OPS/MVS Automation Intelligence Reviews

We used to us an IBM product, but OPS/MVS has a lot more flexibility in what we can do with it.

We're able to do a lot more ad hoc-type things. We can set up for different events, or do out-paging for a mainframe interface, or issue MVS commands. It's flexible enough for us to use it when needed outside the normal automation flows.

We obviously also use all the basic functionalities of it, like time-of-day, message, and other command rules. Command rules are especially great when our operators have repetitive tasks.

One of the things we've been wanting to do is to be able to automate off of different highlighted messages without actually knowing what the message is. For example, we'd like to be able to create some generic automation when we receive a warning or alert message to allow, if nothing else, the automation team to know so we can contact the product owner. If there's something we can do to automate or expedite notification to the proper people, we want to try to do that.

It's distribution. The logistics of distribution. Warehousing, distribution, inventory control, shipping, bills of material.

Considering it's 35 years old, it's still functioning well, primarily because of the resources that are available, and tools that have been introduced that can connect to legacy applications. 

The benefit is that the ROI, since it's 35 years old, the ROI is coming back over and over and over.

I don't think it improves the way our company functions. Because of its age, it's a little bit difficult to modernize some of the integrations and some of the functions. The people who support it limits us, but at the same time it's providing us benefit.

The most valuable features of this solution are its ease of use and capability to solve problems across different platforms and different software products.

This product has helped our organization since we are now be able to automate things; things don't break as much. There are not so many human interactions so as to make mistakes.

• SSM keeps startup and shutdown of all tasks synchronised in a hierarchy.
• MSF - cross-system and cross-Sysplex links between instances of the product.
• OPSLOG - similar to OPERLOG, but it also includes some SMF events, and it can be filtered to ease analysis.
• Individual rules for various events can be updated in flight without bouncing the product.
• Global variables can be set at the job, system or Sysplex level.

OPSMVS has made it possible to run our IT systems with fewer staff, due to the level of automation that we are able to use.

This does mean that skills tend to be lost over time, as people are no longer carrying out manual tasks. Therefore, it is vital to have both high stability and meticulous user-maintained documentation.

By far, the most valuable features of this product are:

• SSM
• AOF
• OpsLog

Our largest LPAR currently has 633 tasks defined to SSM. We can shut the system down and have it back up in 30 minutes. Without SSM, that could not be possible.

Our use case now includes the addition of two new LPARs. OPS/MVS is implemented on both additional LPARs.

One of the biggest advantages is the prevention of problems from getting more severe. If you know what's going on, and if there are things that you can do to automate your responses, it makes your life easier. I now get very few calls during the on-call period and, in part, it's because we know what's going on and can automate responses.

Our primary use of OPS/MVS is automation on the mainframe system, controlling resources, and tasks. 

The performance of it is beyond exceptional. It is probably one of the best products that I have ever worked with. It is easy to use, comprehensive, and can perform almost any task you need it to. 

• Simplicity of use
• Reliability of the product
• Scalability
• The performance functionality

The width and breadth of the options available that we do currently not use, but are available to us.

We have managed to avoid a lot of incidents with it. We can, in fact, with OPS/MVS cope with some incidents before they happen.

The product is really a very good automation. It's around the Rolls-Royce products of the automation products that are around. It's a very stable product. I very much like the SSM stuff in it. The rules engine, it's awesome.