Critical Path Software Tuning Methodology

Critical Path Software Tuning Methodology:

CPSI Group has developed a proprietary software tool to analyze mainframe Data Sets. This automated tool generates a series of reports, which describe in detail those data sets that are not optimized. This lack of optimization often produces a dramatic slowdown in performance with an associated increase in operating costs.

The analysis is non-intrusive and only requires easily accessible IBM VSAM/CICS statistics and JES Logs to begin an in-depth analysis. This data is sent to an expert system, which analyzes each data set in order to identify 'problem' data sets. The system performs an average of 1,500 calculations per file to generate the appropriate procedures to fix the problem. This tool is based on a knowledge database, which contains over 100M+ system statistics gathered from hundreds of client systems over the past 20 years.

Knowledge gained from software vendors, performance experts, IBM and consultants from around the world has been combined into a suite of mathematical relationships to form this unique analytical tool. It custom builds tuning modules based upon a client's application usage and the hardware configuration it resides on. It then uses these modules to analyze the application(s) to achieve an optimum environment. The model will analyze correct current tuning procedures, as well as what tuning techniques may be missing from the application data flow.

Other tuning and performance packages generally possess a more generic design in order that they can be quickly installed on all computers. This approach invariably leads to sub-optimal conclusions. The unique nature of this tool is its ability to capture and access performance statistics from hundreds of companies. The 100million+ performance statistics that reside in the knowledge database put it on a level beyond those available to other performance tuning experts.

The tool is targeted to analyze application software, which operate within VSAM, DB2, CICS and IMS environments. It includes a built-in DASD analyzer, and has approximately 75 internal analytical performance programs, which look at specific statistical information from the following sources:

● File Usage
● Listcats
● Proc Lib Information

● Job Lib Information
● SMF/RMF Information
● Sysout JCL

The statistics will include such measurements as

File sizes
File placement
All VSAM options
CI and CA sizes
BUFND
BUFNI
On-line update requests
Add/Delete/Browse
Waits-on-string
Number of channels

Channel Utilization
Program fetches
Program usage counts
PPTs/FCTs/PCTs/TCTs
Compile options
Link options
Hardware model
Volumes of DASD
Operating system
DASD utilization

Terminal response times
Number of terminals
Partition size

Region size

Blocking factors
Core sort sizes
Megs of real memory
MIP ratings

Numerous other statistics

Several hundred ratios are formed from these statistics and inserted into a spreadsheet. Millions of iterations are processed to compare corresponding client performance statistics with an already tuned client's statistics deemed to be 'best in class'. The power of this approach is based upon the iterative processing of hundreds of "what-if" scenarios in order to customize a performance model, which is based specifically upon an application's usage and the firm's computer configuration. The final result will produce a series of reports with detailed instructions on which files require improvement and what must be done to improve them.

A typical client engagement will include the following:

● Dynamic adjustment of settings for file usage
● File-by-file comparison to an expert database
● Removal of obsolete options/parameters
● Calculation of better free space settings on a file-by-file basis
● Reduction of multiple extents
● Buffer usage improvement
● Perform 1,500 calculations per file
● Shorten batch windows
● Improve Cache Controllers
● Review of the following:

▪ IMS/DB/DC
▪ DB2 & CICS
▪ System files
▪ IDMS drivers
▪ ADABAS
▪ VSAM
▪ TMON

▪ Omegamon
▪ Cache Controllers
▪ RMF
▪ SMF
▪ Catalogs
▪ Buffering Tool

▪ Etc.

The CPSI Group has never failed to obtain savings and improve performance. Their proprietary software far exceeds the capabilities of other tuning software solutions through its instruction on what a client is not doing to improve performance rather than just analyzing what they are doing. We are not aware of any equivalent competitive service on the market today.

Critical Path Software, Inc.