IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS

Optimize COBOL performance without recompilation, source code migration or performance tuning

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COBOL program modules optimization

IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS® (ABO) improves COBOL performance without recompiling the source code. It optimizes binary code to reduce CPU usage, cut costs and speed processing, preserving logic and compatibility across both legacy and active modules on IBM Z®.

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Boost performance without recompiling

ABO optimizes existing COBOL modules at the binary level, no source code or recompilation needed. Achieve performance gains comparable to Enterprise COBOL 6 recompilation, reducing risk in modernization initiatives.
Accelerate testing and deployment cycles

ABO maintains strict functional compatibility, meaning fewer changes and faster testing. With ABO Assistant, teams can quickly evaluate results and move optimized code into production with confidence and minimal disruption.
Modernize core apps and reduce overhead

Bring critical COBOL applications into the modern IBM Z ecosystem. ABO delivers improved performance and hardware ROI while helping reduce overall operating costs, without the complexity of full refactoring.
Cut CPU consumption and software costs

ABO-optimized modules require less CPU, which helps reduce MIPS usage and associated software licensing costs. This makes ABO a practical and efficient way to improve workload efficiency and overall system economics.

Features

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Advanced program optimization

Optimizes COBOL programs to run on latest IBM Z servers without source code recompilation. The optimized modules that ABO produces will run faster and will have the same behavior as the original COBOL modules.

 Testing optimized modules Using the SCAN option
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Comprehensive compiler eligibility

Can optimize CSECTs within program modules that were generated by current supported COBOL compilers as well as legacy compilers as far back as VS COBOL II 1.3.

 Eligible COBOL compilers Using ABO and Enterprise COBOL together
Representation of CPU compilation and processing
Automated program evaluation and optimization

The ABO Assistant is a suite of tools that accelerate deployment by automating the main steps of profiling, identifying, and optimizing your top CPU consuming COBOL programs. It also reports before and after performance results to ensure that your optimized modules are prepared for deployment.

 Using the ABO Assistant
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Application performance reporting

The IBM Run Time Instrumentation (RTI) Profiler helps validate optimization results by collecting and reporting on the execution time CPU performance characteristics of your batch z/OS and CICS® applications.

 IBM Run Time Instrumentation Profiler overview
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IBM DevOps tooling support

Optimized modules are supported by IBM Debug for z/OS, Fault Analyzer for z/OS and Application Performance Analyzer for z/OS which are included in Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS (ADFz).

 ADFz tools
Representation of the programming process
Advanced program optimization

Optimizes COBOL programs to run on latest IBM Z servers without source code recompilation. The optimized modules that ABO produces will run faster and will have the same behavior as the original COBOL modules.

 Testing optimized modules Using the SCAN option
Representation of compiler expansion and optimization
Comprehensive compiler eligibility

Can optimize CSECTs within program modules that were generated by current supported COBOL compilers as well as legacy compilers as far back as VS COBOL II 1.3.

 Eligible COBOL compilers Using ABO and Enterprise COBOL together
Representation of CPU compilation and processing
Automated program evaluation and optimization

The ABO Assistant is a suite of tools that accelerate deployment by automating the main steps of profiling, identifying, and optimizing your top CPU consuming COBOL programs. It also reports before and after performance results to ensure that your optimized modules are prepared for deployment.

 Using the ABO Assistant
Representation of performance analysis
Application performance reporting

The IBM Run Time Instrumentation (RTI) Profiler helps validate optimization results by collecting and reporting on the execution time CPU performance characteristics of your batch z/OS and CICS® applications.

 IBM Run Time Instrumentation Profiler overview
Support tool representation
IBM DevOps tooling support

Optimized modules are supported by IBM Debug for z/OS, Fault Analyzer for z/OS and Application Performance Analyzer for z/OS which are included in Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS (ADFz).

 ADFz tools

Compare editions

Editions Cloud trial edition

Experience the power of ABO today with a no-charge 90-day license. No installation is required.

 Try it free On-premises trial edition

Install ABO at your site with a no-charge 90-day license.

 Obtain from Shopz Fully licensed and supported edition

Get a fully functional licensed product for production use with world-class IBM support. 

 Obtain from Shopz

Purpose

ABO evaluation

ABO evaluation

Production deployments

License terms

90-day evaluation

90-day evaluation

IPLA sub capacity

Requires installation

ABO Assistant included

IBM Software Subscription and Support (S&S)

Production deployments

    

Technical details

Operating systems

Optimized modules run on z/OS 2.3 and later operating systems.

 Hardware requirements

Optimized modules run on all models of IBM z14®, IBM z15®, IBM z16™ and IBM z17™ servers.

 System requirements for RTI Profiler

See supported z/OS versions for using RTI profiled in batch or in CICS.

Technical changes to the ABO documentation

See the latest version of documentation for Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS 2.2

Case studies

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Banking Optimize critical COBOL code

Discover how ABO enables BBVA Francés to enhance the processing power of their IBM Z server, boosting its performance.

Read the case study
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Banking Improve program performance

Discover how ABO helped a large Asian bank optimize modules, which preserved the original program behavior while improving its performance.

Read the case study
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Insurance Modernize core applications

Discover how UnipolSai Assicurazioni uses ABO to get their legacy applications to harness the latest hardware facilities.

Read the case study
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Insurance Reduce response time

Discover how ABO helped Taiyo Life obtain 20% CPU time reduction on their IBM Z server, improving response time to customers and exceeding expectations.

Read the case study

Resources

ABO Essentials Badge

Explore the business value, features, practical implementation and best practices of ABO.
Fixes and latest features

See a complete list of the latest releases, refreshes, fix packs and interim fixes sorted by version.
Ideas portal

Submit, view, vote and comment on ideas to improve ABO. Log in with your IBMid or create a new one.

Learn about ABO Assistant, which is designed to simplify ABO evaluation and accelerate the deployment of ABO-optimized modules.

Learn how to use ABO Assistant with the JCL to run your COBOL applications.
Next steps

Start your free trial to see IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS in action and learn how it can be customized for your business needs with guidance from an expert.

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