Features and benefits
IBM® Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 provides numerous technology and business benefits:
TCP/IP simulation: Workload Simulator provides native support of multiple client applications that run "on top" of TCP/IP. Workload Simulator implements its connection to TCP/IP on the local host using the Macro API.
SNA simulation: SNA logical units can be simulated by Workload Simulator while executing as a VTAM application program. General support is provided for LU types 0 to 7, with special support for the LU 2, LU 3, LU 6.2 and LU 7 data streams.
Easy setup with the Workload Simulator/ISPF Interface: The ISPF panel interface helps both new and experienced users set up and start the application and its utilities.
Powerful post-test analysis utilities: You can format the simulation run log in a selective, time-linear fashion for post-run analysis and debugging with the Loglist Utility. You can compare 3270 display records from two simulation runs, list the differences and ignore or compare specific screen areas with the Log Compare utility. With the Response Time Utility, you can retrieve the response time of the system from the Workload Simulator log and print it to a report.
Flexible script generation: The Script Generator Utility generates Workload Simulator scripts from full VTAM buffer traces or NPM VTAM log data sets; it also generates Workload Simulator CPI-C STL programs from OS/2® Communications Manager and Communications Server traces.
Key features include:
Workload Simulator Test Manager: This utility guides you through the test process. It can help you develop test cases, automate test runs and analyze results. For even more flexibility, there are three modes of operation that control the amount of interaction you can observe.
Structured Translator Language (STL): STL is a high-level REXX-like language that you can use to define the information that Workload Simulator should send, what it will receive and what actions it should take.
Interactive Data Capture (IDC) Utility: IDC provides a quick and simple method for capturing session traffic to and from a live 3270 session. You can convert this information to a Workload Simulator script for replay, edit it and use it as a basis for more complex simulations.
NPM/LU 2 Reformatter Utility: This utility can convert 3270 session data from an IBM VTAM® buffer trace or an NPM VTAM log into a format readable by the Workload Simulator utilities.
Display Monitor Facility: Simulated 3270 screen images and the data stream sent and received by simulated devices can be displayed during a simulation run.
Runtime Reports: The data sent and received, the message rates, terminal status and inactive terminals can be displayed during and at the end of a simulation run.
ITPECHO: This VTAM application echoes received data. You can use it as a target application either on the same host with Workload Simulator or a different host for network testing.
