NetView for MVS V2R1 (1990)
- NetView Graphic Monitor Facility (NGMF) is introduced. NGMF is an OS/2 workstation graphical front-end for host-based NetView. It is a client/server arrangement with graphic data server workstations and client workstations. In this release, NGMF supports SNA resources. Graphical views contain icons representing network resources. Network outages are indicated graphically with the icon changing color, allowing operators to handle outages more effectively. Other graphical capabilities such as action bars, pull-down menus, graphical zooming, view navigation, and mouse control can also simplify the operator's tasks.
- In addition to NGMF, the NETCENTER offering provides the ability to graphically monitor SNA and non-SNA resources using DOS-based presentation facilities.
- Host-based NetView Installation Facility (NIF) is introduced. Using NIF to help install NetView reduces product installation time.
- The NetView Bridge function allows a transaction interface between NetView and IBM's Information/Management and other databases.
- The interface between VTAM and status monitor is changed, resulting in improved performance and accuracy.
- The NetView program supports new code points developed by IBM's NPM product. This support extends NetView's automation and problem determination ability to support performance alerts from NPM.
- Enhancements to the NetView program to support MVS/ESA Version 4 include:
- Support of the sysplex environment through prevention of redundant console automation within the sysplex
- Removal of 99 console and reply ID limits
- Support for console names as well as IDs
NetView for MVS V2R2 (1991)
- LU 6.2 transport is implemented. The LU 6.2 transport utilizes the management services architecture, yielding more reliable processing and broader network management capability. Using LU 6.2, application programs on NetView can communicate with any machines or programs that implement the LU 6.2 management services architecture. This allows communication without the need to go through service points. The two LU 6.2 transport implementations are the management services (MS) transport, and the high-performance transport. There are several NetView commands and applications shipped which make use of the LU 6.2 transports:
- Commands can be remotely executed on another NetView program using RMTCMD. This is a much improved way of issuing cross-domain commands compared to the ROUTE command. RMTCMD allows you to issue commands cross-domain, and see the responses on your operator task. RMTCMD is key if you operate unattended NetView programs, or if your operations staff controls the network from a NetView focal point system.
- The NetView program can be the architected focal point for alerts, operations management data, and user-defined data categories.
- A generic automation receiver application is provided which accepts LU 6.2 management services units (MSUs) and submits them to the automation table for processing.
- A LU 6.2 alert receiver application is provided which enables the hardware monitor to receive alerts and other architected data across the MS transport (for example, from non-NetView programs).
- The NetView automation table (previously called the message automation table) has been enhanced to also automate responses to alerts and other architected data types. This allows for fast and predictable problem diagnosis and resolution. The automation table has access to all data stored in an alert, making it easier to automate alerts in the automation table without first having to convert them to messages. Automation actions which can be performed for alerts include executing a command or command list, setting a hardware monitor filter, and setting the color or other highlighting attribute. There is an exit (DSIEX16B) called after automation of alerts. In addition to the capability to automate alerts and other management services units (MSUs), the automation table was also enhanced in a number of other ways:
- Powerful new automation table keywords were added. These keywords make the automation table a more powerful and flexible tool. The new keywords (in addition to the existing IF/THEN) are:
- BEGIN/END sections can be use to logically structure the table. This can greatly reduce the search time required to find automation matches.
- %INCLUDE sections can be used to physically segment the table into multiple members, making the automation statements easier to maintain.
- ALWAYS statements can be used when you unconditionally want to execute actions (which can include leaving the table search).
- SYN statements can be used to set automation table synonyms which can be set once and then used throughout the table. This can make the table easier to maintain.
- Automation table listings can be used to help debug automation table syntax problems and for aid in planning new automation table statements.
- The ability to write automation table functions (ATFs) was added. This allows the user the flexibility of being able to provide their own automation table condition-item if it is not provided by IBM. The NetView program includes two IBM-provided ATFs which provide NetView global variable access from the automation table.
- The ability to continue searching for multiple table matches is available with the CONTINUE automation action.
- Powerful new automation table keywords were added. These keywords make the automation table a more powerful and flexible tool. The new keywords (in addition to the existing IF/THEN) are:
- Operators or automation can access a central Information/Management database or other database via the NetView Bridge from a remote NetView system.
- NetView REXX command lists can be compiled using the IBM REXX/370 compiler product and executed in the NetView program. This can result in a significant performance savings.
- Programmable Network Access (PNA) PU downstream support allows commands to be sent from the NetView program to devices downstream of the PNA. PNA also allows these downstream devices to send records to the NetView program.
- The NetView program accepts ISDN statistics and alerts.
- NGMF supports the VM/ESA environment.
- NetView global variables can be saved to VSAM and restored in case of a system or NetView outage.
- Recovery process status of applications utilizing VTAM's persistent session function is provided.
- Additional IBM LAN Network Manager commands are supported. With the additional support, customers can add, delete, list, and set parameters of the LAN-attached devices.
NetView for MVS V2R3 (1992)
- RODM uses object-oriented technology and an in-memory data store to permit operational information relating to resource objects to be consolidated in a single source. RODM provides object-oriented processing facilities, automation support, and a single-source of resource control information, expanding the users' capabilities for network and systems management. GMFHS uses RODM to store topology and status of non-SNA resources.
- Graphical support of heterogeneous networks containing SNA and non-SNA resources are greatly enhanced by providing:
- A comprehensive set of SNA and non-SNA graphical views available for display and operation
- An integrated command builder (Command Tree/2) that allows operators to build complex commands
- An interface with Information/Management for problem management procedures and access to resource component information
- Simplified and flexible procedures for status aggregation definitions and navigation to failing resources
- The NetView pipeline facility can be used in NetView command lists to facilitate intelligent processing of information such as messages. NetView pipelines provide a way to solve a complex problem by breaking it up into a series of smaller, simpler steps called stages. PIPEs can be a powerful automation and customization tool.
- Support for MVS extended multiple console support facilities gives a more consistent MVS command interface.
- The NetView command facility displays can be customized and can appear in full-color.
- NetView global variables can be accessed and set from assembler language programs and exits.
- For large numbers of global variables, the search time required can be reduced.
- The REXX language is supported in VSE/ESA operating systems, NetView REXX command lists can be coded in all operating environments.
- Monitoring of Ethernet and frame-relay networks is enabled.
- Additional message information is available to the automation table and command lists. Virtually all information related to a message is accessible through automation.
- RUNCMD can be issued to service points over a LU 6.2 session, making RUNCMD more efficient and reliable.
- The resolve major vector is displayed in hardware monitor to notify the operator of problem resolution.
- There is added flexibility for searching and browsing the network log. You can filter the information based on criteria such as time and date, and an exit (DSIEX18) allows customized filtering.
- The NetView program is more flexible in its RU size, allowing the command facility to be accessed from a broader range of devices.
- NGMF will be able to distinguish between resources that are active and those that are active and in session.
- The common operational services (COS) gateway provides the ability for non-LU 6.2 service points to be attached to distributed NetViews and still be accessible via GMFHS from the NGMF focal point.
NetView for MVS V2R4 (1993)
- The NetView program is made more dynamic by removing the need to recycle the product to put several types of maintenance into effect. The following types of changes are dynamic and do not require the NetView program to be stopped and restarted:
- Defining new operators to the NetView program, or changing or deleting existing operator definitions
- Defining or changing the available spans of each operator
- Defining or changing alert code point tables
- Defining and starting optional tasks and data services tasks
- Changing the priority of optional and data services tasks
- Changing the values of MAXABEND, MAXLOGON, and POSPOOL
- Installation of the NetView program is made easier and faster through the OS/2-based NetView Installation and Administration/2 (NIAF/2) function.
- Automation table threshold detection can be used to detect bursts of messages or alerts, or to limit automation activation retries.
- Automation table usage counters can be used to generate statistics showing details for each automation table statement or summary statistics showing rates of automation table processing.
- Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) management is enhanced in a number of ways, including:
- The APPN Topology and Accounting Management (APPNTAM) feature, that provides dynamic discovery of APPN topology and status from software agents, storage of the resource information in RODM, and graphical display of the topology and status information
- Enhanced focal point capability including:
- Nested focal points
- Multiple backup focal points
- Save and Restore of focal point details
- The ability to have user categories
- Sphere of control for focal points (being able to define which nodes a focal point will maintain a relationship with)
- Session monitor enhancements:
- APPN session configuration data for APPN and mixed APPN-subarea sessions
- APPN session route data
- APPN flow control data from NCP V6R2 and higher
- The network log and members can be browsed from a different NetView (cross domain).
- You have the ability to query RMTCMD details for a specific NetView program or an operator.
- Session monitor performance is improved by being able to record availability data without recording accounting data, and being able to set the PIU keep count to zero.
- The RODM API is enhanced to support querying multiple fields of an object with one API call.
- NetView View panels can display REXX stem variables.
- NGMF view change notification is only sent to operators that are using the changed RODM GMFHS view, and the operator can have the views refreshed automatically.
- NetView global variables and their values can be displayed using the QRYGLOBL command.
- The GENALERT command can create resolution major vectors to indicate that a problem is resolved.
- Additional types of records are sent to the automation table from the hardware monitor for potential automation. The additional record types are RECMS, RECFMS, NMVT Link Events (X'0001') and NMVT PD Stats (X'0025').
- Many additional REXX functions and automation table condition-items have been added to query, extract, and process data from MSU records submitted by the hardware monitor to automation.
- NetView pipelines support correlated RUNCMD capability.
- Diagnostic functions added in this release to aid in early detection and faster diagnosis of problems include:
- Early detection of some control block overwrite conditions
- Early detection of most storage overlay conditions
- A NetView PPI trace facility
- First Failure Support Technology (FFST) support
