ASG Revs Job Scheduler, Which Supports IBM i
September 28, 2010 Alex Woodie
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ASG Software Solutions recently launched a new version of ASG-Zena, its cross-platform job scheduler, which supports IBM i and other business computing platforms. Zena 3.0 brings better support for virtualized environments, deeper integration with popular ERP systems, and improved compatibility with Zeke, ASG’s mainframe job scheduler. ASG-Zena is a Java-based workload automation tool designed to help enterprises coordinate the execution of batch jobs running on IBM i, Windows, Unix, z/OS, and Linux (on X64, Power, and mainframe processors) servers from a central control point. The software supports both time- and event-based processing, uses GUIs for defining and managing workflows, offers a full audit trail, and does not require scripting. The capability to automatically provision VMware virtual machines is one of the main new features delivered in version 3. This capability allows organizations to rapidly create new VMware-based virtual machines to support workloads, and then eliminate the VM when it’s no longer needed. This release also brings better integration with the ERP suites from SAP and Oracle, including E Business Suite and PeopleSoft Enterprise. Better integration with ASG-Zeke, the company’s job scheduler for z/OS and VSE mainframe environments, is also delivered with this release, according to the company, which declined to answer questions for this story. If you weren’t aware that ASG supports the IBM i environment (through an agent only; the software does not run on IBM i) with its job scheduler, you’re not alone. In fact, the Naples, Florida-based software company sells several products that support IBM i environments. ASG’s focus remains on X64 and mainframe systems, but a few of its products support the IBM i midrange platform. In addition to the ASG-Zena job scheduler and workload automation solution, other ASG products that support the IBM i platform include: ASG-Zeke (a mainframe-based job scheduler); ASG-Outbound Enterprise, a file transfer program that supports TCP/IP and SNA; ASG-Zack/VSE, an event monitoring tool designed for IBM‘s z/VSE operating environment; ASG-Report.Web, a Web-based report and document distribution solution; ASG-Safari, a collection of reporting and BI tools; ASG-Cypress, an electronic forms and document distribution system; BSP for Distributed Workload Automation, a dynamic event-driven scheduler that works with ASG’s point job scheduling products like ASG-Zena and ASG-Zeke. ASG has used 30 acquisitions over the years to assemble an extremely wide array of systems management tools that work across mainframe, IBM i, and distributed X64-based systems. In fact, a product that boosted the performance of mainframe applications was the original focus of company founder Arthur Allen and his Allen Systems Group. Acquisitions have expanded ASG’s reach beyond the mainframe into nearly every facet of IT operations. Today, Allen’s company (which has grown to 1,300 employees in 90 offices around the world) lists 112 products on its website, providing capabilities that include job scheduling, workload analysis, content management and archiving, identity management and single sign-on (SSO), metadata management, security event and log data analysis, and change and configuration management. For more information, see the company’s website at www.asg.com.
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