I think it would be a good idea to "commoditize" VM as much as possible with a useful GUI tool. As one of the more successful aspects of Windows, it makes sense to emulate an interface that's familiar and comfortable. Ideally it might comb through the VM Help structure and build panels with all the available commands and options. Context-sensitive help and search would be very useful.
It must easily integrate 3rd party software since most day-to-day activities involve resource/security management, backup monitoring, etc. There would also be a scrolling window showing the command lines being presented to the system so new admins can ultimately become familiar with line mode. A real challenge would be full-screen VM text interfaces; I've never seen a screen scrape that didn't look clunky or require a lot of tweaking to work right. Ray Mrohs Energy Information Administration U.S. Department of Energy -----Original Message----- From: Barton Robinson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 11:29 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Web-based administration for z/VM I agree with Richard there are lots of tools. But also, i've never seen a site that didn't add their own tools because the systems person had a "better/easier" way of doing something. So is there any VM systems person with say 20 years of experience that doesn't add their own interface or tools? I work with a LOT of installations now where the VM/Linux programmer is not experienced, does not have time for much education if any, who's management thinks vm should be easy, and who's primary method of interacting with computers is via a browser. IBM does the initial installation, but then they have to walk all on their own. Many of the experienced VM people retire each year. If you really want the VM platform to survive, an acceptable interface is required to allow new people to function, and that is not with line mode 3270. So the question of what is needed is not addressed to the old timers ready to retire, it is to the old timers helping the platform to grow when there is a lack of skills, and lack of time to acquire skills, and a strong interest in using browsers. (I think VMWare and other vm competitors provide current interfaces that are intuitive to new users..) I'm still not sure how much of VE is Marketecture, but if it just adds complexity and another set of tools, doesn't sound like much value. So, how do you provide the NEW VM system's person with the education and tools in a way that is intuitive to them with low frustration? Which is how Mr. Nathan started this thread? >Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 23:26:33 -0800 >From: Richard Schuh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Ranga Nathan wrote: > >> That product seems to do much more than what we need. I am a little >> concerned about unwanted complexity. >> >> Alan Altmark wrote: >> >>> On Friday, 01/06/2006 at 11:46 EST, David Boyes >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>>> We find the IBM Virtualization Engine (VE), which contains IBM >>> Director, >>>>> to be very usable for Linux virtual machine management when used >>>>> with >>> the >>>>> z/VM Center extensions. >>>> *As far as it goes*, I'd agree. The problem is that it's still >>>> pretty >>> limited >>>> in function, and the documentation is very explicit about it not >>> supporting >>>> anything other than Linux guests. CMS isn't gone yet... >>>> We'll see how it develops. >>> >>> As soon as we start hearing from customers that configuring/cloning >>> CMS guests is a problem that needs to be solved, I promise we'll go >>> back and take another look. >>> >> >We already have tools for configuring/cloning CMS guests. They are >called Dirmaint and VM:Secure. Don't take that other look unless you >really are starved for something to keep you busy. "If you can't measure it, I'm Just NOT interested!"(tm) /************************************************************/ Barton Robinson - CBW Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Velocity Software, Inc Mailing Address: 196-D Castro Street P.O. Box 390640 Mountain View, CA 94041 Mountain View, CA 94039-0640 VM Performance Hotline: 650-964-8867 Fax: 650-964-9012 Web Page: WWW.VELOCITY-SOFTWARE.COM /************************************************************/
