Automated operations
Automated operations are tools and techniques that help you improve your installation's productivity. As your system grows more complex and your message traffic increases, automating certain tasks can increase your system's efficiency.
You can use automated operations to:
- Minimize errors
- Increase availability
- Expedite problem diagnosis and prevention
IMS provides the following tools to help you automate your operations:
- Time-Controlled Operations (TCO)
- Automated Operator Interface (AOI)
- REXX SPOC API
IMS operations can also be automated using Tivoli® NetView for z/OS®. Because Tivoli NetView for z/OS functions independently of IMS, it can gather information and issue commands that are not available to IMS.
There are many advantages for automating tasks. Many of the jobs that operators perform are simple, repetitive tasks, such as monitoring the system and issuing recovery commands. You can often automate these jobs and thereby free the operator for more complex activities, such as implementing operational procedures.
In the IMS environment, TCO and AOI can improve your operator productivity by:
- Improving operator productivity and accuracy. Automating operator tasks simplifies procedures, reduces operator input, and minimizes operator errors. For example, TCO can reduce operator input by automatically monitoring system status, starting message regions and telecommunication lines, and notifying users of system status.
- Expediting problem determination. An operator's primary job is to bypass or fix problems quickly. If adequate information about a problem is not available, it might not be possible for the operator to fix it quickly. Automated operations are especially suited for problem determination. For example, TCO can automatically gather necessary information and do diagnostic analysis so that a problem can be quickly identified and corrected.
Identifying operations that can be automated and implementing them requires a sound understanding of your installation's operations. You must collect and analyze various resources to identify which tasks are good candidates for automation. Resources you should analyze include:
- System logs
- Problem management reports
- Record of calls to the help desk
- Operators' notes
Repetitive and predictable tasks are good candidates for automation.
The process of automating operations should be an iterative one. After you have developed and used automated procedures, you should evaluate them and, in the process, consider whether any new tasks can be automated.
Related reading:
- For more information about automation tools provided with IMS, see IMS Version 15.3 Operations and Automation.
- For more information about Tivoli NetView for z/OS, see Tivoli NetView for z/OS Installation: Getting Started or the Tivoli NetView for z/OS User's Guide.