Using the collected data
The collected data can be used in different ways.
When trace data is actually collected, it is written to an output data set. The name of the data set is specified by you, either during an interactive ISPF dialog or in a batch job. Nevertheless, some conventions are recommended in File and data set naming conventions.
- The data can directly be used to create summary or detail activity reports on the host.
- To view the data in graphical form on the client, a bpd file must be created from the trace data and downloaded to the client.
- To perform optimizations of object placements and buffer pool sizes on the client, a bpd file must be created from the trace data and downloaded to the client.
- To perform simulations on the client, the trace data must be downloaded to the client. The creation of a bpd file is not required because Buffer Pool Analyzer uses the raw, binary data for this purpose.
- To perform object placements and simulations, the trace data and the bpd file must be downloaded.
- To perform long-term analyses of performance data, one or more historical or current bpd files must be available on the client.
For the matter of completeness, note that data from several collect tasks can also be accumulated in a single data set, which then can be used to create reports and bpd files. Also, multiple input data sets can be used as combined input to create reports and bpd files. However, these uses are subject to some restrictions, which are described at the appropriate places in this information.
Finally, note that the functions that create activity reports and bpd files provide options to select subsets from collected and accumulated data to limit the scope of the output in reports or bpd files. All details are described in Creating activity reports and bpd files.