Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
In 4ba89977.7060...@bremultibank.com.pl, on 03/23/2010 at 11:35 AM, R.S. r.skoru...@bremultibank.com.pl said: In either case there are DOCUMENTS. If you're lucky. Somewhere. The documents are not retired, fired, died. Just lost, misfiled or taken away. We're not talikng about group of PFCSK and bunch of PCs for gaming, we're talking about professional team. Yeah, right. Lots of shops fail to document what they should and fail to transmit institutional history to new hires. The team can only be as professional as management permits. The list is naturally audited during every system upgrade. That's a good theory, but it matches neither my experience nor the messages that I've seen on this list. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz, SysProg and JOAT ISO position; see http://patriot.net/~shmuel/resume/brief.html We don't care. We don't have to care, we're Congress. (S877: The Shut up and Eat Your spam act of 2003) -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Hi guys, Not a tool, but I know of a company, based in the UK, that will audit your zSeries estate, compare what they find against the licenses you hold, and tell you what they found depolyed (as opposed to installed), and where you are over or under licensed. They came into our shop, and whilst it took a couple of months (our fault, not theirs) they saved us @£200k PA on our software licenses, by finding stuff we were not aware of! They offer the service as a one-off, or as an annual health check. I think it cost us about £15k for the one-off service, but we're a small shop (sub 800 mips). If anyone would like more details, please contact me off list. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Vince Getgood pisze: Hi guys, Not a tool, but I know of a company, based in the UK, that will audit your zSeries estate, compare what they find against the licenses you hold, and tell you what they found depolyed (as opposed to installed), and where you are over or under licensed. They came into our shop, and whilst it took a couple of months (our fault, not theirs) they saved us @£200k PA on our software licenses, by finding stuff we were not aware of! They offer the service as a one-off, or as an annual health check. I think it cost us about £15k for the one-off service, but we're a small shop (sub 800 mips). 15k pounds??? Me! Me! Take me! Shrek, I know the way! Seriously: I wish I would get such a job for that money. -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland -- BRE Bank SA ul. Senatorska 18 00-950 Warszawa www.brebank.pl Sd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydzia Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sdowego, nr rejestru przedsibiorców KRS 025237 NIP: 526-021-50-88 Wedug stanu na dzie 01.01.2009 r. kapita zakadowy BRE Banku SA (w caoci wpacony) wynosi 118.763.528 zotych. W zwizku z realizacj warunkowego podwyszenia kapitau zakadowego, na podstawie uchway XXI WZ z dnia 16 marca 2008r., oraz uchway XVI NWZ z dnia 27 padziernika 2008r., moe ulec podwyszeniu do kwoty 123.763.528 z. Akcje w podwyszonym kapitale zakadowym BRE Banku SA bd w caoci opacone. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
When saving £200k per annum £15k is a small price to pay and if it took them two months I doubt their day rate is very high! Mark On 24/03/2010 09:26, R.S. r.skoru...@bremultibank.com.pl wrote: Vince Getgood pisze: Hi guys, Not a tool, but I know of a company, based in the UK, that will audit your zSeries estate, compare what they find against the licenses you hold, and tell you what they found depolyed (as opposed to installed), and where you are over or under licensed. They came into our shop, and whilst it took a couple of months (our fault, not theirs) they saved us @£200k PA on our software licenses, by finding stuff we were not aware of! They offer the service as a one-off, or as an annual health check. I think it cost us about £15k for the one-off service, but we're a small shop (sub 800 mips). 15k pounds??? Me! Me! Take me! Shrek, I know the way! Seriously: I wish I would get such a job for that money. -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland -- BRE Bank SA ul. Senatorska 18 00-950 Warszawa www.brebank.pl Sd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydzia Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sdowego, nr rejestru przedsibiorców KRS 025237 NIP: 526-021-50-88 Wedug stanu na dzie 01.01.2009 r. kapita zakadowy BRE Banku SA (w caoci wpacony) wynosi 118.763.528 zotych. W zwizku z realizacj warunkowego podwyszenia kapitau zakadowego, na podstawie uchway XXI WZ z dnia 16 marca 2008r., oraz uchway XVI NWZ z dnia 27 padziernika 2008r., moe ulec podwyszeniu do kwoty 123.763.528 z. Akcje w podwyszonym kapitale zakadowym BRE Banku SA bd w caoci opacone. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html Regards Mark Mark Wilson Work: GSE: Technical Director Chairman Large Systems Group RSM Partners : www.lsx.gse.org.uk Greenhill Industrial Estate Birmingham Road GSE UK Conference Manager Kidderminster : www.gse.org.uk/tyc DY10 2RN +: ma...@rsmpartners.com +: mark.wil...@gse.org.uk : www.rsmpartners.com : www.gse.org.uk È: +44 (0) 7768 617006 ( +44 (0) 870 050 1004 -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
15k pounds??? Me! Me! Take me! Shrek, I know the way! Seriously: I wish I would get such a job for that money. Have you ever undertaken such an excercise? If so, you'd know it's not as simple as you keep claiming! - Too busy driving to stop for gas! -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Ted MacNEIL pisze: 15k pounds??? Me! Me! Take me! Shrek, I know the way! Seriously: I wish I would get such a job for that money. Have you ever undertaken such an excercise? If so, you'd know it's not as simple as you keep claiming! Yes. -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland -- BRE Bank SA ul. Senatorska 18 00-950 Warszawa www.brebank.pl Sąd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydział Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sądowego, nr rejestru przedsiębiorców KRS 025237 NIP: 526-021-50-88 Według stanu na dzień 01.01.2009 r. kapitał zakładowy BRE Banku SA (w całości wpłacony) wynosi 118.763.528 złotych. W związku z realizacją warunkowego podwyższenia kapitału zakładowego, na podstawie uchwały XXI WZ z dnia 16 marca 2008r., oraz uchwały XVI NWZ z dnia 27 października 2008r., może ulec podwyższeniu do kwoty 123.763.528 zł. Akcje w podwyższonym kapitale zakładowym BRE Banku SA będą w całości opłacone. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
On Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:03:05 +, Ted MacNEIL eamacn...@yahoo.ca wrote: In either case there are DOCUMENTS. The documents are not retired, fired, died. But, they are lost, incomplete, or misunderstood. We're not talikng about group of PFCSK and bunch of PCs for gaming, we're talking about professional team. Mainframe specialists! Who, unfortunately, are only human. Sh*t happens! People, docs, source code, contracts, libraries, etc., are lost, misplaced, or (in some cases) destroyed, all the time. I have been involved in a situation where my employer purchased a company whose data processing was being performed by a third party, and the decision had been made to bring the data processsing in-house to our data center. We brought over whatever software they thought they needed from their previous processor. In some cases, they owned a license but were no longer paying maintenance, so no documention was available. It was never clear that all of the installed software was actually required. In some cases, we had good reason to believe that some of the software was not really needed, but we could never get the business unit to agree to remove it from the system, and to stop paying for it. So: People - original installers were long gone Docs - unavailable Source code - what source code? Contracts - proves it's legal, but not that it's used. Libraries - proves it's there, but not that it's used. Jeff Holst Fiserv Philadelphia, PA -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Jeff Holst wrote: Contracts - proves it's legal, but not that it's used. Libraries - proves it's there, but not that it's used. Easy - Use a Security package, RACF for example to do the proving. Lock up those datasets with profiles and wait for the first cry from someone... You can move the load modules into a new linklist or Lpalib and see what happens. Of course this area is full of tank landmines ... ;-D Same for proclibs, move the members somewhere and wait for a JCL error. Here you will get some limpetmines ... ;-D For 'illegal' compilers, you can lockup the modules in RACF with a profile in PROGRAM class. Hopefully you will get complaints in office hours only... Anyway, software license management is already explosive enough... Groete / Greetings Elardus Engelbrecht -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
My €0.02: 1. Usually mainframe installations are better managed than distributed systems. The management is centralised, roles responsibilities are clearly described and understood. 2. Usually mainframe shops consist of very few machines. Much less than Windows servers. Of course there are LPARS, but still number of LPARs is reasonably small to moderate. Last but not least, usually the LPARs run similar set of software. In such environment there is no need to install yet another software to count the software. It's enough just to ask people responsible for the softwaren - they should know what installed. If they don't know - that indicate the organization of the team needs improvement. BTW: In my shop, I can enumerate all of our software we have, partially with the versions other details. -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland -- BRE Bank SA ul. Senatorska 18 00-950 Warszawa www.brebank.pl Sd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydzia Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sdowego, nr rejestru przedsibiorców KRS 025237 NIP: 526-021-50-88 Wedug stanu na dzie 01.01.2009 r. kapita zakadowy BRE Banku SA (w caoci wpacony) wynosi 118.763.528 zotych. W zwizku z realizacj warunkowego podwyszenia kapitau zakadowego, na podstawie uchway XXI WZ z dnia 16 marca 2008r., oraz uchway XVI NWZ z dnia 27 padziernika 2008r., moe ulec podwyszeniu do kwoty 123.763.528 z. Akcje w podwyszonym kapitale zakadowym BRE Banku SA bd w caoci opacone. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
In such environment there is no need to install yet another software to count the software. Boy! Are you optimistic. It's enough just to ask people responsible for the softwaren - they should know what installed. Not always! I've been at many shops where IBM has come in to audit what software has been installed. This is simply because people have lost track. If they don't know - that indicate the organization of the team needs improvement. Or, the team has changed composition. Or, something has not been upgraded for a long time. Or, the person who did the install has quit, been fired, retired, died, or otherwise moved on. How many times have you seen posts by people who have incomplete doc, because they've inherited something, that they know nothing about it. Also, after out-sourcing, there is the potential for things to fall through the cracks. Your posted response assumes a perfect world. It isn't! - Too busy driving to stop for gas! -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Since mid of 2009 a new version is available: TADz - Tivoli Asset Discovery for z/OS. TADz is completely new and based on a new architecure. TADz is faster than TLCMz and the recognition rate is very satisfying (my own experience in several customer situations). A simple and easy proof of concept procedure is available with a minimum of effort on customer site. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Ted MacNEIL pisze: In such environment there is no need to install yet another software to count the software. Boy! Are you optimistic. It's enough just to ask people responsible for the softwaren - they should know what installed. Not always! I've been at many shops where IBM has come in to audit what software has been installed. This is simply because people have lost track. If they don't know - that indicate the organization of the team needs improvement. Or, the team has changed composition. Or, something has not been upgraded for a long time. Or, the person who did the install has quit, been fired, retired, died, or otherwise moved on. In either case there are DOCUMENTS. The documents are not retired, fired, died. We're not talikng about group of PFCSK and bunch of PCs for gaming, we're talking about professional team. Mainframe specialists! How many times have you seen posts by people who have incomplete doc, because they've inherited something, that they know nothing about it. Honestly rarely. However product existence is not the same thing as i.e. configuration details. Also, after out-sourcing, there is the potential for things to fall through the cracks. Your posted response assumes a perfect world. It isn't! Not perfect, but reasonably organized. Software portfolio is neither black magic, nor rocket science. It is simple list. The list is naturally audited during every system upgrade. -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland -- BRE Bank SA ul. Senatorska 18 00-950 Warszawa www.brebank.pl Sąd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydział Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sądowego, nr rejestru przedsiębiorców KRS 025237 NIP: 526-021-50-88 Według stanu na dzień 01.01.2009 r. kapitał zakładowy BRE Banku SA (w całości wpłacony) wynosi 118.763.528 złotych. W związku z realizacją warunkowego podwyższenia kapitału zakładowego, na podstawie uchwały XXI WZ z dnia 16 marca 2008r., oraz uchwały XVI NWZ z dnia 27 października 2008r., może ulec podwyższeniu do kwoty 123.763.528 zł. Akcje w podwyższonym kapitale zakładowym BRE Banku SA będą w całości opłacone. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
In either case there are DOCUMENTS. The documents are not retired, fired, died. But, they are lost, incomplete, or misunderstood. We're not talikng about group of PFCSK and bunch of PCs for gaming, we're talking about professional team. Mainframe specialists! Who, unfortunately, are only human. Sh*t happens! People, docs, source code, contracts, libraries, etc., are lost, misplaced, or (in some cases) destroyed, all the time. I've had many instances where (on mainframes) discovery tools have found things nobody no longer knew were installed. The (human) mainframe specialists, who are just as flawed as everybody else lost track. Not perfect, but reasonably organized. Ha! I've seen many unorganised IT departments. Worked for some, and observed others. They've put the 'fun' in dysfunctional. Software portfolio is neither black magic, nor rocket science. It is simple list. Software portfolio management is more than a simple list. Knowing what you have can be tricky, given all the caveats I've presented, in this (and previous) post(s). But, knowing what you have is only one aspect and, to do it right, you have to do more: 1. Contract Management, which includes, but is not limited to, understanding the TC's. 2. Configuration Management, which is more than just customisation of the product. It also includes: MSUs; seats; processors/LPARs allowed to run it; and others. 3. Document Management -- which should be self-explanatory. 4. Contact Management; who installs; who manages; who uses; vendor support; admin (vendor and internal). The list is naturally audited during every system upgrade. I'm not sure what you mean by naturally audited; somebody has to do the legwork. I've been imvolved in two major (for us due to shop size and outsourcing, which has a tendency to non-communicating towers supporting many sites and products). And, even though I tried to manage a complete list of everything needed for each product run, it was always incomplete. And, this was not just due to the mainframe specialists not doing their job, which they were (in most cases). But, it was also due to: o- Link Phone Number Rot o- Vendor acquisition o- Product discontinuation o- Documentation loss/change/incorrect o- Staff turnover (internal vendor) o- Confusion misunderstanding by all/some participants o- Incorrect/missing procedures (including back-ups) o- Others You, obviously, work in a small shop, have a small portfolio to manage, have been lucky, or have perfect 'mainframe specialist' who make no mistakes and remember everything. In other shops, errors and omissions happen all the time. Tools like SOFAUDIT (or whatever it is called today) can help, but (usage issues aside), they are only one aspect of any portfolio management. Which, in turn, is only one aspect of managing the entire site inventory. And, it requires diligence, with no natuaral audit in place. If you don't do it, and check on a regular basis, you can find yourself in the dilema the OP appeared, to me, to be in. Also, the whole exercise is one of documentation, which always seems to be of the lowest priority in most shops. Of course, this is only MY opinion, learned the hard way, over the last 30 years, working in (I could show you scars), observing, reading, and hearing about, many sites. - Too busy driving to stop for gas! -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
-Original Message- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:ibm-m...@bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Ted MacNEIL Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 10:03 AM To: IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu Subject: Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory? In either case there are DOCUMENTS. The documents are not retired, fired, died. But, they are lost, incomplete, or misunderstood. We're not talikng about group of PFCSK and bunch of PCs for gaming, we're talking about professional team. Mainframe specialists! Who, unfortunately, are only human. Sh*t happens! I have to agree with Ted on this whole issue; all extremely good points that he makes. It is a hopeful assumption that there are complete groups of mainframe specialists in every group within Tech Services (or whatever it's called at your shop... data center system and program product support is what we're basically talking about, right?). These days, I would guess (as I don't know for sure, unfortunately) that staffing is at a close to all-time low in many shops. Just keeping up with day-to-day requirements probably has people completely tied up. I can see that there is most likely a real need for a product like this in today's world. And... one that will not only tell you what products are there, but if they are being used, by who/what, and how often. And... what about products that may not be executing, but are still there in a proclib somewhere... the maintenance still being paid, etc.?? As Ted said, it takes a view from multiple angles to see the entire field in this case. snip Scott T. Harder Mainframe Services, Inc. Naples, FL -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:58:59 -0400, Don Imbriale don.imbri...@gmail.com wrote: ... One issue is that in the database of known software sometimes the names given to software is not what you might expect and in other cases software may be mis-identified. Sometimes? At our site, *much* of the time. Also, when the agent does run, there can be a lot of data collected. Just as with management of SMF data, you might need to set up procedures for management of that data (when to offload it, where to put it, how long to keep it, etc.). The amount of data generated here for the value derived bordered on obscene. On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 9:48 AM, Don Imbriale don.imbri...@gmail.comwrote: ... The reports are only as good as the data that is collected. If you install new software or move things around, you need to re-run the initial scan. Periodically the database of known software is updated (via PTF I believe). Exactly my point. The vendor-provided database was hopelessly innacurate, and the reconciliation process to correct it cost more man-hours than any process we could implement, and in the end, still did not yield reliable results. Regards, Art Gutowski -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:54:46 -0500, Scott Barry sba...@sbbworks.com wrote: IBM / Tivoli acquired SoftAudit which had some years back started moving away from systems to more enterprise application asset discovery, with various OPEN hooks and an SMF data-capture type agent running on z/OS. Most any called, linked program is revealed in the generated data, with job, task, transaction, application-environment identification data. For many years, SoftAudit kept updated systems software identification inventory data and kept their clients aware of the mainframe software side -- asking an enterprise to take the time to inventory, document, estimate corporate value and/or business relevance, and determining age or whether source code exists, can be quite an undertaking. We tried SoftAudit long before IBM bought it. Millions of dollars and hundreds upon hundreds of man-hours trying to get accurate inventory out of it proved futile in the end. Unless IBM completely rewrote it (more likely all they've done is repackage it), I wouldn't even consider giving it another go. One of my colleagues pegged the source of our woes: Sure, it will tell you what software you're running... but, first, you have to tell it what software you're running. IMHO, you could do just as well with an MS Access database and something like Event Action to audit usage. If your installation teams follow established naming conventions (and ours still don't - sigh), spending $,$$$,$$$ on a tool doesn't seem justifiable. Regards, Art Gutowski Ford Motor Company -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Don't IBM also market Rational Asset Analyser (I think that's the name ..) Which seems like it would fit the solution Had a demo of the product, but not used it in anger ... Arthur Gutowski aguto...@ford.com Sent by: IBM Mainframe Discussion List IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu 19/03/2010 02:29 PM Please respond to IBM Mainframe Discussion List IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu To IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu cc Subject Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory? On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:54:46 -0500, Scott Barry sba...@sbbworks.com wrote: IBM / Tivoli acquired SoftAudit which had some years back started moving away from systems to more enterprise application asset discovery, with various OPEN hooks and an SMF data-capture type agent running on z/OS. Most any called, linked program is revealed in the generated data, with job, task, transaction, application-environment identification data. For many years, SoftAudit kept updated systems software identification inventory data and kept their clients aware of the mainframe software side -- asking an enterprise to take the time to inventory, document, estimate corporate value and/or business relevance, and determining age or whether source code exists, can be quite an undertaking. We tried SoftAudit long before IBM bought it. Millions of dollars and hundreds upon hundreds of man-hours trying to get accurate inventory out of it proved futile in the end. Unless IBM completely rewrote it (more likely all they've done is repackage it), I wouldn't even consider giving it another go. One of my colleagues pegged the source of our woes: Sure, it will tell you what software you're running... but, first, you have to tell it what software you're running. IMHO, you could do just as well with an MS Access database and something like Event Action to audit usage. If your installation teams follow established naming conventions (and ours still don't - sigh), spending $,$$$,$$$ on a tool doesn't seem justifiable. Regards, Art Gutowski Ford Motor Company -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html This e-mail message, including any attachments transmitted with it, is CONFIDENTIAL and may contain legally privileged information. This message is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately and delete it from your system. Please visit our website to read the full disclaimer: http://www.euroclear.com/site/public/disclaimer
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
After IBM bought Isogon, they renamed SoftAudit to Tivoli License Compliance Manager (TLCM). The basic process, which has not really changed since the IBM acquisition, is to scan all your DASD so TLCM can locate load libraries and gather data about them. Run that through another program which ties the modules to a database of known software products. Once that is done you activate the agent to collect data about what programs are being run on the system. All of that data can then be fed into a report program with numerous keywords to help identify what is actually being run and who is running it. The reports are only as good as the data that is collected. If you install new software or move things around, you need to re-run the initial scan. Periodically the database of known software is updated (via PTF I believe). - Don Imbriale On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Arthur Gutowski aguto...@ford.com wrote: On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:54:46 -0500, Scott Barry sba...@sbbworks.com wrote: IBM / Tivoli acquired SoftAudit which had some years back started moving away from systems to more enterprise application asset discovery, with various OPEN hooks and an SMF data-capture type agent running on z/OS. Most any called, linked program is revealed in the generated data, with job, task, transaction, application-environment identification data. For many years, SoftAudit kept updated systems software identification inventory data and kept their clients aware of the mainframe software side -- asking an enterprise to take the time to inventory, document, estimate corporate value and/or business relevance, and determining age or whether source code exists, can be quite an undertaking. We tried SoftAudit long before IBM bought it. Millions of dollars and hundreds upon hundreds of man-hours trying to get accurate inventory out of it proved futile in the end. Unless IBM completely rewrote it (more likely all they've done is repackage it), I wouldn't even consider giving it another go. One of my colleagues pegged the source of our woes: Sure, it will tell you what software you're running... but, first, you have to tell it what software you're running. IMHO, you could do just as well with an MS Access database and something like Event Action to audit usage. If your installation teams follow established naming conventions (and ours still don't - sigh), spending $,$$$,$$$ on a tool doesn't seem justifiable. Regards, Art Gutowski Ford Motor Company -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Also, even if you don't run the agent to collect data about what programs are being run, you can get reports about your inventory to identify what software exists and where it is located. You might be surprised to find old versions long-forgotten or in libraries with unexpected names or even copies that users have made in their own personal libraries. One issue is that in the database of known software sometimes the names given to software is not what you might expect and in other cases software may be mis-identified. Also, when the agent does run, there can be a lot of data collected. Just as with management of SMF data, you might need to set up procedures for management of that data (when to offload it, where to put it, how long to keep it, etc.). - Don Imbriale On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 9:48 AM, Don Imbriale don.imbri...@gmail.comwrote: After IBM bought Isogon, they renamed SoftAudit to Tivoli License Compliance Manager (TLCM). The basic process, which has not really changed since the IBM acquisition, is to scan all your DASD so TLCM can locate load libraries and gather data about them. Run that through another program which ties the modules to a database of known software products. Once that is done you activate the agent to collect data about what programs are being run on the system. All of that data can then be fed into a report program with numerous keywords to help identify what is actually being run and who is running it. The reports are only as good as the data that is collected. If you install new software or move things around, you need to re-run the initial scan. Periodically the database of known software is updated (via PTF I believe). - Don Imbriale On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Arthur Gutowski aguto...@ford.comwrote: On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:54:46 -0500, Scott Barry sba...@sbbworks.com wrote: IBM / Tivoli acquired SoftAudit which had some years back started moving away from systems to more enterprise application asset discovery, with various OPEN hooks and an SMF data-capture type agent running on z/OS. Most any called, linked program is revealed in the generated data, with job, task, transaction, application-environment identification data. For many years, SoftAudit kept updated systems software identification inventory data and kept their clients aware of the mainframe software side -- asking an enterprise to take the time to inventory, document, estimate corporate value and/or business relevance, and determining age or whether source code exists, can be quite an undertaking. We tried SoftAudit long before IBM bought it. Millions of dollars and hundreds upon hundreds of man-hours trying to get accurate inventory out of it proved futile in the end. Unless IBM completely rewrote it (more likely all they've done is repackage it), I wouldn't even consider giving it another go. One of my colleagues pegged the source of our woes: Sure, it will tell you what software you're running... but, first, you have to tell it what software you're running. IMHO, you could do just as well with an MS Access database and something like Event Action to audit usage. If your installation teams follow established naming conventions (and ours still don't - sigh), spending $,$$$,$$$ on a tool doesn't seem justifiable. Regards, Art Gutowski Ford Motor Company -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 4:07 PM, Mark T. Regan, K8MTR netsfw-ibmm...@yahoo.com wrote: For almost 20 years we've been using a homegrown application that runs on one of our z/VM LPARS to manage the inventory of the various z/OS system software products we have installed. Since it looks like z/VM may be going away at my site in a few years, except for the ones used to manage our various Penguin farms here, we are looking for something to replace it. Our internal tool has screens that collect information like this from the system programmer: I don't know anything about the product, but mackinney.com has something called DP Manager. Their products are not expensive and their support is very good. *DP Manager* is an integrated CICS-based system that provides the tools needed to manage the DP shop more efficiently. DP Manager provides these tools with four major subsystems: - Hardware Inventory Tracking (HIT) - Software Inventory Tracking (SIT) - Problem Report Administration (PRA) - Change Request Administration (CRA) For shops on IBM maintenance, DP Manager satisfies the record keeping requirement for the Corporate Service Amendment. HIT and SIT keep track of hardware and software. PRA and CRA allow systems, operations and applications staffs to spend time on problem resolution, maintenance, and development rather than trying to keep up with the stack of change requests and problem reports. Jim McAlpine -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
One of our users has been running McKinney DP Manager for years, but I think that they also have a full blown, more expensive version of the product. We have the cheaper one. New York City has spent tens of millions of dollars or more on an atrocity known as 'REMEDY', which is basically just a change management, problem reporting, inventory tracking system. This system cannot even replace portions of the prior system that was running (also costing millions of dollars), known as 'IWISE', some of which still has to be run and which had replaced another multi-million dollar system known as 'ASYM' that ran on the mainframe and ate up most of the cpu cycles. These systems do not even come close to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent so far on the Employee Time Management system known as 'CITYTIME' - this atrocity is currently being outed by several expose'ing columnists in the local newspapers and is naturally being touted by the AH$$$ known as the 'MAYOR' as a wonderful enhancement and wise use of taxpayer money which the city is fast running out of. -Original Message- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:ibm-m...@bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Jim McAlpine Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:20 PM To: IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu Subject: Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory? On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 4:07 PM, Mark T. Regan, K8MTR netsfw-ibmm...@yahoo.com wrote: For almost 20 years we've been using a homegrown application that runs on one of our z/VM LPARS to manage the inventory of the various z/OS system software products we have installed. Since it looks like z/VM may be going away at my site in a few years, except for the ones used to manage our various Penguin farms here, we are looking for something to replace it. Our internal tool has screens that collect information like this from the system programmer: I don't know anything about the product, but mackinney.com has something called DP Manager. Their products are not expensive and their support is very good. *DP Manager* is an integrated CICS-based system that provides the tools needed to manage the DP shop more efficiently. DP Manager provides these tools with four major subsystems: - Hardware Inventory Tracking (HIT) - Software Inventory Tracking (SIT) - Problem Report Administration (PRA) - Change Request Administration (CRA) For shops on IBM maintenance, DP Manager satisfies the record keeping requirement for the Corporate Service Amendment. HIT and SIT keep track of hardware and software. PRA and CRA allow systems, operations and applications staffs to spend time on problem resolution, maintenance, and development rather than trying to keep up with the stack of change requests and problem reports. Jim McAlpine -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
Isn't your homegrown application portable to z/OS ? Anyway, take a look at Tivoli Asset discovery: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/products/asset-discovery-zos/index.html You can also include your penguin machines and manage them with Tivoli Asset Discovery for Distributed. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
Re: Any tools for managing z/OS system software products inventory?
On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:07:54 -0700, Mark T. Regan, K8MTR netsfw-ibmm...@yahoo.com wrote: For almost 20 years we've been using a homegrown application that runs on one of our z/VM LPARS to manage the inventory of the various z/OS system software products we have installed. Since it looks like z/VM may be going away at my site in a few years, except for the ones used to manage our various Penguin farms here, we are looking for something to replace it. Our internal tool has screens that collect information like this from the system programmer: screen_data_snipped Internally we may look at moving the data into a DB2 database on MVS and put a web front-end on it and use it that way. So, we are looking for something that would be low cost and follows the KISS way of doing things. Thanks, Mark T. Regan, K8MTR, CTO1 USNR-Retired (1969-1991) IBM / Tivoli acquired SoftAudit which had some years back started moving away from systems to more enterprise application asset discovery, with various OPEN hooks and an SMF data-capture type agent running on z/OS. Most any called, linked program is revealed in the generated data, with job, task, transaction, application-environment identification data. For many years, SoftAudit kept updated systems software identification inventory data and kept their clients aware of the mainframe software side -- asking an enterprise to take the time to inventory, document, estimate corporate value and/or business relevance, and determining age or whether source code exists, can be quite an undertaking. CA has entered this space in the past year with its own z/OS discovery agent CA CMDB Connector for z/OS, feeding this data to the more encompassing EITM framework for asset tracking, management, cost recovery/allocation, and enterprise resource management. Their addition of a z/OS agent filled a much-labored gap, although I don't have first-hand information about its merits. Another software product like SoftAudit I have heard about is P-Tracker, from vendor ESAI - link http://esaigroup.com/products/ptracker.htm and it also generates log information about program-level accesses. Scott Barry SBBWorks, Inc. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
