Chapter 30. Systems Management Philosophy and Methodology

Many VSE installations have small staff and have mature systems which are changed relatively infrequently. As a user migrates from VSE to OS/390, their entire system -- hardware, software, and connections -- will be subject to more frequent changes. The workloads supported by their system will grow in complexity and criticality to their business. At the same time, many of the tools and methods for managing the VSE environment will become obsolete, and new techniques and tools will have to be learned and implemented. In this chapter, we will discuss the opportunities to implement more formal system management procedures, the IBM products that can support these procedures, and the benefits that OS/390 users receive from the implementation of these procedures.

It is not the intent of this chapter to describe specific tools, methodologies, or services in great technical detail. The practice of system management disciplines can provide great benefits of productivity and time savings during a migration, especially as all personnel involved are working with new tools and in new environments.

The VSE/SP and VSE/ESA systems and MVS and OS/390 systems have some conceptual similarities, but due to the scope of changes that must be made during a migration, the migration project is an ideal opportunity to introduce more formal system management disciplines. The following specific disciplines will be discussed below:

1.30.1, The Philosophy of Systems Management

2.30.2, Change Management

3.30.3, Problem Management

4.30.4, Performance Management

5.30.5, Operations Management

6.30.6, Security Management

7.30.7, Configuration Management

8.30.8, Asset Management

9.30.9, Accounting Management

These topics will be discussed in order within this chapter.

30.1 The Philosophy of Systems Management

30.1.1 Systems Management Overview

System management is responsible for delivering effective and efficient information technology services, and becomes more critical as the number of components, workloads, changes, and overall complexity increases.

Systems Management disciplines are aptly named -- through exercise of these disciplines, we learn to manage our system in a better manner -- with the result being a system better able to service the needs of all the different classes of users of the computer system.

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998

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OS/390 specifications

IBM OS/390, a versatile operating system, was a cornerstone in enterprise environments and played a pivotal role in mainframe computing. Released in the mid-1990s, OS/390 combined the strengths of IBM's MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) with new features and enhancements, targeting scalability, reliability, and performance in demanding business applications.

One of the key features of OS/390 was its robust support for multiple users and processes. The system allowed thousands of concurrent users to access applications and data, ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime—a critical requirement for many large organizations. This scalability was supported through various enhancements in memory management and processor scheduling, enabling optimal resource allocation across diverse workloads.

OS/390 was known for its superior workload management capabilities. The Workload Manager (WLM) component allowed administrators to define service policies, specifying how system resources would be allocated according to the priority of tasks. This ensured that critical business processes received the necessary resources while less critical tasks were managed more flexibly.

Another significant characteristic of OS/390 was its commitment to security. The operating system provided comprehensive security features, including user authentication, data encryption, and auditing capabilities. This focus on security was vital for organizations handling sensitive data, ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding against unauthorized access.

OS/390 also supported advanced technologies that facilitated integration and development. The system included features like the IBM CICS (Customer Information Control System) for transaction processing and IMS (Information Management System) for database management. These technologies allowed organizations to build robust, high-performance applications tailored to specific business needs.

The ease of network integration was another strength of OS/390. With the advent of the Internet and global connectivity, OS/390 systems could easily interface with various network protocols, enabling businesses to operate in a connected world. This inclusion paved the way for many organizations to expand their capabilities and offer new services, driving digital transformation.

In conclusion, IBM OS/390 represented a significant advancement in mainframe technology, combining scalability, security, and robust workload management. Its rich feature set and support for critical enterprise applications solidified its role as a vital component of many organizations' IT infrastructures, ensuring they could meet their operational challenges head-on while supporting future growth. As technology continues to evolve, the legacy of OS/390 remains influential in the realm of computing.
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