Midrange Stuff, OS/400 Edition

Are you struggling to manage your dynamic OS/400 logical-partitioning environment? Do you know how efficiently your logical partitions are using iSeries resources? If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, you may want to check out VISUAL Control for Windows 8.0, Tango/04 Computing Group's self-described "cockpit for your iSeries." With this release, Tango/04 has added a number of new graphs for monitoring performance in logical partitions, along with many other enhancements.

Don't be fooled by the name; VISUAL Control for Windows is all about the iSeries. And the software doesn't even have to be accessed from a Windows client, although you may choose to use it that way when you're at the office. But if you're away from the office, you may opt to view the product's many colorful performance graphs and metrics from a Web browser. The software also supports handheld computers and cell phones as clients, which could come in handy if VISUAL Control for Windows detects abnormal operating conditions on your iSeries and needs to send you an alert (via e-mail or Short Message Service, with the optional Direct SMS Agent).

VISUAL Control for Windows tracks many aspects of OS/400 server performance, including CPU, DASD, and memory use; jobs and response times; and communication, system, and user variables. For each of these performance metric categories, the software offers several views. For DASD, for example, it tracks storage as a percent, storage in GB, and storage by auxiliary storage pool (ASP). In Windows, these preconfigured performance metrics are displayed in colorful, informative graphs, several of which are tiled across the main "cockpit" screen. You can also customize your graphs and views.

Tango/04, based in Barcelona, Spain, tracks more than 2,000 different metrics with VISUAL Control for Windows, although that number includes additional functionality that Tango/04 sells as plug-ins to this product, including VISUAL Control for Jobs, VISUAL Control for Pools, VISUAL Control Performance Planner (a capacity planning tool), and VISUAL Control LPAR Tuner (an offering specifically for logical partitioning, or LPAR, which the company launched earlier this year).

With VISUAL Control for Windows Version 8.0, Tango/04 has added even more performance metrics. This release includes full support for dynamic logical partitioning, Tango/04 says. The software now gives specific information related to partition type, assigned processor units, interactive capacity, and CPU usage (interactive as well as total). There is also a new panel in the "cockpit" that displays the status of logical partitions in predefined, multi-partitioned graphs.

You also gain the capability to set different thresholds for each partition (or iSeries system) individually, including custom settings for event escalation, duplicate suppression, and wireless support, Tango/04 says.

There are new performance metrics with this release outside of logical partitioning, including interactive CPU percentage used, interactive CPU percentage free, memory per active thread, CPU usage per active thread, current assigned CPW per partition, average page faulting per active thread, and information about jobs with the poorest and the best response times.

Tango/04 also enhanced VISUAL Control for Windows' Web presence with this release. With the new Web-based "performance portals," users can get up-to-the-minute information about iSeries performance over the Internet, using a browser or a handheld device. Version 8.0 lets you to automatically create these custom Web pages, without programming skills, Tango/04 says.

Other new features in this release include a faster retrieval engine that consumes almost no CPU on the iSeries server; a new "Rapid Investigator" that enhances your ability to discover and understand peaks, bottlenecks, and trends; enhanced real-time alerts; improved ease of use; improved openness to Windows; a new graphical engine that can create two- and three-dimensional perspectives and other charts; an interface to VISUAL Control LPAR Tuner (that shows the VISUAL Control for Windows user how VISUAL Control LPAR Tuner is optimizing partitions); and better integration with other Tango/04 and third-party products.

Visual Control for Windows 8.0 is set to ship in the next week or so. Licenses for the software start at $1,500 for the P05 tier and range up to $12,900 for the P60 tier. For more information, go to www.tango04.com.

Sponsored By

CMS MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

CMS Manufacturing Systems - Function, Value, Reliability

CMS Manufacturing Systems offers a comprehensive, Internet-enabled ERP/Supply Chain Management solution, CMS/400 v5.0, for small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in tight supply chain relationships, typical of a wide range of industries, from automotive to consumer goods.

CMS/400's fully integrated suite of modules is sold as a single comprehensive solution, without tier or user-based pricing. And CMS staff provides all post-sales support, including, implementation, training and ongoing education and support. CMS has installations in over 2,500 plants worldwide.

CMS/400's functionality includes integrated EDI/Release Accounting, CRM, Real-Time Shop-Floor Reporting, Production Analysis Tool-Set, Event Monitor, Materials and Logistics Management, APS, Financial Management, MPE, Tooling and Maintenance Integration and is fully Internet enabled with the CMS Easy e-Business Suite.

This enhanced e-business capability completes the picture, making CMS the one-stop, single-source, turnkey solution provider for small and midrange enterprises with ERP/Supply Chain Management system needs.

And once a new customer has purchased CMS/400, CMS commits its planning, implementation and training resources to helping management and staff fully realize CMS/400's capabilities throughout the enterprise.

To learn more about CMS/400, and to register for a no-obligation test-drive, go to sales@cms400.com or www.cms400.com, or call 888-426-7400.