Front cover z/OS Systems Programmers Guide to: Sysplex Aggregation Understand the requirements for aggregation Considerations for different sysplex types Using workload balancing to help maintain aggregation Frank Kyne Matthias Bangert Marcy Zimmer ibm.com/redbooks Redpaper International Technical Support Organization z/OS Systems Programmers Guide to: Sysplex Aggregation December 2005 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page vii. First Edition (December 2005) This edition applies to Version 1, Release 7, Modification 0 of z/OS (product number 5694-A01). This document created or updated on January 10, 2006. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2005. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Notices . vii Trademarks . viii Preface . ix The team that wrote this Redpaper . ix Become a published author . xi Comments welcome. xi Chapter 1. Introduction. 1 1.1 Objective . 2 1.2 Sysplex aggregation . 2 1.3 Parallel Sysplex options and considerations. 3 1.4 Sample scenarios . 3 1.5 Workload routers and work managers . 4 Chapter 2. Sysplex aggregation. 5 2.1 Sysplex aggregation overview . 6 2.1.1 Background. 7 2.1.2 Terminology . 9 2.2 Sample configurations. 10 2.2.1 Sample configuration 1 . 10 2.2.2 Sample configuration 2 . 12 2.2.3 Sample configuration 3 . 14 2.3 Aggregation rules and criteria . 17 2.3.1 Aggregation requirements. 17 2.3.2 Comparing aggregation to subcapacity charging requirements . 20 2.4 Other considerations . 20 2.4.1 What is “normal mode of operation” . 20 2.4.2 Validation requirements . 21 2.4.3 Sysplex members with different local times . 24 2.5 Getting started. 24 2.6 Challenges to sysplex aggregation implementation . 25 Chapter 3. Parallel Sysplex options and considerations . 27 3.1 Different sysplex configuration types . 28 3.1.1 BronzePlex . 28 3.1.2 PlatinumPlex . 29 3.1.3 Multi-site sysplex. 30 3.2 Advantages of a PlatinumPlex . 32 3.2.1 Availability . 32 3.2.2 Systems management . 36 3.2.3 Maintaining sysplex aggregation qualification. 37 3.3 Sysplex aggregation qualification . 39 3.4 To merge or not - a sample scenario . 40 3.5 Summary. 43 Chapter 4. Sample scenarios . 45 4.1 Introduction . 46 4.2 Scenario 1 - Checking all the alternatives. 46 © Copyright IBM Corp. 2005. All rights reserved. iii 4.3 Scenario 2 - Spending in order to save. 50 4.4 Scenario 3 - aggregation isn’t always the right answer. 55 4.5 Scenario 4 - More for less? . 59 4.6 Summary. 62 Chapter 5. Workload balancing and sysplex aggregation. 65 5.1 Introduction . 66 5.2 MVS Workload Manager . 67 5.3 Workload balancing components . 69 5.3.1 VTAM Generic Resources . 69 5.3.2 Sysplex Distributor . 71 5.3.3 Load Balancing Advisor . 73 5.3.4 WLM/DNS . 74 5.3.5 WLM-Managed initiators . 75 5.3.6 WLM Scheduling Environments . 76 5.3.7 WLM Resource Groups. 77 5.3.8 Tivoli Workload Scheduler for z/OS . 77 5.3.9 DB2 Group Attach Facility. 78 5.3.10 DB2 Connect. 79 5.3.11 DB2 Universal Java Connectivity Connector . 80 5.3.12 DB2 DDF. 81 5.3.13 DB2 Sysplex Query Parallelism . 81 5.3.14 IMS Shared Message Queue . 82 5.3.15 IMS Group Attach . 83 5.3.16 IMS Connect . 84 5.3.17 IMS Workload Router . 85 5.3.18 CICSPlex System Manager . ..