Are you considering a z17 upgrade but worried about the impact it may have on your critical workloads? With IBM z Performance and Capacity Analytics, you can utilize its ‘What-If’ analysis capability to see what your current workload will look like on your new machine. As Z machines become more efficient and powerful, understanding what a z17 would look like with your actual workload will help take the guesswork out of planning for the future upgrade.
How What-If analysis works in IZPCA
IZPCA takes your current data and simulates what it will look like on the new processor. What-If reports can also be used to simulate an upgrade to your current Z processor, through adding additional engines.
1. Select your data window
Select your data range — months for trends or weeks/days for detailed insights — specify the MVS system and shift and choose to run the report in MIPS or MSU. This gives you control over what data you want to use from your current environment to be involved in the analysis.
2. Pick your target machine
The critical piece of the analysis is the new machine you want to run your analysis against. This may be the z17 you are thinking about upgrading to OR it could be a scenario where you are looking at a different engine type with the same type of machine you have now. You can pick from a wide variety of machine and engine configurations for z15, z16 and z17.
3. Apply a growth factor
To future-proof your upgrade, include a growth factor — such as your expected percentage increase in workload — so the model scales historical metrics accordingly. By adjusting this factor, you can simulate different expansion scenarios and ensure capacity planning keeps pace with your business growth.
4. Run the simulation
Once the analysis is completed, you’ll see a side-by-side comparison of your current workload and the projected workload on the new or upgraded machine. A detailed LPAR breakdown lets you drill into each partition’s consumption, providing the granular insights needed for precise capacity planning.
See it for yourself
Ready to remove the uncertainty from your next upgrade? Contact your IBM account manager today to schedule a live demo of IZPCA’s What-If analysis on z17 and start planning your future with confidence.
Additional Information:
IBM z Performance and Capacity Analytics introduced APAR PH65780 to add z17 support — updating the LSPR MIPS table and enabling ingestion of new or modified Extended Hardware counters.