SPARTA News
April 2016
SPARTA President’s Corner
contributed by Randy Springs
We are back into Daylight Saving Time as we enter the month of April, and my Tar Heels are in Houston for the Final Four. At my company, we are still turning on new features on our z13 processor, trying to find “hidden MIPS” savings. I’m learning more than I ever wanted to know about the new SMF type 113 hardware instrumentation services records, which is still being enhanced with new fields to document new measurements such as RNI (relative nesting intensity). We are also in the process of obtaining two more z13s to upgrade our two CECs running z/VM and Linux on z exclusively. We’re looking forward to seeing benefits from the simultaneous multithreading feature.
This month, our speaker will be Ed Webb from SAS, to fill us in on what he gleaned from attending SHARE in San Antonio. Ed’s presentations are always full of hot topics and future enhancements to the IBM hardware and software portfolio. Plan to come at 6:15 for barbecue and dessert.
I look forward to seeing you at LabCorp on Tuesday, April 5.
Randy Springs
BB&T
Future Speakers
(subject to change)
April 5, 2016 - SHARE Conference Reports by SPARTA Members
May 3, 2016 - CONIC IT by Deb Hudson of SDS
June 7, 2016 - TBD
We need ideas and volunteers for future speakers. Presentations don’t have to be fancy, just informative and interesting. Even a 5 or 10 minute talk can start an interesting interaction. Contact Ron Pimblett by phone as noted below.
2015-2016 SPARTA
Board of Directors
Randy Springs - President
BB&T (919) 745-5241
3200 Beechleaf Court, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27604
Ron Pimblett - Vice President
MDI Data Systems 919-426-6518
866-634-3282
Raleigh, NC 27609
Mike Lockey - Secretary
Guilford Co. Information Services 336-641-6235
201 N. Eugene St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Tommy Thomas - Treasurer
LabCorp 336-436-4178
3060 S. Church St.
Burlington, NC 27215
Ed Webb - Communications Director
SAS Institute Inc. 919-531-4162
SAS Campus Drive
Cary, NC 27513
Meetings
Meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday evening of each month (except no meeting in January), with optional dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.
These monthly meetings usually are held at LabCorp’s Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology (CMBP) near the Research Triangle Park (see last page). Take I-40 to Miami Boulevard and go north. Turn right onto T.W. Alexander Drive. Go about a mile or so. Then turn right into LabCorp complex and turn Left to the CMBP Building (1912 T.W. Alexander Drive). In the lobby, sign in as a visitor to see Tommy Thomas. Tommy will escort you to the conference room.
Call for Articles
If you have any ideas for speakers, presentations, newsletter articles, or are interested in taking part in a presentation, PLEASE contact one of the Board of Directors with your suggestions.
Newsletter e-Mailings
The SPARTA policy is to e-mail a monthly notice to our SPARTA-RTP Group. The newsletter is posted to the website about five (5) days before each meeting so you can prepare. The SPARTA-RTP Group is maintained by Chris Blackshire; if you have corrections or problems receiving your meeting notice, contact Chris at chrisbl@nc.rr.com.
October 2015 “CBT Tape” Shareware Online
The directory and files from the latest CBT tape V490 (dated October 26, 2015) are available from www.cbttape.org.
If you need help obtaining one or more files, contact Ed Webb at SAS (see Board of Director’s list for contact info).
Minutes of the March 1, 2016 Meeting
•Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Randy Springs, the SPARTA President.
•The meeting was held at a LabCorp conference room in RTP, N.C.
•Six (6) people were present of which all Six (6) are 2015 members.
•Everyone in the room introduced themselves, told
where they worked, and briefly described their job functions or
their job hunting challenges.
•The minutes for the February meeting were approved as published in the March 2016 newsletter.
•The Treasurer's report was read by Tommy Thomas. The current balance of $199.93 as appeared in the March newsletter was approved as read.
OLD BUSINESS
•Articles are needed for this newsletter. If you want to write an article for this newsletter, please contact Ed Webb. Keep in mind that you don't really need to write the article, it can be an article that you read that you would like to share with the membership.
•The SPARTA Web site is available at http://www.spartanc.org. Please send any comments or suggestions about the Web page to Mike Lockey. Be sure to check the Web site every once in a while to see any new or changed information.
•Tommy reminded everyone to leave the LabCorp
conference room clean.
•Future Speakers and Topics (subject to change based on internal politics, budget, the weather):
|
Date |
Company |
Speaker |
Topic |
|
April 5, 2016 |
Various |
SHARE Attendees |
SHARE March 2016 Update |
|
May 3, 2016 |
IBM |
Rosalind Radcliff |
CAMSS-DevOPS |
|
June 7, 2016 |
Rocket Software |
Paul Pendle |
DB2 Logs and all |
|
July 12, 2016 |
SZS |
David Wilson |
4HRA Peak |
|
August 2, 2016 |
EMC |
Mike Fishman |
Architecting Data Protection |
|
August 30, 2016 |
Baseball night |
Tommy’s Spit Ball |
Fun at the Park |
|
Oct 4, 2016 |
Various |
SHARE Attendees |
Share Atlanta Information |
|
November 1, 2016 |
TBD |
|
|
|
December 6, 2016 |
TBD |
|
|
If you have suggestions about speakers and topics, contact Ron Pimblett
(919-833-8426).
•The next SPARTA monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, April 5,
2016 at LabCorp in RTP.
•Food for the April 5 meeting will be BarBQ.
•The 2016 dues are due ($30) starting in March 2016. Please pay Tommy Thomas.
•Thanks to LabCorp and Tommy Thomas for hosting the meeting.
•There are currently 65 people on the SPARTA-RTP email list.
•Send any e-mail address changes to Chris
Blackshire so he can update the SPARTA-RTP Listserv. You will be
added by the moderator (Chris = SPARTA-RTP-owner@yahoogroups.com) sending you an invitation to Join
the list.
NEW BUSINESS
• We need to think about getting more corporate sponsors for 2016.
• We need to think about the 2016 officer nomination process.
• Garry Grandlienard is hosting the Carolinas zEnterprise Council meeting at Lowes in Morrisville, NC on April 8, 2016.
•The business portion of the meeting ended about 8:00 p.m.
PRESENTATION
Round Table by Those at the Meeting
• Some of the Topics Reviewed:
- Hercules Software general Install and Running Information with URLs
- Securing Your LinkedIn Account Options
- eBook on Understanding Linux Fundamentals (99 pages)
- Linux Knoppix Highlights with URLs
- Linux Ubunto-Ubermix Information with URLs
- Cheap Printer Ink Information and URLs
- LabCorp sample Performance Charts
• The presentation and meeting ended about 9:12 P.M.
Treasurer’s Report for March 2016
contributed by Tommy Thomas
The balance in the account is $507.02 as of March 18, 2016.
SPARTA Financial Report
3/01/2016 through 3/18/2016
|
INCOME |
|
|
Opening Balance |
97.47 |
|
Total Deposits |
|
|
Donation |
0.00 |
|
Other |
29.55 |
|
Dues |
380.00 |
|
TOTAL INCOME |
$507.02 |
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|
|
Food |
0.00 |
|
Web Site |
0.00 |
|
Petty Cash |
100.00 |
|
Bank Service Charge |
0.00 |
|
TOTAL EXPENSE |
$100.00 |
|
|
|
|
BANK BALANCE |
407.02 |
|
PETTY CASH |
100.00 |
|
TOTAL CASH |
$507.02 |
Items of Interest
SPARTA Schedule and Menu for 2016
contributed by Tommy Thomas and Chris Blackshire
Apr 5, 2016 - BarBQ
May 3, 2016 - Pizza
June 7, 2016 - Chicken
July 12, 2016 - Subs (avoid July 4 holiday)
Aug 2, 2016 - BarBQ
Aug 30, 2016 - Durham Bulls (your choice of food at the game)
Oct 4, 2016 - Pizza
Nov 1, 2016 - Chicken
Dec 6, 2016 - Subs
SDSF Six-month Roll-out Cycle Begins
contributed by Ed Webb
IBM has started to make significant enhancements to SDSF in z/OS 2.2, with some carried back to z/OS 2.1. As explained at SHARE in San Antonio this March, SDSF is now part of IBM's z/OS Continuous Development plan, with new functions and enhancements every six months or so.
PTF UI90031 for z/OS 2.1 and UI90032 for z/OS 2.2 are the recently released changes for SDSF that begin this new cycle. You'll need a couple of other PTFs to get the new functions working, UI35090 for 2.1 and UI35089 for z/OS 2.2.
Because this is new function, existing SDSF configurations can install and implement these SPE PTFs without any changes. SDSF will continue to work as now.
To activate the enhancements, you have to run the SDSF server; it will start a new server, SDSFAUX. JCL for both procs is in ISF.SISFSRC. You'll have to copy the one or both procs into a runtime PROCLIB; I use a SMP/E USERMOD to make the copy and track changes for me.
SDSFAUX needs a STARTED Class profile, same as SDSF if you already have that Server running. ISFPRMxx must be in your active PARMLIB concatenation, which is already is if you run the SDSF Server today.
Learn more about SDSF changes in this SHARE presentation.
See the SHARE San Antonio Agenda here for more details about SDSF and other z/OS goodies.
SHARE Point of View: Simple Install - A Roadmap
contributed by Ed Webb
"In August of 2015 we introduced SHARE White Pieces. The objective of a White Piece is to share information about technology or a process to implement technology. This can be new technology or “proven practices” for existing technology.
First we brought you the "8 Bytes or a Byte About..." series, with included mainframe apathy and DOs and DONTs for mobile app application development. And now, we're excited to bring you the next series, SHARE Point of View. We are kicking off this new series with a roadmap to a simple install."
Read this complete White Piece for an exciting idea for install and maintenance of all z/OS products including those from most ISVs.
Hear more about this simple install vision at the next SPARTA meeting in RTP on April 5, 2016.
IBM z/OS Continuous Delivery
contributed by Ed Webb
"Consumer expectations rose with the advent of the digital age, and are likely to continue to rise as technologies continue their advancement.
The adoption of agile methods and new approaches to delivering business applications that use the new technologies, such as mobile, cloud, and real-time analytics, present demands on IBM® z/OS® and related areas, such as IBM DB2® and IBM CICS®. Each area changed its approach and provides new functionality regularly to meet the demands.
How z/OS, CICS, and DB2 provide continuous delivery differs because of the unique role each plays.
This IBM Redpaper™ publication describes z/OS continuous delivery."
I strongly advise you to follow the instructions in this PDF to be notified of New Function APARs as they are closed.
No Mainframe Left Behind
contributed by Ed Webb
Compuware's CEO, Chris O'Malley, is outspoken in his support of the Mainframe platform.
"Why Bimodal IT Is a Very, Very Bad Idea— and What You Can Do Instead
There has been a lot of talk in recent months about something called “Bimodal IT.” The essence of this talk is that IT should split its forces into two separate modes: stability and agility.
The reasoning of those who promulgate such talk seems to be that businesses require both of these attributes, but that some groups within IT only lend themselves to one or the other. The wisest course of action, therefore, according to the advocates of a Bimodal strategy, is to purposefully segment workloads, processes, etc. in light of this supposed reality—rather than fighting it.
But Bimodal IT is actually a horrible idea. And it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of facts on the ground. Worse yet, it distracts mainframe owners from the difficult but surmountable challenges they must aggressively take on if they are to successfully compete in an increasingly digital marketplace."
Read this provocative article here
.
Humor
Lexophile
contributed by Chris Blackshire
"Lexophile" is a word used to describe those that have a love for words, such as "you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish", or "to write with a broken pencil is pointless." A competition to see who can come up with the best lexophiles is held every year in an undisclosed location. This year's winning submission is posted at the very end.
. When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
. When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.
. The batteries were given out free of charge.
. A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.
. A will is a dead giveaway.
. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
. Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
. Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He's all right now.
. A bicycle can't stand alone; it's just two tired.
. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
. When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she'd dye.
. Acupuncture is a jab well done. That's the point of it.
And the cream of the twisted crop:
. Those who get too big for their pants will be totally exposed in the end.
Always laugh when you can; It's cheap medicine.
Don’t Forget the Next SPARTA Meeting
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
7 p.m.
Location: LabCorp in RTP
Take I-40 to Miami Boulevard and go north. Turn right onto 1912 T.W. Alexander Drive. Go about a mile or so. Then turn right into LabCorp complex and turn left to the CMBP Building. In the lobby, sign in as a visitor to see Tommy Thomas. Tommy will escort you to the conference room. Use 1912 TW Alexander Drive, Durham, NC 27703 in your map app.
Free Food: BarBQ, Sodas and Tea, Dessert
Program:
SHARE Winter 2016 Conference Report
Speaker:
Ed Webb of SAS
SPARTA News
P.O. Box 13194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3194
First Class Postage
SPARTA Corporate Sponsors:
