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Episode 22 “Great App-spectations”

Here are the show notes for Episode 22 “Great App-spectations”. The show is called this because we talk about app expections in our Topics topic.

We’ll use British spellings on these show notes, to be an equal opportunity documentation provider.

Where We’ve Been Lately

Marna has been to Istanbul, Turkey for the Tech U, February 6-8, 2019. Martin was nearly nowhere.

What’s New

• z/OS V2.3 Enhancements RFA.
  • z/OSMF Workflow is enhanced with the PTF for APAR PH03053 to support the array type of variable, which could contain a set of values. Good things will come from this.

Ask MPT” New spot!

• Every podcast seems to have one: So we’ve decided to do a “Things people asked us” spot. Please submit questions!
  • Q: How can you tell who used Dynamic Linklist (with LNKAUTH=LNKLST) to implicitly APF authorise a data set?
  • A: In IEASYSxx (or on sysparm) LNKAUTH is specified or accept this as default. So when changing the linklist (and using this setting), you can see how APF authorisation is changing.
    • Looking up SMF records, we see that SMF type 90 subtype 29 for Linklist change (SET). Just notice also that subtype 31 for LPA (SET or CSVDYLPA), 37 for APF (SET or CSVAPF).

Mainframe: PI99365 Two enhancements in z/OSMF Operator Consoles

1. Support for “sticking” WTOR and held messages on the top of the console area
2. Visible EMCS console name

• • View WTOR and HOLD messages in a separate window
    • Tiny icon of a little display monitor next to the “bars” of messages, in the upper left to toggle this. Now there are two icons there. So it’s a separately scrollable area within the console messages area with the most important stuff
    • Can delete a HOLD messages manually from that window
      • To manually delete a message in this section, just click on the message and it gets put into a box with an “X” next to it. Just click on the X.
      • Also, z/OSMF automatically cleans up the messages. Real time messages are stored in z/OSMF (both on UI side and back end), and when messages exceed 10,000, then the oldest 5,000 are cleaned up.
    • On a busy system, this window is a little small and it’s sometimes hard to navigate. Removing messages helps with the clutter.
      • Hint: minimize the “bars” so you can see more in the WTOR and HOLD message window.
    • This line item is about making important console messages more recognisable
  • Visible console name part
    • Really handy places: on the tab for the console, and on Overview
    • Nicely helps with debug to see if your Operparm was set up correctly for the EMCS you are using
  • Overall: These two function areas help you manage your z/OSMF operator consoles better.

Performance: Paging Subsystem Design in an age of Virtual Flash

• Question from customer about need for paging space if Flash installed , which was answered in Martin’s blog post, but there is more thinking about this.
• Look at the paging subsystem design in the round, with two flavours of Flash:
  1. Flash Express (in zEC12, z13) which is PCI-E cards
  2. Virtual Flash Memory (z14) carved from memory
     • LPAR memory, but not the from that which a user defines for that LPAR
• Design standpoint ideally as if no Flash
  • Think about the economics vs risk of losing Flash. The reality is loss of Flash might cause ABENDs that matter. Damage assessment is worth thinking through.
  • Flash is great – in the z/OS context – for handling dump capture, and spikes in memory demand in general.
• Paging subsystem design: Two main considerations:
  1. Space: Ideally contain everything, particularly for dumping important address spaces
  2. Performance
• Come together in “30% Contiguous Slot Allocation Algorithm breakdown” rule of thumb
  • Place local page data sets on separate volumes, even though virtualised.
  • Fast disk, ideally SSD (Flash)
  • 30% is not a hard and fast number, but we do see deterioation around the 30% mark.
• Instrumentation
  • RMF SMF 71, also covers memory. Flash treated like ordinary paging device.
  • RMF SMF 74-10 in OA50761
• Wrap up: Paging subsystem design still worthy of care, and establish whether risk of Flash or Virtual Flash warrants conservative configuration of paging subsystem.

Topics: Anatomy Of A Great App

• “App” here means “third party software” but we’ll say app for short, because of the title of the episode. We are talking to app developers here.
• iOS perspective:
  • Highly biased on expectations in iOS, as Martin is a power user.
    • Automation is important
    • Fitting into Apple ecosystem –
    • Good quality apps – and is willing and able to pay for them.
  • Good
    • iCloud syncing – so data can be shared between devices.
    • URL support that is deep enough to reach specific bits of the application – so sophisticated automation can be built.
    • iPad Split Screen / Slideover support – to make it pleasant to use alongside other apps.
    • Siri Shortcuts support that is meaningful – again for automation, but also for voice control.
  • Better
    • Files access, for getting to app’s data from multiple apps.
    • Dropbox access – which speaks for itself.
    • x-callback-url support – for calls from one app to another. (Really sophisticated automation has been built this way.)
    • Programmatic automation support – whether Javascript or Python.
    • Well-chosen Siri Shortcuts support – as opposed to basic.
    • Cross-platform syncing, for start on an iPhone and finish on a Mac.
  • Best
    • Box access – less prevalent a need than DropBox.
    • TextExpander support – which can save a lot of typing and ensure consistency.
    • Workflow constructors via e.g. Drag and Drop ”
• Android perspective
  • Marna is a low end user, and provides a different view. Doesn’t buy many apps, and doesn’t mind ads.
  • Bad defaults are user hostile. Example is “geography default” is not where I am right now.
  • Good provenance. Play Store is it.
  • Signed apps that must pass multiple security app scanning.
  • Sensible connections for cloud services (Google cloud and Google calendar)
• z/OS perspective
  • SMP/E installable might have been in the past, but z/OSMF-installable is the future standard.
  • Uses documented interfaces.
  • Instrumentation. Has appropriate SMF records.
  • Security considerations. Critical.
  • Sysplex enabled, when appropriate.
• Common stuff
  • “Day One” support for hardware and software. Be hooked into your foundation.
    • For z/OS TDMs / IBM Partnerworld
    • For iOS WWDC
  • Good support
    • Bug reporting being fit for purpose
      • On iOS you have to have a Developer account, and it’s hard to get one.
      • On z/OS we take bug reports from licensed customers
  • Decent documentation and samples.
  • Responsive developer social media presence at the usual sites. Social testing of apps is considerate.
  • Automatable
  • Not a resource pig, with not umpteen copies of frameworks. Martin and Marna’s Facebook app was rather large, but maybe that is ok if that is a critical app. z/OS has had a problem with proliferation of WebSphere Liberty profiles.
• Conclusion: Think about more than just what your app is supposed to do. Nobody wants software whose function they like but they hate using. It is way too easy to uninstall an app (or have hundreds of them and not use them).
  Keep to the “Principle of least astonishment”.

Customer requirements

• RFE 111923 Uncommitted Candidate
  • Currently Workflow default job card and the REST Jobs API requests can only be changed by individual users. We need the ability to change the current default jobcard for all users. For example, currently the default MSGCLASS is 0 we would like to change the default to X. Other installations might need to include accounting information.
  • Expecting individual userids to set their own installation default makes no sense, they should only have to change it if they won’t something different from the “normal” jobcard.
  • Seem reasonable, and might be an indication of the maturing of Workflows when you see requirements like these.

Places we expect to be speaking at

• Marna will be at SHARE Phoenix March 11-15
• Martin will be March 12 GSE UK zCMPA Working Group – in London, with a new alpha presentation!

On the blog

• Martin’s latest blog posts:
  • Return Of Paging Subsystem Design
  • Anatomy Of A Great iOS App
  • Automation On Tap
• Marna’s latest blog post:
  • Interest in z/OSMF is abounding](https://www.share.org/blog/interest-in-z/osmf-is-abounding)

Final signoff to a legend, John Dayka

• We have lost a dear friend, a trusted colleague, an incredible mind and an inspiring leader. John’s innovative contributions to Security over his prestigious career at IBM, his kindness to all peers, as well as his calm, level headed approach to all challenges will forever cement his legacy.

Contacting Us

You can reach Marna on Twitter as mwalle and by email.

You can reach Martin on Twitter as martinpacker and by email.

Or you can leave a comment below. So it goes…

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