z/OS Workload Manager (WLM)

The Workload Manager component of the z/OS® system (referred to as WLM) monitors a sysplex and determines how much resource should be given to each item of work in the sysplex to meet the goals that you have defined for it. It also reports data about the work.

The set of parameters that you specify to z/OS Workload Manager is called a service definition. The service definition includes a combination of policies, groupings, rules, and classes that you set up to tell z/OS Workload Manager how to manage the work within the sysplex. Some key things you can do with the service definition are:
  • Identify each item of work in the sysplex that can be managed by z/OS Workload Manager (such as a CICS® region, or a CICS transaction).
  • Group items of work together when they have similar requirements.
  • Set the performance goals that should be implemented for each type of work.
  • Specify how each type of work should be reported.
You use the WLM administrative application on ISPF to set up the parameters for workload management.
A CICS region is identified in two ways to z/OS Workload Manager:
  • As an address space, on the basis of the startup subsystem, which is either a JES batch job or a started task (STC). The JES or STC classification rules are set up using the job name taken from the JCL. This always needs to be done, whether you choose to manage the CICS work by region or by transaction.
  • As a CICS subsystem, using the CICS subsystem classification rules. The CICS subsystem classification rules are set up using the applid of the CICS region. Sub-rules for individual transactions, or groups of transactions with similar characteristics, can be set up under the CICS subsystem classification rules. You only need to do this if you want to manage the CICS work by transaction.
This learning path briefly explains the key concepts of service classes and report classes, and of managing by region goals or transaction goals, particularly as they relate to CICS. To find out more information about z/OS Workload Manager, and to learn how to set up classes and goals, see the following resources: