IAMSMFVS — Data Set Analysis Program Overview

Overview

IAMSMFVS is a special purpose SMF data analysis program, intended to provide useful information in a concise format about VSAM and IAM data set activity. The information can be used to:

  • Identify VSAM Clusters that are candidates for conversion to IAM.
  • Compare the results once the files are converted to IAM.
  • As a source for tracking IAM data set activity to monitor IAM data set usage.
  • Determine when IAM files need to be reorganized.

IAMSMFVS provides four different reports and an optional CSV (comma separated value) file. The first report is a Summary report, which includes a summarization of VSAM and IAM activity so it is easy to tell the DASD space and I/O totals for each of the indexed access methods. The second report is an EXCP report, which is broken down by access method. There is a VSAM EXCP Report, and an IAM EXCP Report. Each report has the top 100 data sets for I/O activity for that access method. There is an option, DETAIL, which will provide a line for each SMF record for each of the data sets included in the EXCP report, with a breakdown of activity for that job step. The third report is a Data Set Summary Report, which contains information about each data set for which information was gathered by IAMSMFVS sorted by the data set name. The last report is based on data set size, here again split by access method. Each size report has the largest 100 data sets for the specified access method.

The optional CSV file contains information on the data sets that are in the VSAM EXCP REPORT. It includes information that is taken from both the EXCP report and the Data Set Summary report. This provides a convenient way to work with and review the data for those data sets which are likely to provide the most performance improvement by conversion to IAM. The CSV file should be included with the reports when sent to BMC for analysis.

SMF Data Requirements

The IAMSMFVS program analyzes data set usage statistics gathered primarily from the Systems Management Facility (SMF records), with supporting data from the system catalog. SMF data may be taken from either the active SMF data sets or sequential SMF history data sets. To operate, IAMSMFVS requires SMF type 30 records with step end and interval type records. For reporting on VSAM data sets the SMF type 64 records must be collected. For reporting on IAM data sets, the IAM SMF recording must be enabled and an SMF record type selected in the IAM Global Options table. IAMSMFVS requires matching Step Termination or Interval record for each data set record; otherwise the data set record will not be processed. If the required SMF record types are not present, or have been modified from the standard z/OS format, then IAMSMFVS will not be able to produce any reports.

IAMSMFVS should be run, if at all possible, on an LPAR or System that has access to the catalogs for the VSAM data sets that are contained in the SMF data being processed. This enables IAMSMFVS to report on information that is not in the SMF data, including cluster attributes such as type of cluster (i.e. KSDS, ESDS, RRDS), defined average record length, key offset, and free space specifications. While IAMSMFVS will use the catalog information to relate the different VSAM components, although it does attempt to do so from the data in the SMF records if the cluster is not found in the catalog. IAMSMFVS use of the catalog can be turned off with the NOLOCATE keyword on the REPORT control card.


 

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