I call this “Part 0” because I haven’t yet seen any data. However I think it useful to start here, rather than waiting for customer data to appear – for two reasons: Sharing what data is available is useful. Showing how “folklore” is built is instructive and useful. As you might expect, I’ve been downContinue reading “z17 Sustainability Metrics – Part 0”
Author Archives: Martin Packer
Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 36 “Telum Like It Is”
We were especially keen to get a podcast episode out on the day z17 was announced, having both worked on the launch project in various capacities. So, for once there was a deadline – which we actually made. It was a pleasure to record this, with almost every piece of it related to z17. SoContinue reading “Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 36 “Telum Like It Is””
Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 35 “In Search Of EXCELence?”
As usual it’s taken us longer than we would like. The usual problem of finding planning and recording slots we can both make applies. But I think the episode turned out well. It was certainly fun to make. So here are the show notes. Episode 35 “In Search Of EXCELence?” long show notes This episodeContinue reading “Mainframe Performance Topics Podcast Episode 35 “In Search Of EXCELence?””
Utility Window Detection
It seems to me understanding when an installation’s utilities run is important. Why is this? It’s because utilities can make systems behave differently from how they usually do. And some of these behaviours can represent a challenge. It’s often also valuable to reduce the utility window. What Is A Utility? There is no formal definitionContinue reading “Utility Window Detection”
Engineering – Part 9 – Perhaps Affinity Nodes Are Interesting After All
I’ve tended to think Affinity Nodes aren’t worthy of study – because there’s little you can do to influence them. However, that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t understand them. (In this post I’m going to say “processor” when I mean “logical processor” and “affnode” when I mean “affinity node”. Also “VL” for “Vertical High”, “VM” forContinue reading “Engineering – Part 9 – Perhaps Affinity Nodes Are Interesting After All”
Engineering – Part 8 – Remote Access Detection
The fact we’re up to “Part 8” illustrates there’s a lot to talk about once you take performance analysis down to the individual logical / physical processor level. Many people have talked about the need to avoid LPARs crossing processor drawer boundaries. There are good reasons for this – because access to cache or memoryContinue reading “Engineering – Part 8 – Remote Access Detection”
Engineering – Part 7 – RMF Processor Home Address Fields
I was recently asked where I was getting the home addresses for logical processors from in RMF SMF 70. I will agree the fields I use are not that easy to interpret – so here’s my go at making them more accessible. Along the way I’ll also talk about SMF 74 Subtype 4 Coupling FacilityContinue reading “Engineering – Part 7 – RMF Processor Home Address Fields”
Setting Axis Font Sizes In Excel With AppleScript
Just a short post to add another AppleScript snippet some might find useful. (There will be performance-related posts along shortly; I have some in the works.) As you know from previous posts under the tag topics, I’m automating as much of my Excel use as possible. So here’s a short snippet of AppleScript to setContinue reading “Setting Axis Font Sizes In Excel With AppleScript”
Excel – Two Types Of Transpose
In Excel – Sorted With AppleScript I mentioned I might have a go at transposing rows and columns in an Excel spreadsheet with AppleScript. I said there were two things I could try – each with a different use case: Transposing Rows And Columns In A Spreadsheet Transposing Rows And Columns In A Graph IContinue reading “Excel – Two Types Of Transpose”
Excel – Sorted With AppleScript
They say necessity is the mother of invention. But so, I’d say, are impatience and frustration. I find the sorting dialog in Excel on Mac a source of both of these. So I wrote some AppleScript to remove some of the friction. I’m sharing this because, yet again, I found nothing on the Web toContinue reading “Excel – Sorted With AppleScript”
Mainframe, Performance, Topics 