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Software Diversified Services
6010 Earle Brown Drive
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 USA

voice: 763-571-9000
fax: 763-572-1721
SDS is an Advanced member of IBM PartnerWorld® VIP is ServerProven for IBM eServer

Press Releases

Software Diversified Services, a leading IBM mainframe software provider for 25 years, announces ...

CONTACT: Phil Norcross, 763-571-9000, webmaster@sdsusa.com

SFM Softwares Provides Control and Security for z/OS FTP Servers and Clients

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 13 June 2007

Because FTP is such a powerful, but risky, tool for enterprise communications and z/OS mainframe networks, Software Diversified Services presents the new SDS FTP Manager software (SFM).

SFM overcomes the weaknesses inherent in FTP by

  • Automating FTP processes,
  • Removing the security issues,
  • Providing auditing and history records to assure compliance, and
  • Providing real-time proactive monitoring.

SFM provides a revolution in FTP automation. For mainframe batch jobs, SFM provides the FTP Control Language (FCL), a simple, yet robust scripting language that can, for example,

  • retry a failed transfer,
  • evaluate a server reply before executing the next FTP command,
  • log failed transfers to the system console,
  • e-mail the operator when automated recovery fails.

SFM addresses FTP's security shortcomings by integrating fully with mainframe SAF security (RACF, ACF2, or TopSecret). With SFM, security administrators can selectively allow or disallow any FTP command. They can allow read access to a data set while preventing its off-site transfer, for example, or allow transfer of sequential files but not JES files.

With detailed logging of FTP sessions and transfers, SFM provides a comprehensive end-to-end audit trail. SFM lets FTP processes comply with the new record-keeping regulations: Sarbanes-Oxley, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and HIPAA.

While most software treats FTP data transfers as isolated events, SFM's real-time monitor logs entire FTP sessions. FTP administrators can can see each data transfer immediately, and in its full context.

SFM is latest software offering from Software Diversified Services, makers of the Vital Signs IP Monitor (VIP) for z/OS - TCP/IP networks. SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business.

Regarding the new SFM product, and FTP in general, SDS provides an informative webcast and free software trials. Phone 800-443-6183, visit www.sdsusa.com/sfm, or send e-mail to sales@sdsusa.com.

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VIP 5.0 Charts z/OS Network Statistics to E-Mail and Web Browsers

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 12 Oct. 2006

In a move that makes monitoring the use, misuse, and errors in a z/OS network easier and more reliable than ever before in history, the VIP Monitor from SDS now sends graphic history reports from z/OS mainframes to user e-mail addresses and file servers.

In pursuit of vigilance and quick-response, administrators of z/OS - TCP/IP networks can use the new version of VIP, VIP 5.0, to automate daily or hourly delivery of graphs and data tables that illustrate such crucial statistics as the following:

  • Response times experienced by TN3270 and HTTP clients.
  • FTP users, file transfers, and failed log-ons.
  • Traffic volumes for individual applications, stacks, interfaces, and or z/OS images.
  • OSA and Enterprise Extender data-transfer rates.

To see a sample report, visit www.sdsusa.com/sample.htm.

VIP also provides immediate, real-time reports and alerts regarding network utilization, performance, and security. VIP's browser-based tools make it easy to track down problems and isolate threats.

VIP's extensive history-reporting facilities enable well-informed capacity planning and authoritative documentation of service levels.

VIP relies on an ultra-efficient suite of monitoring strategies, typically consuming less than 1% of CPU resources on the machines it monitors.

In efficiency, ease-of-use, and thoroughness, VIP 5.0 will consistently outperform other monitors, including those packaged in software suites.

Software Diversified Services (SDS), founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin. SDS supports 20-plus MVS, VM, and VSE systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,000 clients worldwide.

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

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VIP 4.6 is the First Monitor to Report on HTTP Communications and Related IP Fragmentation

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 27 March. 2006

On-line reports and automatic alerts regarding performance of HTTP servers and fragmentation of IP messages--two firsts for IP monitoring software--are available from the latest version of the Vital Signs IP Monitor (VIP) from Software Diversified Services (SDS).

SDS has just released VIP version 4.6 for monitoring TCP/IP networks on z/OS mainframes. Via e-mail and a graphic web-browser interface, VIP 4.6 provides real-time and historical data to help network managers identify slow-downs and service problems.

For any HTTP server or application on z/OS, VIP 4.6 provides immediate data on details like the following:

  • Numbers of HTTP connections
  • Response Times
  • Numbers of transactions per connection
  • Data transfer rates

To identify the source of slow-downs, VIP separates server response times from network transmission times. To separate significant trends from false alarms, VIP sorts response times and smoothes averages according to algorithms like those standard to telnet monitoring.

HTTP communications rely heavily on fragmentation--large messages get broken apart, transported in pieces, then re-assembled at their destination.

Fragmentation can be a significant source of error and resource consumption. VIP graphic browser displays, automatic graphing, and historical charts report the fragmentation and re-assembly errors taking place throughout a network, or at specific interfaces, applications, ports, and/or connections.

The maximum size of a data package that can pass through a network node without getting fragmented is that node's maximum transmission unit, or MTU. VIP 4.6 can conduct traceroute tests via the TCP protocol, allowing it to report every decrease in MTU along a network path.

VIP 4.6 also provides new, simpler access to data regarding z/OS and TCP/IP stack configuration. That data includes the routing tables that specify what nodes a message will traverse en-route to a given destination.

All together, then, VIP 4.6 provides a complete set of tools and information for monitoring HTTP services and for recognizing and correcting trouble spots.

SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin. SDS supports 20-plus MVS, VM, and VSE systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,000 clients worldwide.

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

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VIP version 4.5 Monitors Fragmentation of TCP/IP Messages

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 1 Sept. 2005

The Vital Signs IP Monitor (VIP), a real-time, browser-based management utility for TCP/IP on z/OS mainframes, now monitors the fragmentation rates for all your TCP/IP traffic.

Guided by customer demand, Software Diversified Services (SDS) pursues a steady schedule of new-feature development, and now announces release of VIP version 4.5, which includes fragmentation analysis.

Excessive fragmentation and re-assembly can be a significant consumer of CPU resources and bandwidth and increase exposure to malicious attacks. VIP's real-time fragmentation reports help you diagnose and prevent excessive fragmentation.

With graphic browser displays, automatic graphing, and historical charts, VIP reports the fragmentation taking place on all TCP/IP stacks on a network. VIP can pinpoint fragmentation trouble by reporting on specific interfaces, applications, ports, and/or connections.

For z/OS and OS/390 mainframes, VIP provides real-time information through an intuitive browser interface, with ultra-low system overhead. VIP monitors availability, performance, and demand for FTP, telnet, OSA, Enterprise Extender, and all TCP-listener applications.

Network administrators receive pro-active trouble alerts by e-mail and detailed online views that include practical and informative advice for probable causes and recommended actions.

Alerts can be viewed in both terse and verbose formats and filtered by severity, status, or ISO classification. Readily available alert details put critical information at your finger tips.

VIP's customization options let users specify their individual preferences for start-up views, window navigation schemes, and diagnostics. VIP also provides:

  • Comprehensive information as opposed to confusing raw data
  • Point and click access to detailed drilldowns, traces, and reports for TCP/IP resources
  • Problem analysis armed with facts and readily available diagnostics
  • Extensive historical reporting to aid in trend analysis and predicting future demands
  • Efficient state-of-the-art data collection to minimize the impact on CPU

SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin.

SDS supports 20-plus MVS, VM, and VSE systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.

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

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SDS now provides IntellinX monitor to U.S. mainframe administrators

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 1 Sept. 2005

The IntellinX monitor for business activity on legacy mainframe applications is now sold and supported in the United States by Software Diversified Services.

IntellinX provides real-time, non-invasive monitoring for applications on IBM mainframes and

I-series servers. IntellinX records every screen accessed and every user keystroke, making it ideal for auditing, compliance, security, service-level maintenance.

Software Diversified Services (SDS) provides this patent-pending technology in software that requires no installation on host or client, and no change to legacy applications. IntellinX runs on a Windows, Unix, or Linux server, from which it sniffs and archives SNA, TCP/IP, 3270, and 5250 communications, as well as standard TCP/IP client-server traffic.

  • Auditing - Trace and archive transactions activity for future inquiries. Confidently comply with Sarbanes-Oxley, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, HIPAA, and Basel II.
  • Fraud Detection - Detect fraudulent or malicious activity as it occurs in your systems.
  • Real-Time Marketing - Identify business opportunities in real-time based on customer transaction data.
  • Security - Enforce your corporate security policies by detecting security breaches and exceptions.
  • Service Levels - Manage, enable, and optimize service levels at an enterprise scale by constantly measuring business processes, response times, and other performance indicators.
  • Impact Analysis and Problem Determination - Generate alerts about problems arising from modifications to legacy applications. Understand the impact of such changes on different business services and users.

IntellinX can use context-sensitive pattern recognition to respond immediately to users or alert administrators. It creates historical archives that easily be searched for specific screens, users fields, and field values.

IntellinX includes point-and-click administration and composing tools, and comprehensive reporting and alerting facilities.

SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin. SDS supports 20-plus MVS, VM, and VSE systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.

For more information, a free white-paper, or a live demonstration by webcast, see www.sdsusa.com/IntellinX or write to IntellinX@sdsusa.com.

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SDS Now Shipping VIP 4.0, Reports TN3270 Response Times on z/OS-TCP/IP Networks

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 23 February 2005

The Vital Signs IP Monitor (VIP), a real-time, browser-based management utility for TCP/IP on z/OS mainframes, now monitors the response times experienced by TN3270 users.

Guided by customer demand, Software Diversified Services (SDS) pursues a steady schedule of new-feature development, and now announces release of VIP version 4.0, which includes TN3270 monitoring.

VIP is a complete performance monitor for TCP/IP networks running on z/OS mainframes. With VIP 4.0, mainframe administrators at common desktop browsers can know exactly how fast users are served by their networks. Response times for all TN3270 sessions are available in real time, historical trends can be automatically charted, and immediate trouble alerts can arrive anywhere by e-mail.

For Fortune-1000-scale enterprises, VIP monitors availability, performance, and demand for FTP, telnet, OSA, Enterprise Extender, and all TCP-listener applications. For z/OS and OS/390 mainframes, VIP provides real-time information, through an intuitive browser interface, with ultra-low system overhead. Network administrators get pro-active trouble alerts by e-mail and Internet.

  • Nothing and no one passes through your network that you can't track down and identify.
  • Service levels to users are easy to measure, document, and chart.
  • When you diagnose trouble, you start with all the facts.
  • When your predict future demands, you don't have to guess.
  • You can run IBM packet traces on-line or with simple-to-configure batch jobs.
  • You get mainframe management via state-of-the-art secure internet and GUI interfaces.

VIP 4.0 tells you about network performance right now, immediately. It also remembers network performance over weeks, months, even years.

  • Get performance and packet trace data immediately.
  • Schedule history reports and traces to run later, nightly, weekly.
  • See network history in text or HTML.

SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin. SDS supports 20-plus MVS, VM, and VSE systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.

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

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Software Diversified Services Purchases New Building

Brooklyn Center, Minn., 23 February 2005

Software Diversified Services, a leading provider of enterprise software for IBM mainframes, moved into its new building in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on February 21.

The new quarters, immediately north of Minneapolis, allow for the continuing growth of SDS and its product line.

At the same time, SDS announces the release of VIP version 4.0, which includes monitoring for TN3270 response times.

VIP, the Vital Signs IP monitor, is a complete performance monitor for TCP/IP networks running on z/OS mainframes.

With VIP 4.0, mainframe administrators at common desktop browsers can know exactly how fast users are served by their networks. Response times for all TN3270 sessions are available in real time, historical trends can be automatically charted, and immediate trouble alerts can arrive anywhere by e-mail.

VIP also provides:

  • Data on availability, performance, and user demand for FTP, telnet, OSA, Enterprise Extender, and TCP listener applications.
  • IBM packet traces and other diagnostic tools on-line or via simple-to-configure batch jobs.
  • Mainframe management via state-of-the-art secure internet and GUI interfaces.

For z/OS and OS/390 mainframes, VIP provides real-time information, through an intuitive browser interface, with ultra-low system overhead.

SDS, founded in 1982, is noted for having the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its technical support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin.

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

click here for pdf version

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SDS Now Shipping VIP 3.5, Manages Mainframe-TCP/IP Performance in Real-Time, Provides Complete Logs

Minneapolis, Minn., 29 October 2004

For TCP/IP on IBM mainframes, Vital Signs VisionNet version 3.5 easily reports complete network history. In both real-time and detailed logs, VIP 3.5 displays detail of availability, performance, and user demand for FTP, telnet, OSA, Enterprise Extender, and TCP listener applications.

VIP 3.5 logs and reports every network event.

  • Nothing and no one passes through your network that you can't track down and identify.
  • Service levels to users are easy to measure, document, and chart.
  • When you diagnose trouble, you start with all the facts.
  • When your predict future demands, you don't have to guess.

VIP 3.5 tells you about network performance right now, immediately. It also remembers network performance over weeks, months, even years.

  • Get performance and packet trace data immediately.
  • Schedule history reports and traces to run later, nightly, weekly.
  • See network history in text or HTML.
  • Run IBM packet traces with simple-to-configure batch jobs.

For Fortune-1000-scale enterprises, VIP monitors availability, performance, and demand for FTP, telnet, OSA, Enterprise Extender, and all TCP-listener applications. For z/OS and OS/390 mainframes, VIP provides real-time information, through an intuitive browser interface, with ultra-low system overhead. Network administrators get pro-active trouble alerts to by e-mail and Internet.

Software Diversified Services has been providing first-rate utilities and technical support to mainframe programmers since 1982. It supports 20-plus VSE and MVS systems products, and related PC software, for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.

SDS is noted for having the highest quality software, documentation, and technical support in the business. Its technical support has been rated number 1 by the prestigious IBEX Bulletin.

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

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SDS Delivers TCP/IP Performance Management Solution for Enterprise Networks

Minneapolis, Minn., 7 June 2004

The new version of VIP means real-time reports on OSA, FTP, telnet, and remote hosts; and quick identification of the big players among your applications.

The Vital Signs VisionNet® IP Monitor ( VIP ) monitors health, configuration, and traffic levels on TCP/IP networks running on z/OS or OS/390 mainframe systems. Online reports display in real-time at common desktop web browsers.

SDS just released version 3.0 of VIP, providing these new features:

  • At-a-Glance summaries and history panels cover all of the network's FTP, telnet, and OSA traffic, and provide easy navigation to details for every single connection. Track both current and past file transfers and telnet sessions.
  • Activity-at-a-Glance lets you list and rank all TCP/IP applications according to the amount of data they're moving and the number of users connected. You can immediately identify your network's "heavy hitters."
  • For any resource on the network, for any of hundreds of performance metrics, report and chart history going back a quarter-year or more. Now you can make informed rational plans regarding infrastructure capacity and demand.
  • Remote-Host-at-a-Glance and a graphic traceroute tool let you easily find nodes that are no longer active. Between a z/OS system and any remote host, monitor the path, path length, round-trip time, response time, and number of connections.
  • Be safe. Get real-time security reports from IBM's intrusion detection system (IDS).
  • Get simple, graphic, online tools for translating IP addresses into domain names, and vice-versa; and for viewing SNMP data from any node on the network.

With VIP's intuitive browser display, help-desk technicians can quickly and easily pinpoint trouble, leaving network managers to concentrate on what they do best.

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

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Managing TCP/IP using the New Browser-Based VIP Network Performance Monitor for z/OS

Minneapolis, Minn., 6 August 2003

The VIP network monitor, new software just released by Software Diversified Services, provides network managers at desktop browsers with real-time information regarding the status and health of TCP/IP networks running on z/OS or OS/390 mainframe systems.

The Vital Signs VisionNet® IP Monitor (a.k.a. VIP) gathers event, status, utilization, and traffic data at mainframe hosts and displays it at common desktop web browsers. VIP monitors the following:

  • TCP/IP applications, CICS, VTAM
  • CSM buffers
  • Links, interfaces, gateways
  • TCP/IP stacks
  • z/OS and OS/390 systems
  • Tier-1 interfaces and stacks

VIP reports on hundreds of fields, including:

  • Connection counts, backlog, waits
  • Network response times for IP packets
  • Packet fragmentation, re-assembly, and loss
  • Application availability
  • Buffer utilization vs. buffer capacity
  • Portions of network traffic according to protocol

VIP also provides:

  • A robust and customizable alert system to notify users when network event measures exceed specified thresholds.
  • Intuitive GUI interfaces for ping and IP trace tools, and for VIP's logs.
  • Automatic charting of recent performance history on hundreds of fields.

VIP works independently or in collaboration with VSV, the proven tool from SDS for historical reporting of network performance.

With VIP's intuitive browser display, help-desk technicians can quickly and easily pinpoint trouble, leaving network managers to concentrate on what they do best.

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

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IBM's SystemPac Now Includes Efficiency Tools from Software Diversified

Minneapolis, Minn., 1 November, 2002

With its z/OS and OS/390 SystemPac, IBM now bundles three productivity tools from Software Diversified Services--VSV, IPCP Plus, and Multiterm.

  • Vital Signs VisionNet monitors performance throughout a mainframe and network. Browser-based displays describe TCP/IP, FTP, telnet, CSM, VTAM, and NCP performance.
  • IPCP Plus, the Inter-Program Command Processor, is the file-control utility that allows batch jobs to open and close CICS files.
  • Multiterm provides complete multiple-session management and allows support personnel to view user's sessions.
     

IBM includes the SDS utilities in its SystemPac(TM) and FunctionPac(TM) products, which provide third-party software on the same install tapes as the IBM operating system, thus streamlining system installation and integration.

"When you install a new operating system, you can easily, almost invisibly, install three of the most reliable and generously supported management tools on the market," said SDS Vice President, Jim Lampi, yesterday.

"Having SDS productivity tools available in SystemPac and FunctionPac provides customers with a more complete system software package," said Bill Pettus, global product-support executive for Server Group Products, IBM Global Services. "Through the involvement of leading vendors like Software Diversified Services we are able to provide a value-added solution to meet increasing customer demands."

Software Diversified Services, www.sdsusa.com, has been developing and supporting tools for IBM mainframes--and for PC access to mainframes--for over 20 years. It serves over 1,500 clients worldwide and is noted for the highest quality technical support in the business.

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New VSV Displays Mainframe Performance in Web Browsers

August 12, 2002

The newest version of Vital Signs VisionNet® provides OS/390 managers with easy Web-browser access to performance data for every resource on their networks.

The VSV Web Server, new with the just-released VSV 5.1.0, gets performance data from the mainframe database and delivers it, via secure Intranet, to standard Web browsers on desktop machines.

VSV's browser-based graphic interface provides all the functionality of previous green-screen access--summary and detailed performance reports for TCP/IP, telnet, FTP, sockets, CSM, VTAM, and NCP.

In addition, VSV 5.1.0 provides MVS, OS/390, z/OS managers with:

  • Continuously updated graphic displays regarding exceptional loads on interfaces, CPUs, and CSM buffers.
  • Custom, user-designed inquiries into the performance of every resource on their networks.
  • Real-time alerts to exceptional loads and performance demands.
  • Ready access to recent and historical, as well as current, data.

With VSV's intuitive browser display, network managers can quickly and easily pinpoint trouble-routers overloaded, lines reaching full capacity, and types of traffic that cause the most error. Point and click to see router, CPU, and buffer loads graphed over recent time.

For more information or a free live demonstration by webcast, see www.sdsusa.com or write to sales@sdsusa.com.

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Vital Signs VisionNet - A Clear View of Your Entire OS/390 Enterprise

The most economical, easy-to-use TCP/IP performance monitor for your OS/390 network and all devices connected to it.

  • The only one that provides highly detailed information from every device, application, socket and protocol, including TCP/IP, SNA, CSM, FTP and Telnet. Plus it easily adapts to your growing, changing network.
  • A single console lets you monitor every device on your TCP/IP and SNA networks. VSV automatically collects network data and archives it for easier and more timely capacity planning.
  • Collect, analyze and report network performance statistics accurately, in easy-to-understand and easily modified formats. Use PC graphics and spreadsheet programs such as SAS for further data manipulation, analysis and reporting.

FTP Status & Session Activity
Telnet Application Summaries
Response Time Profiles
TCP/IP Socket Applications Data
Network Activity Summaries
Transport Services Monitoring
Interactive MIB Inquiry
VTAM Terminal Session Trace Data
Automatic Exception Monitoring & Alerts
Recall Displays of Historical Data

To learn more about VSV, call SDS at 763-571-9000 or write to sales@sdsusa.com

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Vital Signs for VM Now Monitors TCP/IP Performance

January 13, 2002

The new release of Vital Signs/VM provides detailed analysis of TCP/IP traffic and performance on z/VM and VM/ESA systems.

Vital Signs/VM 4.3, released by Software Diversified Services in December 2001, monitors one or many TCP/IP stacks and displays details regarding the following:

  • TCP
  • UDP
  • ARP
  • IP
  • IUCV
  • QDIO
  • ICMP
  • VMCF
  • transmission errors
  • packet problems

Vital Signs/VM is a high-powered, low-overhead tool for observing system performance. It enables IT managers, systems programmers, and capacity planners to manage system resources with ease.

With Vital Signs/VM, system administrators can . . .

  • Monitor all the important performance measurements: I/O rates, CPU utilization, TCP/IP activity, resource contention, device service times, and more.
  • Identify peaks, valleys, and trends in system usage.
  • Get immediate alerts to exceptional conditions and impending problems.
  • Eliminate bottlenecks and I/O congestion.
  • Improve device service time and balance resource utilization.
  • Customize online graphs and displays to view real-time performance data, recall recent data from disk, or bring back historical data archived to tape.
  • Determine long-term trends and plan for future system needs.
  • Model DASD configurations to optimize performance.
  • Import and export performance data from and to other software, such as SAS or Lotus 1-2-3 .

To increase VM system efficiency and user productivity, visit our VSV page at www.sdsusa/vsvm.htm.

For more information, call Jim Lampi, 763-571-9000, jplampi@sdsusa.com


 

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