Author Archives: Martin Packer

(Originally posted 2017-07-08.) I’m writing this under a lovely cherry tree in my back garden, in cool shade on a warm summer’s day. Before you complain “that ain’t working” I’ll just point out this is on a Saturday afternoon. 🙂 And the “air cooling” is what makes this post possible. 🙂 Just this past weekContinue reading “My Point Of View”

(Originally posted 2017-07-07.) Boy has this one been a “slow train coming” but I’m glad it’s out now. And it was fun making it. Especially the piece with Frank and Jeff. It’s a long listen; As always I’m comfortable with long podcast episodes. Enjoy! Episode 14 “In The Long Run” Show Notes Here are theContinue reading “Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 14 “In The Long Run””

(Originally posted 2017-06-25.) Back in 2009 I wrote about Performance of the (then new) DFSORT JOIN function. This post is just a few notes on things that might make life easier when developing a JOIN application. Specifically the one I alluded to in Happy Days Are Here Again? when I talked about processing SMF 101Continue reading “Some Lessons On DFSORT Join”

(Originally posted 2017-06-20.) I’ve written a lot about DDF and SMF 101 (Accounting Trace) over the years. It turns out my code went backwards a few years ago, and with good reason. Let me explain. But before I do, recall “my code” refers to a DFSORT E15 exit that “flattens” SMF 101 records, extracting theContinue reading “Happy Days Are Here Again?”

(Originally posted 2017-06-17.) This post follows on from Some Parallel Sysplex Questions, Part 1 – Coupling Facility. Again it’s a high level treatment. In contrast to Coupling Facility (CF), there is really only one type of resource: Signaling paths. But again application componentry is what brings it all to life. In this case it’s XCFContinue reading “Some Parallel Sysplex Questions, Part 2 – XCF”

(Originally posted 2017-06-15.) In Some WLM Questions I outlined my approach to looking at WLM implementations. It was necessarily very high level, but the intention was twofold: To prime customers about the kinds of questions I might be discussing with them – if I ever saw their data.[1] To give anyone maintaining a WLM policyContinue reading “Some Parallel Sysplex Questions, Part 1 – Coupling Facility”

(Originally posted 2017-06-13.) Long ago I added reporting on DB2 log writing to our code. At the time it was just to understand if a particular job or transaction was “log heavy”. That is, I was interested in the job’s perspective, and whether it was dependent on a high-bandwidth DB2 logging subsystem. A recent incident,Continue reading “Give Me All Your Logging”

(Originally posted 2017-05-19.) I’m starting to write this on a train to London. (Not Paris.)[1] When I get there I’m going to present the “New Improved” “Even More Fun With DDF” pitch to the UK GSE zCMPA user group. I was done with the slides a few days ago – or so I thought.[2] Well,Continue reading “A Tale Of Two Batteries”

(Originally posted 2017-05-06.) It’s been a few weeks since we last recorded and it was good to get back in “the studio” again. As usual it’s quite a wide range of topics. We hope you enjoy them. Two technical notes: I have new headphones which reduced the amount of bleed through from my ears toContinue reading “Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 13 “We’ll Always Have Paris””

(Originally posted 2017-04-24.) Many people know I’m a bit of an Automation “nut” but like most such people I feel a smidgeon of guilt that I might: Be spending more time setting up automation than I save. Having too much fun with it. But let’s dismiss Item 2 straight away; Fun is an enabler andContinue reading “Automatic For The Person”