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Improving XCOM Data Transport transfers with TLSv1.3

By Austin Willoughby
Improving XCOM Data Transport transfers with TLSv1.3 You can use a network service proxy to incorporate improved TLS features into your XCOM Data Transport transfers. This blog will show an example of using XCOM Data Transport between z/OS and Linux (RHEL 8.6) to create transfers that are secured between the systems using TLSv1.3. While the example focuses on Linux transfers, the same concepts may be applied to other environments (e.g. Windows) where you have a TLSv1.3 capable network service proxy. Sending data to z/OS Your XCOM Data Transport z/OS started task will be the server in this first scenario, listening for suitable remote connections. ...
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Advanced Authentication Mainframe (AAM) with ACF2

By Jasdeep Singh
Advanced Authentication Mainframe (AAM) with ACF2 My first blog about Demystifying ACF2 provided an overview of ACF2. Moving forward, I am going to select different aspects of ACF2 based on the customer interest. In this blog, I focus on Advanced Authentication Mainframe (AAM) . AAM takes security to the next level by verifying the identity of users who seek access to z/OS to prevent data breaches and to address compliance requirements. ACF2 version 16.0 supports AAM. It is available to all ACF2 licensed customers at no additional cost. The following Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) capabilities are available for z/OS application logon processing for ...
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Demystifying ACF2

By Jasdeep Singh
“The best way to learn is to teach” – Latin quote As a new member of ACF2 support team who joined Broadcom around eight months ago, I am following this well-known quote daily. I am learning about the ACF2 world, the most common areas where problems occur and how to troubleshoot as I strengthen myself in my role. We all know the robust nature of the mainframe and that mission-critical applications rely on it. Protecting these resources and data is a key focal point for all businesses using mainframes. We have all read the security breach news and we see the acceleration and innovations in threats today, right? That’s where the external security products ...
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NEW: CA Database Analyzer™ for Db2 for z/OS Enhanced with Support for LISTDEF for Multiple Action Procedures and Utility Codes

By Jakub Hofman
We are pleased to announce that CA Database Analyzer™ for DB2 for z/OS now supports the use of LISTDEF to generate JCL to execute multiple utilities in the order that you specify. Each utility uses one or more steps in the generated action JCL to process the specified list (or lists) of objects. Previously, you could only select one utility code and tie one action procedure to an extract procedure to take advantage of LISTDEF statements. Now, you can select multiple utility codes in one action procedure, or can tie multiple action procedures (that include multiple utility codes) to an extract procedure. The Db2 Image Copy (IC), REORG (RO), and RUNSTATS (RS) ...
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New version of Smart/RESTART

By Jan Marek
Our team is excited to announce that Smart/RESTART version 20.0 is now publicly available. Relational Architects International (RAI) joined Broadcom Mainframe Software Division on December 17, 2020. RAI’s premier technology, nowadays called Smart/RESTART, is applicable across all industries and mainframe environments where Db2 or IMS applications are used. Customers continue to face vanishing batch windows and stringent SLA requirements. Our new solution improves operations efficiency and financial performance for the business. It enables faster transaction throughput by eliminating the need for applications to back out and redo successfully processed ...
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NEW: CA Database Analyzer™ for Db2 for z/OS Enhanced with Support for LISTDEF in Image Copy Action JCL

By Jakub Hofman
We are pleased to announce that CA Database Analyzer™ for DB2 for z/OS now supports the use of LISTDEF to execute Image Copy (IC) against a list of objects in one step. Previously, you could only execute RUNSTATS against the objects in a LISTDEF in one step. A new model member (MJULDIC) is provided to create action JCL to execute Image Copy with a LISTDEF statement. You can use the LISTDEF_STEP_LIMIT parameter in the PDA parmlib member or model members to control the number of objects that are processed per step. LISTDEF statements allow for greater concurrency during executions. PTF that unlocks LISTDEF to execute Image Copy feature is LU00890. In case you ...
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NEW: CA Log Analyzer Gains I/O Saving Option

By Jakub Hofman
We are pleased to announce that we released new Bypass Extract feature in CA Log Analyzer for Db2 for z/OS (PLA) that lets you avoid this unnecessary reading and writing. Thus, you save I/O operations, CPU, and Elapsed Time. PLA uses the extract file to store filtered data from the Db2 log. The extract file is a pair of datasets. You can use permanent datasets to generate different reports over the same log range or for future auditing purposes (the extract file is much smaller than Db2 log, since it contains required log data only). Often, you do not need the extract file and you are using temporal datasets. But PLA still writes all the filtered data into the ...
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Introduction CA IDMS® and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

By Sheila Miller
Written by John Siraco, CA IDMS Engineering Manager Over the last few months, we received several inquiries asking for updated information about the utilization of zIIP processors within the CA IDMS® environment. This post provides a brief history of zIIP processing in CA IDMS and updated information for the current CA IDMS Version 19.0 delivery. IBM introduced the zIIP (system Z Integrated Information Processor) in 2006. IBM hardware purchase costs for the zIIP processors are significantly lower than the corresponding charges for GP (General Purpose) processors. More importantly to the customer, zIIP processors are not included in the billable processing ...
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NEW: CA Database Analyzer™ for Db2 for z/OS Enhanced with Capture Threshold Values for Action Procedures

By Jakub Hofman
CA Database Analyzer now gives you the ability to capture the threshold (condition) values of database objects that are selected for actions based on the conditions in action procedures tied to an extract procedure with Real Time Object Selection (RTOS). Previously, you could only capture threshold values for objects selected by extract procedures. Now, you can capture threshold values that trigger action procedures tied to an extract procedure. You can generate a CTV report of the condition values that are met by your RTOS extract procedures and the condition values that are met by action procedures tied to extract procedures. You can then tune your selection ...
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Joining the Broadcom Mainframe Community!

By Michael Daubman
Hello Community! I would like to briefly take an opportunity to introduce myself to the broader Broadcom Mainframe community. My name is Michael Daubman and I’ve just joined the Broadcom facility at the very end of 2020. I’ve joined the team a senior manager of Product Management in the Mainframe division. The team I’m a part of includes product owners for a variety of core mainframe products including CA1, CA7, IDMS, Datacom, CA GEN, Easytrieve, MICS, XCOM and number of other products that enterprises large and small rely on. With 2021 well underway, I wanted to take a moment to talk through some of the goals and themes we’re embracing as a ...
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NEW: CA Fast Unload® for DB2 for z/OS Supports zIIP for Unload Data from Versioned Tables

By Jakub Hofman
CA Fast Unload® for DB2 for z/OS now supports the use of the IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) when you unload data from versioned tables. Previously, zIIP support was not available for unloads from rows in multiple tablespace versions. Now, zIIP support is provided for versioned tables. Offloading zIIP-eligible workloads to zIIP processors can reduce the processing load on your general CPUs. zIIP functionality is enabled by default. Use the zIIP keyword in the SYSIN DD or in hlq .CDBAPARM(PFU) to control zIIP processing. PFT: LU00216
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NEW: Support for LISTDEF in RUNSTATS Action JCL

By Jakub Hofman
Support for LISTDEF in RUNSTATS Action CA Database Analyzer™ for DB2 for z/OS now supports the use of LISTDEF to execute RUNSTATS against a list of objects in one step. The generated action JCL contains a LIST keyword followed by the LISTDEF statement for each RUNSTATS control statement. A new model member (MJULDRS) and new automatic symbolics are provided to create action JCL to execute RUNSTATS on the objects defined in a LISTDEF. You can use LISTDEF to allow for greater concurrency during executions. To take advantage of this feature, specify U (Update) in the Job Generation Parms field on the Build Extract Procedures panel, then specify Y (Yes) in the Order ...
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NEW: CA Fast Unload® for DB2 for z/OS Supports zIIP for Unload from Image Copies

By Jakub Hofman
CA Fast Unload® for DB2 for z/OS now supports the use of the IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) when you unload data from image copies. Previously, zIIP support was only available for INPUT-FORMAT TABLE. Now, zIIP support is provided for all INPUT-FORMAT values. Offloading zIIP-eligible workloads to zIIP processors can reduce the processing load on your general CPUs. We yielded good performance gains in controlled lab environment, however your results may vary based on many factors such as z/OS environment, application workload and others. zIIP functionality is enabled by default. Use the zIIP keyword in the SYSIN DD or in hlq.CDBAPARM(PFU) ...
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NEW: CA Fast Load for DB2 for z/OS Supports zIIP for OUTPUT-CONTROL ALL and REORG

By Jakub Hofman
We are pleased to announce that we further enhanced CA Fast Load for DB2 for z/OS and it now supports the use of the IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) when you specify OUTPUT-CONTROL ALL and OUTPUT-CONTROL REORG. Previously, zIIP support was only available for OUTPUT-FORMAT BUILD. Now, zIIP support is provided for all OUTPUT-CONTROL values. Offloading zIIP-eligible workloads to zIIP processors can reduce the processing load on your general CPUs. zIIP functionality is enabled by default. Use the zIIP keyword in the SYSIN DD or the PFL-ZIIP parameter in hlq .CDBAPARM(UTIL) to control zIIP processing. PTF needed: SO16089, SO16090
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Measuring CA Datacom® Symmetrical Multiprocessing and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

By Kevin Shuma
Measuring CA Datacom® Symmetrical Multiprocessing and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) By Kevin Shuma – November 2020 In earlier posts (Introduction to CA Datacom® and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) and Understanding CA Datacom® Symmetrical Multiprocessing and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)), we discussed the delivery of the IBM zIIP processor and its exploitation in the CA Datacom Multi-User facility (MUF) using Symmetric Multiprocessing. In this post, we discuss various ways that you can collect statistics on zIIP use in the MUF. There are two basic ways to measure zIIP usage within the MUF ...
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Release of CA Mainframe Resource Intelligence Db2 for z/OS Report

By Jakub Hofman
What is Solutions Assessments – Db2 for z/OS Report? Mainframe shops (database administrators, application developers, system programmers, storage administrators, and management) often struggle to understand the value of their investment in IBM® Db2 for z/OS and related applications. Db2 for z/OS evolves quickly, leveraging continuous delivery, and it is critical to any business to stay current on new features and functions. To address these concerns, CA MRI has a fast and easy to implement solution for you: the Solutions Assessment – Db2 for z/OS Report. What information does it provide? As the latest addition to the CA MRI catalog, Solutions Assessments ...
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Understanding CA Datacom® Symmetrical Multiprocessing and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

By Kevin Shuma
By Kevin Shuma – October 27, 2020 In an earlier post, Introduction to CA Datacom® and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP), we discussed the delivery of the IBM zIIP processor and its exploitation in the CA Datacom environment. In that post, we covered zIIP exploitation and its implementation through the use of the Symmetrical Multiprocessing (SMP) capabilities available in the CA Datacom Multi-User facility (MUF). In this post, we discuss in detail the use of SMP capabilities including the use of WLM SRB tasks to offload eligible database workload to zIIP processors. In the mid-1990s, CMOS technologies changed the mainframe forever by ...
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Introduction CA Datacom® and the IBM z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

By Sheila Miller
By Kevin Shuma – October 1, 2020 Over the last few months, we received several inquiries asking for updated information about the utilization of zIIP processors within the CA Datacom® environment. This post provides a brief history of zIIP processing in CA Datacom and updated information for the current CA Datacom Version 15.1 delivery. IBM introduced the zIIP (system Z Integrated Information Processor) in 2006. IBM hardware purchase costs for the zIIP processors are significantly lower than the corresponding charges for GP (General Purpose) processors. More importantly to the customer, zIIP processors are not included in the billable processing power, ...
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RE:Frame Podcast Episode 3: Mainframe DevOps with Phil Gineo

By Lenn Thompson
Featuring: @Philip Gineo , senior systems engineer and president of the Endevor Users of New England In this episode of RE:Frame we hear about what’s new in the world of Mainframe DevOps, and how Phil is not only maintaining his own environments but also helping others in the mainframe community to navigate the latest development technologies and techniques. What is Mainframe DevOps, and how does Endevor support it? How is the community coming together to support it? What kind of person puts their hand up to be a user group president? How different is this new generation of mainframe developers, and what can we learn from them? How ...
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RE:Frame Podcast Episode 2: Machine Learning

By Lenn Thompson
Featuring: Dave Helsley: Distinguished Software Engineer at Broadcom In this episode of RE:Frame we hear about how Machine Learning is changing the way we manage mainframes, including: What is zCX and how exciting is it? https://www.ibm.com/support/z-content-solutions/container-extensions/ What is ‘machine exhaust’? What can we learn from harvesting SMF data? What is ‘machine learning’ and what is today’s reality (vs. fiction)? How does it happen in a mainframe environment? Where are we at in this journey - are we ready for it? What kind of skills are needed to make it happen? https://patents.google.com/?inventor=David+Helsley ...
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