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.
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:
- z/OS MVS Planning: Workload Management has a full technical description of z/OS Workload Manager and instructions for using the WLM ISPF Application.
- IBM Redbooks: System Programmer's Guide to: Workload Manager explains the functions of z/OS Workload Manager and provides information and best practice samples for implementing these functions, including some specific hints for efficiently classifying and reporting on CICS transactions and regions.
- The IBM Workload Manager for z/OS web page has more resources for z/OS Workload Manager, including articles, presentations, and a history of functions added to the component.