Some Questions You May Have...

Q.  Can I get a demonstration of CPExpert analysis using data from our site?

Yes.  CPExpert offers a FREE, no-obligation performance analysis of your organization's IBM z/OS performance.  We are offering this free analysis to acquaint you with CPExpert's features, and allow you to appreciate the benefits received from using CPExpert.

Yes. Upon receipt of the CPExpert software, the customer has a 45-day, no-obligation trial period to evaluate the product. If the customer is not satisfied, the customer will remove the CPExpert software from the customer's system, communicate in writing to CMS that the CPExpert Software has been removed, and return all materials including the CPExpert Software distribution tape and user documentation to CMS. Having met these requirements, the customer would have no further obligation and would owe nothing to CMS. If the customer does not return the software during this 45 day period, the customer will be obliged to pay the invoice provided by CMS.

Yes. CPExpert Release 18.1 (the first release of 2008) was issued April 2008. CPExpert Release 18.1 supports IBM's System z10, including analysis of performance considerations with HiperDispatch Management Mode.

Q. Does CPExpert support z/OS (Version 1 Release 9)?

Yes. CPExpert Release 17.2 (the second release of 2007) was issued in October 2007. CPExpert Release 17.2 supports z/OS (Version 1 Release 9).

The following table shows recent versions of z/OS and MVS, and the corresponding CPExpert release:

MVS Version	Supported by	Date issued
z/OS Version 1 Release 9	CPExpert Release 17.2	October 2007
z/OS Version 1 Release 8	CPExpert Release 16.2	October 2006
z/OS Version 1 Release 7	CPExpert Release 15.2	October 2005
z/OS Version 1 Release 6	CPExpert Release 14.2	October 2004
z/OS Version 1 Release 5	CPExpert Release 14.1	April 2004
z/OS Version 1 Release 4	CPExpert Release 12.2	October 2002
z/OS Version 1 Release 3	CPExpert Release 12.1	April 2002
z/OS Version 1 Release 2	CPExpert Release 11.2	October 2001
z/OS Version 1 Release 1	CPExpert Release 11.1	April 2001
OS/390 Version 2 Release 10	CPExpert Release 10.2	October 2000
OS/390 Version 2 Release 9	CPExpert Release 10.1	April 2000
OS/390 Version 2 Release 8	CPExpert Release 9.2	October 1999
OS/390 Version 2 Release 7	CPExpert Release 9.1	April 1999
OS/390 Version 2 Release 6	CPExpert Release 8.2	October 1998
OS/390 Version 2 Release 5	CPExpert Release 8.1	April 1998
OS/390 Version 2 Release 4	CPExpert Release 7.2	October 1997
OS/390 Version 1 Release 3	CPExpert Release 7.1	April 1997
OS/390 Version 1 Release 2	CPExpert Release 6.2	October 1996
OS/390 Version 1 Release 1	CPExpert Release 6.1	April 1996
MVS Version 5.2	CPExpert Release 5.2	October 1995
MVS Version 5.1	CPExpert Release 5.1	April 1995

 

Yes. CPExpert Release 16.2 (the second release of 2006) supports IBM's System z9.

Q. Does CPExpert support IBM's System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)?

Yes. CPExpert Release 16.2 (the second release of 2006) supports IBM's System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP).

Q. Does CPExpert support IBM's zSeries Application Assist Processor (zAAP)?

Yes. CPExpert Release 14.2 (the second release of 2004) supports IBM's zSeries Application Assist Processor (zAAP).

Q. Does CPExpert support IBM's z9 109 server?

Yes. CPExpert Release 15.2 (the second release of 2005) supports IBM's z9 109 server.

Q. If I upgrade my processor, must I pay additional CPExpert license fees?

No. Licenses for CPExpert are issued per physical installation, for data created at the installation. CPExpert is licensed without regard to the number of processors installed, the processor size, or capacity group.

Q. Are the license fees negotiable?

No. This question is asked occasionally by contracting officers who have had past experience with negotiating a license fee. The CPExpert Standard License Fee Schedule is openly provided on this web site and via other methods. The fees are not adjusted for any organization.

Q. We have our own license agreement that we require software vendors to sign. Will Computer Management Sciences sign our license agreement?

No. CPExpert is a commercial product, providing features as described in this web site. The product is offered under the terms and conditions described in the CPExpert Master License Agreement on this web site, and the License fees for CPExpert are also shown on this web site. We will consider modest changes to the terms and conditions if your legal staff feels that such changes are appropriate, but the CPExpert Master License Agreement must be executed to license CPExpert.

Q. How does CPExpert work?

CPExpert analyzes data acquired from standard monitoring tools (such as SMF/RMF), and placed in a performance data base (such as MXG, SAS/ITRM, or NeuMICS).

Most of the analysis is done based on data contained in SMF Type 70(series) records. Some optional analysis can be done based on SMF Type 30 records, data in Type 14/15 records, data in Type 42 records, data in Type 64 records, or data in Type 88 records.

The DB2 Component processes DB2 interval statistics, DB2 accounting data, and selected DB2 trace data.

The CICS Component processes CICS Interval Statistics.

The WebSphere MQ Component processes WebSphere MQ Interval Statistics and WebSphere MQ accounting data (the "new" accounting data available with WebSphere MQ Release 5.2).

CPExpert automatically summarizes and analyzes the data (using expert system rules, data analysis modules, or queuing models) and produces narrative reports reflecting the result of the analysis.

No. The CPExpert installation is very easy. You execute IEBUPDTE to copy the CPExpert source code and user guidance modules into two partitioned data sets. You then modify the JCL as appropriate for your installation, modify the DD statements to point to your performance data base, make any desired modifications to the user guidance modules, and you are ready to execute CPExpert.
It is as simple as that!

Yes. The CICS Component of CPExpert supports all versions of CICS, ranging from CICS/ESA Release 3.1 to CICS/TS for z/OS Release 3.2.

Yes. Most analysis done by CPExpert is based on "guidance variables" and the guidance variables can be altered by users to meet individual needs.

For example, you might not be able to make a change based on CPExpert's suggestions (because of political factors, corporate policy, financial implications, etc.). You can alter the analysis so that CPExpert does not continue to produce findings and recommendations that cannot be acted upon.

Yes. CPExpert will suggest one or more actions that could be taken to remedy poor performance.  Multiple alternatives normally will be listed, so you can select the alternative that best suits your environment.

Yes. A separate User Manual is included with each CPExpert component, and each finding is described in detail.

Additionally, CPExpert suggests alternative solutions, explains how to evaluate the alternatives, and provides references to support the analysis and findings.

A sample "rule" description can illustrate the level of discussion provided in the documentation.

No. CPExpert can detect only those performance problems revealed by the data it analyzes.

CPExpert generally will analyze routine performance problems revealed by SMF/RMF data about as well as would a computer performance analyst.

This means that your experienced performance analysts can analyze more difficult problems, rather than wasting their time on routine areas!

CPExpert is implemented in SAS. SAS provides tremendous flexibility in summarizing, consolidating, and analyzing data. CPExpert consists of hundreds of SAS modules with over 135,000 SAS statements.

Yes. Only SAS/BASE is required when operating CPExpert.

No. CPExpert requires no knowledge of SAS; you simply submit CPExpert as a batch job and it automatically analyzes your computer performance.

Yes. CPExpert is developed on a PC under SAS, and then ported to an IBM mainframe for final testing.

Some users download required files from their performance data base and execute CPExpert on their PC. The download process may be burdensome, however, and you may decide that you prefer to execute CPExpert on your mainframe .

No. CPExpert requires very few CPU resources (typically less than 5 CPU minutes per day) and a small amount of DASD space (typically less than 20 cylinders of DASD) to analyze the performance of your system.

Yes. CPExpert optionally maintains a historical file containing the results from its analysis.

Yes. CPExpert is written in SAS and the SAS code is provided as a part of the product. SAS is a language most performance analysts are comfortable with, the code is modular, and each module contains extensive comments.

Yes. You can add your own rules or use the temporary SAS data sets created by CPExpert for management reporting or for more detailed analysis.

However, please do not modify the analysis modules! Without exception (so far), any user wishing to have the analysis modified has found that we are eager to make modifications to meet specific needs. CPExpert gets better based on user suggestions, and your suggested modification might be just the thing another user needs.

Yes. The license for CPExpert includes periodic maintenance and enhancement, both to the software and the documentation. Updates to CPExpert are issued twice each year.

CPExpert has been updated to support each new version of IBM MVS, OS/390, or z/OS within 30 days of the GA date of the new IBM software. Please see the "CPExpert Updates" for an appreciation of the updates provided.

The major reasons we are able to react so swiftly to new IBM releases are (1) we are a member of IBM's Partner's in Development, (2) IBM provides us with data to analyze prior to GA of new IBM software, and (3) "leading edge" users of CPExpert often provide us with data to analyze as new releases of IBM software are available. The combination of these factors has allowed us to remain current with all new IBM software releases.

Q. Are there CPExpert distributors outside the United States?

No. CPExpert is marketed, distributed, and supported from the United States.

We initially had distributors for users outside the United States, but we discovered that direct support provided better service for our users.

When a user from outside the United States wishes to ask a question or report a problem, communication via email, telephone, or fax works well. The user immediately reaches the software developer for technical questions or reaches management for other questions.

We will be happy to provide a number of references to users outside the United States who can comment on the satisfactory support of CPExpert.

Sites in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands, and Scotland have used CPExpert to improve performance of their z/OS systems.