VIP 7.2 Makes Another Leap Forward in z/OS Traces, Alerts, Reports, and Monitoring

For Immediate Release, 6 Jan. 2011:

Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, USA - 6 Jan. 2011 - The VitalSigns performance monitor for z/OS IP networks made another leap forward this month with the release of VIP version 7.2 from Software Diversified Services.

VIP 7.2 adds significant new features to its predecessor, including...

Multitrace: A packet trace tool that can read IP packets from multiple systems simultaneously.
Console-message forwarding: The ability to monitor z/OS system consoles and alert operator's to any specified console message.
SMF reporting: Performance history written to the z/OS system management facility.
Stacks and Interfaces at a Glance: New summary screens to describe the state of stacks and interfaces throughout an enterprise.

VIP 7.2 makes it significantly easier to diagnose network problems in a z/OS sysplex. The Multitrace feature can perform simultaneous IP packet traces on multiple systems and TCPIP stacks, and merge the results into a single report. That makes VIP 7.2 the best tool ever made for following the work of sysplex distributor as it routes traffic and balances workloads among a network of z/OS systems.

VIP 7.2 alerts system administrators to urgent z/OS system console messages. VIP can monitor any number of system consoles, watching for any specified set of console messges. It packages such messages as VIP alerts and passes them to the VIP browser interface and/or to e-mail addresses.

VIP 7.2 records performance history in z/OS SMF records. It also provides sample SAS programs for reporting performance history. The benefits include integration of VIP history data with other reporting processes, and more accurate and detailed history reporting.

Two new VIP screens, Stacks at a Glance and Interfaces at a Glance provide clear, easily understand information about traffic volumes and performance of TCP/IP stacks and network interfaces.

Many of VIP's top-level summary screens now provide a much wider range of information, and they make it easy for users to modify those screens by selecting and re-arranging the fields and records that matter in their particular environment. Another feature at those panels provides nearly instant graphing of important measurements over the previous day.

This latest version of VIP follows VIP 7.1, released in spring 2009. In efficiency, ease-of-use, and thoroughness of monitoring, VIP consistently outperforms other monitors, including those packaged in mainframe software suites.

The VitalSigns family of products developed by SDS provide a full-spectrum tool set for secur?ty, monitoring, problem diagnosis, network automation, and performance management for mainframe TCP/IP and SNA networks.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered near Minneapolis, MN, SDS provides a wide range of z/OS software for network performance monitoring, data security and compression, and client-server applications.

For more information, a free white paper, or a live demonstration by webcast, see www.sdsusa.com/vip, call 800.443.6183, or write to sales@sdsusa.com.