Begin forwarded message:
Subject: IBM shows tools to tame mainframes
IBM shows tools to tame mainframes
Plans to spend $100 million on nicer console.
Deni Connor, Network World
05 October 2006IBM has shown new software, tools and services the
company hopes will make its mainframes easier to manage, program
and administer.
The company is introducing a five-year, $100 million project to
simplify System Z mainframe operations and adoption.
The program and tools include an IBM Health Checker for z/OS, which
monitors and recommends configuration tune-ups intended to improve
system performance and availability, a new management console that
looks less like IBM's customary green screens and improved software
asset-management technologies that makes it easier for users to
control software costs and automate software acquisition.
"It takes a lot of time for systems programmers and administrators
to get up to speed overall in terms of implementing the mainframe,"
says John Burg, System Z product marketing manager for IBM. We are
trying to simplify it, make the interfaces less complicated and
make it easier to administer and view."
Earlier this year, a Williams Data Systems survey, pointed out that
individuals with mainframe skills are in short supply. Almost half
of the 135 companies surveyed, indicated that they are hiring IT
administrators with one to five years of experience.
The mainframe simplification program makes use of the OMEGAMON z/OS
management console from Tivoli Systems. This management console
accepts results from the Health Checker and automates and
simplifies management tasks.
The program includes the Hardware Configuration Manager (HCM), part
of the new z/OS 1.8 operating system. HCM has been enhanced with
new configuration wizards and the ability to export and import I/O
Definition Files. The program also lets users access RMF (Resource
Management Facility) Monitor III reports, which can speed the
detection and resolution of bottlenecks and contention for resources.
The IBM Configuration Assistant for z/OS Communications Server, a
part of z/OS 1.7, now guides administrators through setting up such
network features as intrusion-detection services and helps them
avoid configuration errors.
IBM has also simplified application development for System Z
servers with support for WebSphere and Rational, as well as for
Java and traditional COBOL programs.
The mainframe simplification program tools are available now. z/OS
1.8 is expected to be available by the end of October.
This article was printed from Techworld : www.techworld.com
The UK's infrastructure & network knowledge centre
© 2006 : All rights reserved
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