What is the single most significant price you have as a Mainframe supervisor? Computer software licensing costs – the standard fees essential to operate software, and to get assist if it breaks. This write-up presents ten methods to deliver these expenses down to earth.
Examine you actually require it.
Don’t chortle. This sounds obvious, but it really is only also effortless for software program that is no more time essential to slip via the cracks. For illustration, you might have some software program that was at first necessary for CICS applications that have since moved in other places.
You may possibly also have computer software accredited for all z/OS images, but only utilized on 1.
Examine you genuinely use it.
As your Mainframe workload alterations in excess of time, it truly is only also simple for the use of a computer software product to quietly decline without Mainframe professionals noticing. You may be spending hundreds of bucks for a item that only a few of folks are really making use of.
You need to often analyse the use of your software, and schedule the elimination of any software program no more time necessary.
Examine you never have two goods carrying out the identical issue.
You may use all your software program, but have two computer software merchandise performing the exact same or equivalent operate. You need to totally knowing your application stock, and specifically how every item is utilised.
Look into sub-potential pricing.
Most application licensing costs are based on the dimensions of every LPAR managing that software – the MSU ranking. You can uncover this benefit from the IBM internet site or a program to contact IBM’s IWMQVS provider.
A couple of many years back IBM released yet another option: Sub-Capability Pricing. This is the place your software program licensing charges are based on your CPU utilization, not on your LPAR size. So application operating on a lesser-used LPAR will be cheaper. It also makes updates easier to justify as you never get hit by improved software program fees with the more substantial processor.
IBM isn’t really the only vendor providing Sub-Capability Pricing. Other vendors this kind of as BMC and CA are also jumping on the bandwagon.
Reorganise your LPARs.
Numerous internet sites now operate at least one particular ‘capped’ LPAR, which means that the CPU resources available to it are artificially capped making use of Workload Supervisor (WLM). Computer software that is charged on MSU score is operate in this capped LPAR, decreasing expenses.
End users of Sub-Capability pricing might consider performing the opposite: consolidating LPARs. This minimizes CPU usage by decreasing the overhead of working a z/OS image.
Examine comparable products.
Examine the cost of competing goods, and take into account moving to cheaper Bus Management Software kinds. For illustration, SAS end users may possibly consider the SAS substitute solution WPS by World Programming.
It really is true that in some instances transferring to distinct items can be really challenging and pricey. However it isn’t really always so, and many suppliers supply migration resources to relieve this discomfort.
Tune your programs.
Tuning your programs lowers CPU usage (good for Sub-Capability pricing consumers), and delays updates to bigger processors.
Move off the Mainframe.
Mainframe CPU methods are high-priced when compared with other platforms. So it may possibly be value considering migrating some of your workload. For instance:
Software items such as Tachyon Assembler Workbench and Microfocus Mainframe Categorical let you to perform Mainframe software advancement on Windows and UNIX platforms.
Some items this sort of as Websphere Enterprise Service Bus and CICS Transaction Gateway daemon run on equally z/OS and other platforms.
Some workloads may possibly easily be moved to other platforms. SOA and relevant companies now makes Mainframe providers and info less difficult to accessibility from other platforms.
Improve your Mainframe.
For the previous couple of zSeries processor generations IBM has been supplying a 10% MSU ‘discount’. In other phrases, a z10 processor will have an MSU ranking that is close to 10% reduce than an equal z9 processor. This interprets to application license price cost savings.
Spend in Speciality Processors.
IBM now gives Speciality Processors this kind of as the Built-in Information Processor (zIIP) and Application Aid Processor (zAAP). These particular processors can not do ‘normal’ function, but can be provided certain operate by regular Mainframe processors. This can enhance the performance of Java applications and other subsystems this kind of as DB2. But the intriguing advantage is that the function carried out by these processors doesn’t rely in the direction of your CPU usage if you use Sub-Ability Pricing.
Many new software program merchandise are also off-loading work on to these Speciality Processors, including software from BMC and CA.
It isn’t going to get a rocket scientist to know that applying any of these ten methods is a large undertaking, and wants to be performed often. Nevertheless you do have some tools to make this simpler.
Usage Application. IBMs Tivoli License Compliance Manager (changing Isogon SoftAudit for z/OS and Ubiquity Dorana) will immediately list all computer software mounted, who employs it, and how frequently.
Security Computer software. Mainframe security computer software has services that can aid you monitor application utilization. For case in point, enabling RACF plan management to log obtain to specific plans can notify you who is making use of a product, and how typically.
IBM. IBM give a free of charge Sub-Ability preparing resource to assist you program for Sub Potential licensing.
Application Sellers. Inquire them for data about software program goods you already have, and choices they may have for your present application.
Your Systems Programmer. You secret weapon in the combat in opposition to computer software licensing fees. Methods Programmers install and customise all your z/OS software program, so they usually know what it does, and possibly who makes use of it. They can also setup checking to figure out who is utilizing which software and how usually, and will be your scout when hunting for substitute software items and freeware.
