DPRO-90022
Sharon Fisher, Herb Gepner
Product Report
23 October 2003
Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Summary
The Computer Associates (CA) product is a mainframe job rerun and tracking management system for
IBM z/OS and OS/390 environments. It interfaces with CA’s job management engines to provide
automated operations.
Table of Contents
Overview
Analysis
Pricing
Competitors
Strengths
Limitations
Insight
List Of Tables
Table 1: Overview
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Gartner
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Corporate Headquarters
Computer Associates Intl., Inc.
One Computer Associates Plaza
Islandia, NY 11749, U.S.A.
Tel: +1 631 342 6000; +1 800 225 5224
Fax: +1 631 342 6800
Internet: ca.com
Overview
Unicenter CA-11 has the ability to automate the process of rerunning jobs. Its run-handling capabilities
minimize restart errors by eliminating the need to perform these tasks manually. In addition, Unicenter
CA-11’s tracking system maintains job history information about job execution and performance.
Maintenance on this product has been delivered on regular service packs, which has maintained
Unicenter CA-11’s ability to noticeably reduce redundant processing time.
Unicenter CA-11 executes on any IBM or compatible computer supporting the z/OS or OS/390 operating
system. It generates management reports to gauge the magnitude of all rerun situations that exist on the
system. Unicenter CA-11 helps track and locates internal processing problems, assess how the computer
resources are being used and helps make corrective decisions while providing constructive resolutions.
Table 1: Overview
Product Name
Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Product Type
Job rerun and tracking system
Platforms Support
Any z/OS, OS/390 or higher system
Number of
Approximately 2,000
Installations
Pricing (US$)
Starts at approximately 15,244 and varies depending on the size of the processor
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Catalog Management Table (CMT)
Key Components
CMT contains information about steps and data sets for jobs executed under CA-11
Run Handler control. It contains an entry (member) for each job, a job record, a
record for every step in the job and records for every permanent dataset related to
each step. This information is supplied by a Run Manager operation that can be
designated to be in an active or passive mode.
Job Updating
The system catalog is revised to ensure integrity for a production run or a rerun.
Unwanted datasets are scratched to ensure that to-be-created datasets do not
conflict with established ones.
Unicenter CA-11 resolves generation data group (GDG) bias numbers when jobs
are restarted.
Automatic Update for
Automatically updates the CMT if a change to a VOL parameter in the job control
Volume (VOL)
language (JCL) is detected. This allows Unicenter CA-11 to maintain an accurate
Parameter Changes
JCL profile of the job.
© 2003 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Catalog Management Table (CMT)
CPU Maximum
The number of CPUs/systems that can share access via Database Address Space
(DBAS) to a CMT or Job Execution History File (JEHF) is not limited in release 3.0.
Step-Level Cleanup
SMF exits IEFUJI (JOB initiation) and IEFUSI (STEP initiation) will optionally
of Datasets
replace U11RMS cleanup functionality. Dataset cleanup will be performed at the
step level rather than in the U11RMS step for the entire job. With this feature, only
datasets that are in steps that execute are affected.
Global High-Return
This enhancement allows the specification of a GLOBAL high-return code value,
Code
thus affecting all Unicenter CA-11 jobs and works in conjunction with the current
high-return code value specified for each individual Unicenter CA-11 job and step
within the job.
Reserved Data Set
This exit can prevent datasets from being scratched and not cataloged while
Exit
Unicenter CA-11 performs GDG dataset bias resolution.
System Resource Unit (SRU) Measurement
Rerun Reporting
Varies but generally measures how a system’s resources are wasted through job or
job-segment re-executions.
Calculations of SRU
Calculated by combining each resource (CPU, disk, tape and so on) used with a
Measurements
weighting factor and job-step elapsed time. Each job yields a standard SRU figure
(resources normally required to execute the job) and, if reruns occur, also yields a
total spoilage figure.
Job Tracking
Tracking Driver
Driven by the JEHF.
File includes the following:
• Reader start date/time
• User accounting information from the JOB card
• User reason for rerun
• CPU seconds and memory used
• Tape and disk execute channel programs (EXCPs)
• SRUs and name of abending step/program
Tracking by
Unicenter CA-11 users can specify that it should track only those jobs whose
Stepname
U11RMS step has the specified stepname.
Tracking in First
The MAIN task parameter can be set to a value of one, two or three to specify the
Three Steps
maximum number of steps in each job the Tracking system will examine to find a
U11RMS step.
If a U11RMS step is found within the number of steps specified, the Tracking
system will consider the job to be a Unicenter CA-11 job.
Tracking
Allows users to selectively decide which jobs should be tracked without their history
Functionality Without
information being recorded.
a JEHF
Data Capture
Uses IBM’s System Management Facility (SMF) exit at step and job termination
Database Handling
DBAS is used to service Unicenter CA-11 database input/output (I/O) requests.
Return Code
Unicenter CA-11 ensures that the return codes of the steps skipped during
Processing
rerun/restart are posted back to the appropriate system control blocks so those
times.
conditional execution tests remain valid.
© 2003 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Catalog Management Table (CMT)
Control Record
Points to job-related production records.
Each production record points to related rerun records.
Status tags indicate the following:
• Complete (JCL executed successfully)
• Abended (unresolved execution problem)
• Executing
• Set for rerun
Job-level selectivity through an exit is also supported.
Job-Tracking
Tracking facility generates three report types: Job, Spoilage and Elapsed Time.
Reporting
Job Report gathers statistics for a user-specified group of jobs (for example,
payroll). All jobs, both with and without reruns, are listed.
The Spoilage Report
Summarizes the impact of reruns on system resources.
Direct Usage and
Provided in absolute numbers (I/O counts), in SRUs and in relative percentages.
Spoilage Data
Users may install their own algorithm at a provided exit.
The Elapsed Time
Provides per-job summaries of the time required for a successful execution.
Report
Date/time entries are supplied for job submission, start and end times.
Subtotals and totals are provided for the job group.
Converter/Interpreter
Prevents datasets in skipped steps from being seen during restart, eliminating
Text Exit
unnecessary data set enqueues.
Enhanced
Exit U11SSSEX is now presented with job name, job class, useID and job card
Subsystem Selection
accounting information as parameters.
Rerun Handling
The Unicenter CA-11
Can be inserted into the standard job JCL.
Rerun and Restart
Step
Internal Logic
The product’s rerun facility contains a restart capability for abended jobs. The rerun
task can be activated manually, or it can be activated and handled automatically in
Auto-Setup mode.
Auto-Setup Facility
An active function that determines where a job abended and where a job should be
restarted.
Has the ability to use the same set of JCLs to handle production runs, reruns and
restarts.
Can also be used with JCL condition codes to handle runs and reruns without
modification to the existing JCL.
Online Reason-for-
A command, UPRS, allows clients to update the internal Reason-for-Rerun Table
Rerun Update
online.
Command
AutoCMT and JEHF
An automated function the DBAS started task, using user-defined criteria, performs
Maintenance
maintenance previously performed by batch utilities.
Elimination of F
Allows multiple Unicenter CA-11 Format (F) processes to update the database
Processing
simultaneously.
Serialization
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Catalog Management Table (CMT)
Report Generation
The Pull List
Data Set Report
A Pull List displays resources needed to have the steps executed.
A batch program that creates a list of output data sets and, if needed, input
datasets.
Data Set Cross-
Helps identify the extent of the dataset problem and then tracks down jobs that may
Reference Report
have processed bad data.
Detail Report
Documents jobs and lists production and rerun statistics. This report does not track
reruns.
Summary Handling
Provides a five-year summary of production runs and reruns for the facility.
Report
Online Operations
Subsystem Support
Facilities for interactive operations under Customer Information Control System
(CICS), Time-Sharing Option (TSO) and CA-Roscoe, and TSO/Interactive System
Productivity Facility (ISPF). A simulation Capability allows the operator to test
proposed modifications before putting them into production.
Multiple Subsystem
MSSF allows multiple Unicenter CA-11 subsystems to be installed and to run
Facility (MSSF)
concurrently on the same CPU.
Installation Support
Support for installation and maintenance via IBM’s System Modification Program
Extended (SMP/E) procedures.
Other
Unicenter CA-11 can be used with BrightStor CA-1 Tape Management or BrightStor
Complementary
CA-Dynam/Tape Library Management System (TLMS) Tape Management systems
Products
to control tape-resident dataset expiration periods.
Unicenter CA-7 Job Management, Unicenter CA-Jobtrac Job Management or
Unicenter CA-Scheduler Job Management can invoke Unicenter CA-11’s rerun and
tracking facility.
Unicenter CA-11’s rerun and tracking facility are accessible from various graphical
tools, such as the various workstations and desktop suites. These graphical tools
allow access to a mainframe-based job manager (such as Unicenter CA-7) and
Unicenter CA-11 using the same tool. The desktop suites also provide the capability
to access Unicenter CA-11 from a Web browser.
Communications and Connectivity
Communications
Unicenter CA-11’s online system is accessible via ISPF, Unicenter CA-7, Unicenter
Access Method
CA-7 Job Management Workstation Option, Unicenter CA-7 Job Management
Desktop Suite Option, Unicenter CA-Scheduler, Unicenter CA-Scheduler Job
Management Workstation Option, Unicenter CA-Scheduler Job Management
Desktop Suite Option, Unicenter CA-Jobtrac, Unicenter CA-Jobtrac Job
Management Workstation Option, Unicenter CA-Jobtrac Job Management Desktop
Suite Option, CA-Roscoe Interactive Environment, CICS and the operating system
(OS) Console.
Security Features
External Security
External security software, such as eTrust CA-ACF2 Security, eTrust CA-Top
Integration
Secret Security and Resource Access Control Facility (RACF), can control security
functions, such as sign-on transaction and job-name access.
© 2003 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
Table 2: Features and Functions: Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking
Catalog Management Table (CMT)
Installation of New
In prior releases of Unicenter CA-11, the SMF exit stubs and the Unicenter CA-11
Release Without
Supervisor Call (SVC) changed names at the release level and required an IPL. The
Initial Program Load
names are now static, and an IPL will no longer be required to install the new
(IPL)
versions. Computer Associates Resource Initialization Resource Manager
(CARIRM) will load fresh versions of the SVC and the SMF exit stubs, and restarting
DBAS will load fresh versions of the DBAS modules.
DBAS Recovery
Unicenter CA-11 exploits the IBM ARM functionality of z/OS and OS/390 to improve
Using IBM’s
the time it takes to recover from a system outage.
Automated Recovery
Management (ARM)
Dynamic Detection
Automatically unlocks the job member(s) without requiring manual intervention
of Invalid Locks
whenever Unicenter CA-11 detects invalid lock conditions during normal
read/update processing.
Analysis
The most recent release of Unicenter CA-11 Rerun and Tracking is Version 3.0. It provides a higher level
of availability by taking advantage of Advantage CA-Datacom/AD and IBM’s ARM. Advantage CADatacom/AD is a black-box version of CA’s database management system Advantage CA-Datacom/DB,
which is used for Unicenter CA-11’s CMT and the JEHF. This means that customers will not need to bring
Unicenter CA-11 down in order to perform various maintenance tasks related to the CMT and JEHF.
CA is in the process of pulling together stand-alone products under integrated umbrellas. What the final
repertoire of suites will look like is being structured.
However, rerun/restart control is not a new concept. It has been built into almost every data management
product, from database management systems (DBMSs) to the operating system itself, in the form of
“checkpoint/restart” functionality. Despite all the claims of error-free application development products and
never-break-down hardware, the need for reruns is still prevalent. This is even more evident in enterprises
that center their operations around automatic scheduling systems based on the z/OS or OS/390 operating
environments with high-activity operations. This is the type of product that handles all major and minor
issues automatically and gets things back on track with little or no intervention by operating personnel.
The savings in time and money are considerable.
Pricing
Purchase prices begin at approximately US$15,244 and vary depending on the size of the processor
being implemented.
GSA Pricing
Yes.
Competitors
•
Allen Systems Group’s ASGZEBB
•
BMC Software’s CONTROL-M/Restart
•
Cybermation’s ESP Encore
© 2003 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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Computer Associates Unicenter CA-11 Restart and Tracking Software
In addition, rerun control is built into almost every data management product, from DBMSs to the
operating system itself, in the form of “restart” functionality.
Strengths
Saves Processing Time
Large z/OS or OS/390 installations, where processing is very time-consuming and costly, are the targets
for Unicenter CA-11. Its design is based on reducing or eliminating costly job reruns. It trims overhead
costs associated with rerun machine and peripheral usage time, eliminating job setup time for production
work, test time in the development cycle and the need to have a human resource available in case of an
emergency.
Security
Because of its online orientation, it permits the operator to query the system in real time and to view the
up-to-the-minute status of any job. It supports a high degree of internal and external security to prevent
unauthorized job access and manipulation. If the installation requires additional security, the CA security
product eTrust CA-ACF2 or eTrust CA-Top Secret can be integrated into the configuration. IBM’s RACF is
also supported.
Integration
Unicenter CA-11 can be integrated with most of the CA products in the z/OS/OS/390-based information
center control product groups, as well as with other IBM and third-party applications. It is most frequently
implemented along with CA’s Unicenter CA-7 Job Management system.
Limitations
Restrictive DBMS Support
The product lacks support for DBMSs other than CA’s Advantage Datacom/AD (a black-box version of the
software product).
Insight
Unicenter CA-11 is one of the many mature products in CA’s repertoire of offerings, but one that still pays
for itself many times over. Unicenter CA-11 is still known to be responsible for significantly cutting down
on redundant processing time, helping management minimize or eliminate the time lost to restart and
tracking efforts. Unicenter CA-11 can help track and locate internal processing problems, assess how the
computer resources are being used and help make corrective decisions while providing constructive
resolutions. Unicenter CA-11 has been available for a long time and will probably be around for many
more years.
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DPRO-90022
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