I wonder if the "contention" you mentioned come from looking at IBM i PDI chart on Wait Time or not? If not, I suggest you use 3 IBM i PDI charts named Wait Overview and Wait by Generic Job or Task ans Wait By Subsystem to see the nature of the performance problem as expressed through the relative amount of each type of wait time (compared to Dispatched CU Time).
If you see little or no CPU Queuing and/or Machine Level Gate Serialization Time, then increasing the number of CPU cores would NOT address the issue. You can read case 2 of my published articles here for some insight: https://www.itjungle.com/author/satid-singkorapoom/
If you see a lot of Database record Lock Contention and/or Seize Contention Time and you know the jobs with high value of these wait times run SQL, you focus on using SQL Plan Cache and Visual Explain or System-Wide Index Advisor to identify and create advised indexes (and also using DB2 SMP) which will improve the jobs' performance AND can reduce those contention time.
Original Message:
Sent: Wed August 28, 2024 05:34 PM
From: Félix Mejía Mejía
Subject: Implications of IBM I Trial CoD activation of cores on IBM Software Licensing
Thank you, Satid.
I had suspected that the IBM SW PIDs not associated with RCH would not be covered by the TCoD T&Cs. The solution you described, utilizing workload groups, is indeed a clever way to avoid any potential licensing infringements for those products.
Regarding the use of TCoD, as an IBM Business Partner, we occasionally encounter customers who experience contention and extended processing times that are not easily optimized. In such cases, we utilize the Trial mechanism to assess system performance with additional capacity. This trial is typically accompanied by a performance assessment to recommend potential tuning and upgrade suggestions if necessary. Following the trial, we can provide the customer with a more accurate growth recommendation, often leading to an order placement.
I will also be considering the possibility of trying to request a trial for the IBM SW Products not covered by the Trial T&Cs, as many of our customers use WAS and MQ.
Thank you for your insightful response. It has been very helpful!
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Félix Mejía Mejía
Original Message:
Sent: Mon August 26, 2024 09:44 PM
From: Satid S
Subject: Implications of IBM I Trial CoD activation of cores on IBM Software Licensing
Dear Felix
I see that any IBM SW products that do not belong to IBM Rochester are not covered in Trial Capacity On Demand's T&C. I'm quite sure WAS and MQ do not belong to IBM Rochester. You should reach IBM BP from which you purchased WAS and MQ or your local IBM office for answers to your questions. But I have a hunch that you may likely be asked to pay for additional licenses for WAS and MQ for this case. What can you do then? Read on.
One IBM i feature, as of release 7.1, you can use for your situation is what is called Workload Group that you can limit WAS and MQ workload to just 10 cores (or less, you do not want WAS and MQ to consume all, right?). I just stumble on this IBM Technote that even mentions its application to WAS and MQ to address your situation: IBM i Workload Groups at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-workload-groups.
Configuring IBM i Workload Group is straightforward for anyone who has basic skill in configuring IBM i subsystem and job description. These articles provide description on how to configure Workload Group: Guru: What Are Workload Groups And Why Should You Use Them? at https://www.itjungle.com/2021/09/13/guru-what-are-workload-groups-and-why-should-you-use-them/ and Workload Group Configuration with IBM i 7.3 at https://dawnmayi.com/2016/07/28/workload-group-configuration-with-ibm-i-7-3-2/. There was an enhancement in IBM i 7.4 (also PTF for 7.3) that made Workload Group more convenient for its deployment. Do a Google on "ibm i workload group" for more.
BTW, being specialized in IBM i performance, may I ask what your motive is for using Trial Capacity of additional 8 cores on top of the base 10-core power? Is there any performance issue that your organization is trying to address? If so, could you describe the issue?
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Satid S
Original Message:
Sent: Fri August 23, 2024 03:32 PM
From: Félix Mejía Mejía
Subject: Implications of IBM I Trial CoD activation of cores on IBM Software Licensing
Hello everyone,
I am seeking clarification on the licensing implications of initiating an IBM i trial on a Power System server or partitions that are already running other IBM software, such as IBM MQ and WebSphere Application Server, which are not under the IBM i umbrella.
Consider the following scenario: I have an LPAR with 10 IBM i cores and I request an additional 8 cores through the Standard Trial Processor Request (STDP) to evaluate the impact of increased capacity on the LPAR. During the 30-day trial period, the license for IBM i and its related products is covered. However, I am uncertain about the compliance status of IBM WebSphere Application Server and IBM MQ installed on the same LPAR. Does the trial extend to these other IBM software products, or would the system be out of compliance? Additionally, when requesting a trial for IBM i, is it possible to simultaneously request a trial for IBM MQ and WebSphere Application Server?
I appreciate any insights or guidance on this matter.
Thank you and regards,
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Félix Mejía Mejía
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