Velocity Software, Inc. is recognized as
a leader in the performance measurement of z/VM and Linux on z.
The Velocity Performance Suite consist of a set of tools that
enable installations running z/VM to manage Linux and z/VM
performance.
In addition, many components of server farms can be
measured and analyzed. Performance data can be viewed real-time
through the use of either 3270
or a browser.
The CLOUD Implementation (zPRO) component is designed
for full cloud PaaS implementation as well as
to extend the capabilities of the z/VM sysprog (system programmer)
to the browser world. This feature moves system management to
the point-and-click crowd. Archived data and reports can be
kept available of long term review and reporting usine zMAP.
The zVPS, formally ESALPS, components consist of:
zMON (formally ESAMON - real-time display of performance data),
zTCP (formally ESATCP - SNMP data collection),
zMAP (formally ESAMAP - historical reporting and archiving),
zVWS (formally ESAWEB - z/VM based web server),
zTUNE (a subscription service),
zVIEW (formally SHOWCASE - web based viewing of performance data),
zPRO (new to the quality line of Velocity Software Products).
Velocity continues to work with other software vendors to ensure
smooth interface with or from other products such as
VM:Webgateway, CA-Webgateway, EnterpriseWeb, MXG, MICS.
Velocity software remains the leader and inovator in the
z/VM performance, Linux performance, Managing cloud computing
arenas.
Cloud Management for z/VM and Linux on Z made easy
Providing an on-prem cloud solution for IBM z and Linux one, zPRO
is an easy to install and light weight solution for managing small
and large environments.
Our industry is facing one of the biggest challenges that we
have had to overcome in the last 50 years: our experts and
experienced system programmers and mainframe staff are either
retiring or close to retirement age. If you are seeing the same
trend in your organization, zPRO is just the right solution for
you. If "mainframe modernization" is a phrase used by your
management,
zPRO
is just the right solution for you.
zPRO Focuses on Three Main Cornerstones:
Providing an on-prem cloud on z/VM faclitiy
Simplifying access and skills requirement for managing z/VM
Reduce z/VM Management tasks by safely empowering end users.
zPRO greatly simplifies the provisioning and management of
Linux servers on Z. It enables installations running the IBM z/VM
platform to create their own private PaaS (Platform as a
Service) environment. Traditionally the mainframe has carried a
stigma of being a "legacy" platform. This leaves many IT
organizations wary of the platform, a platform that is the
backbone of the majority of government agencies, most financial
and insurance organizations and many educational institutions.
zPRO's modern, simple and intuitive browser-based
interface allows installations to take advantage of the
strengths of the mainframe without requiring any understanding
of the underlying platform. zPRO also offers huge benefits to
enterprises that have knowledgeable mainframe systems programmers
by condensing complex tasks into simple "point and click"
operations and providing the ability to empower end-users to
manage their own systems. This frees up time for the systems
programmer to focus on other important work or issues while zPRO
is handling tasks in the background. zPRO has a collection of
robust features that are continually growing because of the input and
expectations of the Linux on Z community.
zPRO Product Features and Highlights:
Cloning and Provisioning of guests
Linux servers of all favors (SLES, RedHat, Ubuntu)
z/OS guests
VSE guests
CMS users
z/VM guests (2nd level)
Server Management
zPRO allows installation to define centralized or
distributed cloud management roles
Server managers can, optionally, alter server
characteristics, such as memory size or processor count
Server managers can, optionally, start/boot,
stop/shutdown, migrate/LGR, and delete servers owned by them.
Installations can define the scope of server
management capabilities associated with individual users or
groups of users
Server expirations can be set, supporting simple "NOLOG",
or complete server elimination at the end of term. Elimination
of the server
returns the resources to the zPRO resource pool for new servers
Resource Control and Management
Monitor and restrict resource consumption on a user or
group basis
Automatic assignment of IP addresses
Automatic expiration of servers
Resource reclamation
Interface with other Velocity Software, Inc. products
Automatically start data collection and reporting for SNMP
enabled servers utilizing zTCP
Present performance details view using zVIEW
Interface directly with z/VM products
zPRO interfaces with Dirmaint (IBM) and VM:Secure (CA
Technologies) for directory management.
zDIRECT: For installations that perform manual
administration of the CP directory, zPRO includes zDIRECT, a
feature of zPRO capable of performing the necessary directory
functions, but still allowing installations to perform manual
directory updates
Security is important:
For installations that use an ESM (External Security
Manager), such as RACF (IBM) or VM:Secure (CA Technologies),
zPRO is fully functional and capable of managing resource
privileges.
The underlying architecture of zPRO allows it to
interface with any product that has a CMS capable interface.
LDAP SUPPORT!
Installations have different methods of
authenticating. zPRO supports LDAP, DIRMAINT, VM:SECURE, RACF
(RACF authentication without having another method of
authentication as in a directory entry).
zPRO Product Benefits
Management Benefits Management of an enterprise, from the resource perspective,
requires knowledge of resource allocation, usage, and growth.
zPRO keeps track of system resources which are defined within
the scope of zPRO management. Managers can:
View resource consumption by individuals and/or groups of
individuals
Keep track of activities related to system usage
and/or provisioning (Auditing)
Provide a more responsive environment for end-users.
In a mainframe environment, the procurement process
for a new collection of Linux servers is generally eliminated.
zPRO can be used to "spin up" one or more new servers in the
amount of time it takes for the end-user to click and get a cup
of coffee.
System Administrator, System Programmer Benefits System programmers are often stuck between the needs of
management and those of the end-user community. zPRO can be used
to relieve the system programmer from needing to be in the
middle. The task of provisioning a server can generally be
performed by rote. However, the process can be time consuming as
all of the requirements are analyzed and the required resources
gathered. zPRO can perform these tasks and address the
requirements with just a point and click.
Determine if end-user is authorized to request a new server
Determine if required resources are available
Automatically assign resources
Copy all data into place in anticipation of
instantiating the new serve
Autostart the new server
Stopping an active server
Removing the server from the system and reclaiming
resources assigned to the server, and making them automatically
available to be used by future requests
In a private cloud environment, most of the work related
to the provisioning of a new server can be off-loaded to the
end-user if desired. Various levels of authorizations, as
described in the section titled "end user benefits"
be granted to allow end-users to:
Provision/clone a new instance of a server
Alter server characteristics, such as number of virtual CPUs
Boot / Shutdown servers
Migrate servers between SSI clusters
Add resources, such as memory or disk space, to a server
Delete a server
zPRO can be configured to work in any flavor of centralized
and/or multiple LPAR environment. That is to say that much of
the work normally required to be performed by the system
programmer can be relinquished to the end-user community. The
end-user need have no knowledge of the underlying platform or
the operations being performed.
Operations Benefits
Often times, the operations staff is
required to bring servers up or down or migrate them for scheduled outages,
maintenance, or even load balancing. zPRO allows this process to
be simplified by giving those individuals the ability to perform
these tasks, for one or more servers, in a simple point and
click environment.
End User Benefits
End-users are often at the mercy at the availability of
either the system programmer(s) or
operations support group. Many times the need of
the end-user is a simple task that can be
accomplished in less time than it takes to make a
phone call or produce an email. zPRO can be
utilized to authorize end-users to:
Provision/clone a new instance of a server
Alter server characteristics, such as number of
virtual CPUs
Boot / Shutdown servers
Add resources, such as memory or disk space, to a
server
Delete a server
zPRO: Keep It Simple!
One of the benefits of the z/VM platform over the last 40 years
has been the simplicity of the platform. Complex solutions fail because
of too many moving parts, too many APIs and overhead. zPRO eliminates complexity:
No "guest Linux server" requirement
zPRO utilizes the native
z/VM webserver, ZVWS. This means there is no requirement for
the overhead and complexity of a Linux server to provide a web
interface and the cloud logic. As zVWS is already installed as
part of the zVPS solution, there is no need for installation of
additional web services.
No "SMAPI" requirement:
As there is no need for the Linux
server, there is no need for the extremely labor intensive and
unreliable SMAPI - as the native webserver has access to the
native functions, whereas a Linux webserver requires this
system's management API. Eliminating SMAPI removes a huge source
of problems in many other (deceased) solutions.
No DIRMAINT requirement:
zPRO now offers and includes a
simple directory manager that is non-intrusive, does not change
how the system is managed and fully allows directory changes to
support your cloud requirements.
NO JAVA!
How many different releases of Java are available,
and how many different dependencies? We don't believe in that
kind of limitation. All browsers are supported. No downloads
required on a workstation, zPRO KEEPS IT SIMPLE!!!
Installation time measured in minutes....
zPRO installation time is measured in minutes, not days or
weeks. Once implemented, any updates take the normal 1-2
minutes. Tailoring is with simple XEDIT functions. Managing a
z/VM Cloud should be based on z/VM capabilities - it is hard to
manage a z/VM system from a Linux server.
Trial zPRO TODAY!
If you would like to evaluate if zPRO is the right solution
for you and your organization, please email us
at info@velocitysoftware.com and we will organize
a test installation for you.
Demonstration Site!
Velocity Software maintains a cloud for demonstration
purposes and for supporting your education needs. If there is a
need to access a mainframe for education purposes, this is
offered by Velocity Software at
"zPRO DEMO"
(use the ID of DEMOZPRO and password DEMODEMO to acquire your own demo User ID)
There is also education provided for hands-on users at
"VelocitySoftware.com/Educate" allowing
a self-study education path for students finding it difficult to
access a mainframe platform free of charge....
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