I would like to thank everyone (on and off list) for their replies. I have several things to research. MPF, System Rexx, and such. CBT file 708. I was aware of Brian Westerman and Syzygy, Inc before. In fact, some years ago, when we almost indulged in a campaign to eliminate an ISV, they were on my list of alternatives. I wasn't aware of Tony Thigpen's company until now.
I want to work a little longer :) Still, I would be irresponsible if I didn't bring both companies to the attention of my management. Both look like good possibilities for the longer term. It was mentioned that some of the IBM alternatives are also added cost. While true, these products are included in the base services of out MFaaS provider. We haven't converted yet due to limited resources and perceived conversion risk. There is only so much one sysprog can accomplish. > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On > Behalf Of Tony Thigpen > Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2020 4:58 AM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Downsizing? - OPS? > > Dave, > > After reading the responses for a few days, I think you are getting some > good comments concerning all the long-term issues. I know, I have done this > more than once. > > The company I work for has been doing this for about 30 years. > > We first take the customer to our floor, then we migrate the customer off of > any non-IBM software. Some of the replacements are from the CBT tape, > but some we have written so as to provide the minimal, but real needs of the > customer. As the work disappears, se then downsize them to a -A01 > processor, then when possible, we put them on a shared system where we > can share the IBM costs between clients. At some point we move their > system to condition we call 'warm standby' where their machine/LPAR is not > actually turned on, but is setting on the floor ready to be started, normally > within 30 minutes. Eventually, we move them to a 'cold standby' where we > can have them up within 24 hours. And, finally, we move them to a 'frozen' > standby where we can have them up in > 3 days, if needed. > > We do this for both z-systems and i-systems. I have one customer that we > have had in 'cold standby' for over 20 years. They bring the system up maybe > once every 2 years to pull historical personnel data, usually when someone > claims a work related health issue years after they retire. > > Give me a call anytime. > > Oh, and to your OPS issue, MPF exits and SYSREXX work on newer z/OS while > TSSO from the CBT tape works on earlier versions that do not support > SYSREXX. I use both on our customer's systems. Both have zero recurring > costs after the conversion. > > Tony Thigpen > proZglobal > 407-474-0770 > > Gibney, Dave wrote on 2/6/20 8:59 PM: > > The direction is clearly set. My z/OS 2.1 installation is heading for a > sunset, sometime in the next several years. The Student Systems were ERP's > to cloud systems not quite a decade ago. The remaining (HR/Financial/Etc.) > are scheduled for migration to Workday (again, in cloud) July 1. > > There is still archive/historical data that wasn't moved and more that > > isn't > moving. There is a need/plan to run reduced/read-only for an as yet > undetermined time. We moved our 4 LPARs (Production, Development, 2 > sandboxes) to a MFaaS provider at the end of 2017. Part of the plan is to > reverse the path we took from 1 LPAR to 4 LPARS, back to 1 LPAR. > > > > Now, I need to plan to reduce the footprint expenses. In particular, we > probably won't be renewing ISV contracts. > > I have z/OS alternatives to some (DF/SORT, DFSMSrmm, etc.) And, z/OS > is part of the MFaaS contract. Although we do plan to consolidate LPARs and > reduce the overall footprint. > > > > Which brings me to my question and request for advice. Given the > constraints (free or native z/OS 2.1) what alternatives to CA-OPS would the > community recommend. I know there's some in the firehose that is > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http- > 3A__www.cbttap.org&d=DwIC- > g&c=C3yme8gMkxg_ihJNXS06ZyWk4EJm8LdrrvxQb- > Je7sw&r=u9g8rUevBoyCPAdo5sWE9w&m=f162QOd8DQyTwW4y- > IkOxH8T6RZdBGCEkwX9vq_6K_I&s=-nDRDFJImQqd- > GEuN1P0FtrMnktyhb4UNAEm0Phd1Dc&e= > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http- > 3A__www.cbttap.org&d=DwIC- > g&c=C3yme8gMkxg_ihJNXS06ZyWk4EJm8LdrrvxQb- > Je7sw&r=u9g8rUevBoyCPAdo5sWE9w&m=f162QOd8DQyTwW4y- > IkOxH8T6RZdBGCEkwX9vq_6K_I&s=-nDRDFJImQqd- > GEuN1P0FtrMnktyhb4UNAEm0Phd1Dc&e= >. > > > > I eventually need to leave WSU (in about a year) with a system that can > coast 3 to 7 years with minimal skilled care. > > > > Dave Gibney > > Information Technology Services > > Washington State University > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send > > email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to > lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
