availability has already been disrupted. Traditional storage performance tools are no longer adequate to provide pertinent and predictive information, especially when dealing with large complex LPAR configurations.

EADM performs an automated and intelligent daily health check of the entire mainframe disk I/O subsystem. EADM automatically delivers customize user friendly reports via e-mail. Operations and performance analysts are alerted as soon as performance variances occur, typically in minutes.

EADM User Interface

EADM produces a number of meaningful reports allowing z/OS analysts to effectively manage the DASD I/O subsystem.

Incorporating meaningful performance indicators, with drill-down and zoom-in ability, storage analysts can easily determine if the problem is temporary, permanent, local or global. Using EADM, technical analysts can efficiently manage the ever increasingly complex DASD environment. The information contained in the EADM reports eases communications with internal business teams and external suppliers alike.

Daily I/O Profile Summary shows components I/O operations for easy identification of performance issues

EADM automatically analyzes RMF/CMF data, retaining pertinent data necessary to create an intelligent repository of I/O and storage behaviour necessary for optimal performance and capacity planning. EADM allows z/OS analysts to make the right decisions, take proactive action, reduce service outage risks and optimize the cost of ownership (TCO).

Monthly I/O Workload (Online and Batch) showing I/O activity and response time for an LPAR group

EADM Features

• Automatic analysis of Sysplex wide workload I/O response times (Online and Batch)
• Systematic intelligent alerts of early performance variances with exact occurrence time indicators
• Identification of I/O performance issues for DASD volume and data set level granularity
• Performance trending at DFSMS Storage Group, Subsystem LCU and DASD volume level
• Simulations preventing data loss and forecast Data Centre failover scenarios (PPRC)
• WLM indicators to determine exactly the I/O subsystem performances
• Full FICON channels and zHPF analysis, incorporating typical I/O throughput indicators
• HyperPAV and associated LCU indicators to balance volumes and optimize PAV alias allocation
• Performance monitoring and balancing via intelligent LCU, SSID and I/O analytics
• DASD capacity usage comparing assigned, allocated and actual disk utilization
• EADM supports multiple LPAR and complex CPC/LPAR configurations

Benefits

Maintaining a well-tuned z/OS disk subsystem is essential for in today’s ever-increasing storage requirements of mission critical business applications. A poorly performing I/O subsystem generates unnecessary CPU overhead causing potential TCO and business impacts. While z/OS servers and its underlying DASD I/O subsystem can compensate for application code or data placement issues, the fundamental concept of analyzing and tuning the I/O subsystem remains. EADM delivers the following benefits:

• Eradication of I/O bottlenecks, increasing application Quality of Service (Response Time)
• Maintain Mission-Critical business application SLAs
• Short-term EADM ROI (typically within 3 months)
• Storage analyst’s productivity gains (less time analyzing I/O subsystem issues)
• Increased knowledge of in-house storage Analysts
• Centralization of DASD I/O subsystem performance and capacity data
• Ensure production performance is not impacted by disk response time (Db2, On-Line)
• Seamless z/OS interoperability (plug-and-play compatibility)
• Intelligent analytics simplifies forecasting for optimal TCO
• Smart reporting for better communications with IT divisions, suppliers and partners
• Elimination of dedicated experts required to manage z/OS DASD I/O subsystem
• TCO optimization reduces CPU overhead caused by unnecessary I/O

EADM significantly reduces the time spent on finding solutions related to I/O incidents. Detailed reports that previously took two days to prepare are now created in only two minutes.

Contact us

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