Ten Approaches to Minimize Your Mainframe Software program Licensing Costs

What is actually the solitary greatest value you have as a Mainframe supervisor? Software licensing costs – the typical expenses essential to operate computer software, and to get support if it breaks. This write-up presents ten methods to carry these costs down to earth.

Verify you actually need it.
Don’t giggle. This sounds evident, but it truly is only way too simple for software that is no longer required to slip through the cracks. For example, you may have some application that was originally needed for CICS purposes that have considering that moved in other places.

You may also have software program certified for all z/OS images, but only utilized on one.

Check you truly use it.
As your Mainframe workload alterations more than time, it is only too easy for the use of a application merchandise to quietly decline with out Mainframe managers noticing. You could be having to pay thousands of dollars for a solution that only a couple of folks are really making use of.

You want to regularly analyse the use of your computer software, and timetable the removing of any computer software no lengthier essential.

Examine you never have two items undertaking the exact same thing.
You could use all your application, but have two application products doing the very same or related purpose. You need to totally understanding your software stock, and just how each and every merchandise is utilised.

Look into sub-capability pricing.
Most software program licensing fees are based on the dimension of every single LPAR managing that application – the MSU ranking. You can uncover this value from the IBM internet site or a system to get in touch with IBM’s IWMQVS provider.

A couple of years in the past IBM introduced an additional choice: Sub-Potential Pricing. This is in which your software licensing fees are based mostly on your CPU use, not on your LPAR dimensions. So software working on a lesser-utilised LPAR will be more affordable. It also makes updates less complicated to justify as you do not get strike by increased software program costs with the greater processor.

IBM isn’t really the only seller offering Sub-Ability Pricing. Other vendors this kind of as BMC and CA are also leaping on the bandwagon.

Reorganise your LPARs.
Several internet sites now run at minimum one particular ‘capped’ LPAR, which means that the CPU sources offered to it are artificially capped using Workload Manager (WLM). Software program that is billed on MSU ranking is run in this capped LPAR, decreasing fees.

Consumers of Sub-Capacity pricing could take into account doing the reverse: consolidating LPARs. This reduces CPU intake by decreasing the overhead of running a z/OS graphic.

Examine equivalent products.
Evaluate the cost of competing products, and take into account moving to less costly Real time school Bus Tracker ones. For example, SAS end users may think about the SAS alternative merchandise WPS by Planet Programming.

It is true that in some circumstances shifting to distinct merchandise can be extremely difficult and expensive. Nevertheless it isn’t really necessarily so, and several vendors offer you migration tools to relieve this soreness.

Tune your systems.
Tuning your techniques lowers CPU usage (great for Sub-Capacity pricing customers), and delays upgrades to larger processors.

Go off the Mainframe.
Mainframe CPU resources are expensive when when compared with other platforms. So it could be worth contemplating migrating some of your workload. For illustration:

Software program items such as Tachyon Assembler Workbench and Microfocus Mainframe Convey allow you to complete Mainframe application advancement on Windows and UNIX platforms.
Some products this sort of as Websphere Enterprise Service Bus and CICS Transaction Gateway daemon run on the two z/OS and other platforms.

Some workloads might effortlessly be moved to other platforms. SOA and associated services now helps make Mainframe services and info less difficult to accessibility from other platforms.

Up grade your Mainframe.
For the past few of zSeries processor generations IBM has been offering a ten% MSU ‘discount’. In other phrases, a z10 processor will have an MSU score that is around 10% decrease than an equivalent z9 processor. This interprets to software program license price cost savings.

Spend in Speciality Processors.
IBM now provides Speciality Processors these kinds of as the Built-in Data Processor (zIIP) and Application Support Processor (zAAP). These particular processors can not do ‘normal’ perform, but can be offered specific work by normal Mainframe processors. This can enhance the functionality of Java apps and other subsystems these kinds of as DB2. But the intriguing gain is that the operate carried out by these processors isn’t going to rely toward your CPU use if you use Sub-Potential Pricing.

Many new computer software goods are also off-loading work on to these Speciality Processors, which includes software from BMC and CA.

It does not take a rocket scientist to know that implementing any of these ten approaches is a big venture, and needs to be performed frequently. Nonetheless you do have some equipment to make this easier.

Usage Software. IBMs Tivoli License Compliance Supervisor (replacing Isogon SoftAudit for z/OS and Ubiquity Dorana) will routinely record all application mounted, who uses it, and how frequently.
Security Software. Mainframe safety software has services that can aid you observe computer software use. For illustration, enabling RACF software manage to log obtain to particular plans can inform you who is employing a solution, and how typically.
IBM. IBM give a free Sub-Capability arranging tool to assist you plan for Sub Capability licensing.
Software program Sellers. Request them for data about software merchandise you previously have, and options they might have for your present software program.

Your Programs Programmer. You key weapon in the combat in opposition to software licensing costs. Systems Programmers put in and customise all your z/OS computer software, so they normally know what it does, and possibly who uses it. They can also setup checking to decide who is utilizing which computer software and how typically, and will be your scout when seeking for different software program items and freeware.