This product update forwards updates to both software and documentation. The software update is Release 9.2.0 of CPExpert. The release number indicates that it is the second release of 1999.

This release (1) provides support for OS/390 Version 2 Release 8 (V2R8), (2) provides enhanced data selection/reporting options and additional analysis for the CICS Component, (3) provides enhanced data selection/reporting for the WLM Component, (4) provides enhanced data selection/reporting for the MVS Component, (5) provides updated documentation on CD-ROM, and (6) corrects errors that have been reported.

Additionally, this product update announces the availability of the DB2 Component of CPExpert.

• OS/390 Version 2 Release 8. OS/390 V2R8 was made Generally Available (GA) by IBM at the end of September. Since Computer Management Sciences is a Partner in Development with IBM, I normally can provide support for new releases of MVS within 30 days of GA of the new IBM release.
• All CPExpert components have been updated to provide support for OS/390 Version 2 Release 8.
• All CPExpert documentation has been updated with references to applicable OS/390 Version 2 Release 8 documents from IBM.
Recall that all references in CPExpert documentation refer to IBM documents contained in IBM BookManager format. I will be happy to provide a cross-reference to hard-copy of IBM documents if any user does not have access to IBM documents in BookManager format.

• Update the CICS Component. The CICS Component has been updated in the following areas:
• Add a new rule to analyze whether the value of the DSHIPINT value in the System Initialization Table (SIT) might be too large.

• Add a new rule to analyze whether more than one string was specified for VSAM ESDS files that have only write activity.
• Add a new rule to analyze whether VSAM ESDS files have a mixture of read and write activity, but that are primarily write-only, and should have two file definitions specified.
• Add a new rule to analyze whether SUBTSKS=1 was specified in the System Initialization Table.

• Add a new rule to analyze whether CICS waited for a logger "structure full" condition for log streams residing in a coupling facility.

• Add a new rule to analyze whether CICS waited for a logger "staging data set full" condition for DASD-only log streams.

Technical Note: IBM's CICS Performance Guide for CICS/Transaction Server for OS/390 Release 1.3 has been considerably enhanced with recommended analysis and suggested changes for CICS/TS Release 1.3. Many of these enhancements are applicable to all releases of CICS/TS, and some of the enhancements are applicable to CICS/ESA Release 4.1. The above improvements to CPExpert reflect these enhancements to IBM's CICS Performance Guide.

• Update the WLM Component. The WLM Component has been updated in the following areas:
• Provide the ability to specify analysis guidance for individual structures in a coupling facility. The guidance variables for structures normally are globally applied during CPExpert's analysis of structure performance. These global guidance variables might not be applicable to some structures, however. With this change, guidance can optionally be applied to specific structures.
• Add an option to suppress the analysis and findings of particular rules. This feature typically is desired by users who (1) have an overall disagreement with the finding, (2) are unable to make a suggested change, or (3) decide that a particular finding is inapplicable to a their environment.
• Correct code to account for errors discovered in IBM's SMF documentation.
• Correct documentation and code based on errors reported by users.

Technical Note: Some CPExpert users have implemented the WLM-managed initiators option available with Goal Mode. CPExpert does not yet analyze performance implications of the WLM-managed initiators because it is difficult to distinguish jobs that are JES-managed from those that are WLM-managed. Only SMF Type 26 records currently contain any distinguishing information. Few sites collect SMF Type 26 records and the SMF Type 26 records might not even be available during a day's SMF data (these are Job Purge records and jobs often extend beyond a single day).

I have asked IBM to place an indicator in the SMF Type 30 (Interval) records so that CPExpert can distinguish between JES-managed and WLM-managed initiators. I believe that the SMF30WMI variable will be available in SMF Type 30 records beginning with OS/390 Version 2 Release 9. If the promised SMF30WMI variable does appear in this release of OS/390, CPExpert will be enhanced to include analysis of performance problems related to WLM-managed initiators in CPExpert Release 10.1, to be issued in April 2000.