Bill's Presentations Page

The following presentations are available here either for download or to view here on the web.

  • Putting SMT to Work in a z/VM Environment The intent of this presentation is to introduce performance metrics added to z/VM in support of SMT and how one might evaluate them in light of each other and an environment. Results shown are based off of z13 machines. There have been several enhancements made to hardware to get even greater benefit in this area since that time. Please bear that in mind.
  • Don't Fear the Crisis My worst fear used to be a critical situation (crit sit), but now it's a middle seat on a 12 hour flight. I still have a healthy respect for crit sits, but I don't fear them. Sort of like 7th grade, I've been through it, so I know I can do it. In IBM, crit sit has a specific meaning. This presentation applies to a general IT crisis, not just an IBM crit sit. The speaker will review various hints and tips about how to live through a crisis or maybe even avoid it. While many of the stories will be z/VM related and there will be some specifics for collecting data in a z/VM environment, a lot of the information and discussion will apply to IT crit sits in general.
  • Understanding z/VM LGR and Relocation Domains It sounds like an old real estate joke, but the three most important things to understand about Live Guest Relocation: Domains, Domains, Domains. Live Guest Relocation was introduced in z/VM 6.2 and many customers have grown to love it and depend on it. One of the key concepts associated with LGR is relocation domains. If you've ever wanted to really understand this part of the whole relocation construct, then come to this session. We'll describe what relocation domains are and how they affect LGR. You'll leave being able to understand how virtual architectures are influenced by relocation domains. In other words, you'll leave being able to amaze your friends and coworkers.
  • Introducing z/VM 7.1 and Continuous Delivery This 12-minute video will give you a brief overview of z/VM 7.1 from the April 10, 2018 preview announcement along with a description of the new continous delivery strategy for z/VM. z/VM 7.1 will be the first of a cadence of z/VM releases. There is also a PDF of charts with speaker notes. MP4 Version.
  • z/VM 6.4: A Customer Driven Release This presentation will take a high level view of the new z/VM 6.4 release that became Generally Available on November 11, 2016. It was a release born from customer feedback and with that, each customer should find some significant value in the release. We'll discuss items such as HyperPAV for z/VM ECKD paging, 2TB real memory support, improved SCSI management, a new CMS Pipelines library, and much more.
  • z/VM 6.4: Preparation & Use z/VM 6.4 was generally available on November 11, 2016 and brought a lot of new capability to the z/VM environment. This presentation reviews some of the key changes in the release. First we'll look at your existing system and discuss what will be different when you go to z/VM 6.4. Next we'll look at what you should change prior to IPLing z/VM 6.4, things like expanded storage or changes for HyperPAV paging. We'll wrap things up with a discussion of how you exploit some of the new features after you are running z/VM 6.4.
  • Migrating z/VM Customers to z/VM V6.4 This short document/presentation is meant to help justify why customers should move to the most current z/VM Release. It is a set of questions describing potential problems or challenges, and maps those questions to solutions or enhancements in z/VM 6.4 that address them.
  • z/VM Paging to SSD and Flash-Type Disk With z/VM 6.3's ability to use up to 1 TB of real memory, it is time to revisit the question "What type of disk should I use for z/VM Paging?" This session will give some background on z/VM paging, a review of devices options, and then look at real data from some work in this areas. Included will be discussion of how paging characteristics change under different workloads and circumstances.
  • Migrating z/VM Customers from V5.4 to V6.3 This short document/presentation is meant to help justify why customers should move to the most current z/VM Release. It is a set of questions describing potential problems or challenges, and maps those questions to solutions or enhancements in z/VM 6.3 that address them.
  • z/VM CPU Pooling and ILMT Support Support was added to z/VM 6.3 for a new capability known as CPU Pooling. What are these new pools? Does it mean no running or splashing? No, but CPU Pooling along with other enhancements to z/VM 6.3 allow greater control over processor resource usage and potentially the effect on software license charges. This session will explain how to set up CPU Pooling and how it works.
  • z/VM Capacity Planning Overview Capacity Planning can be a challenge in a stand alone environment, but how in the world do you do it in a virtualized environment such as z/VM? This session will describe the top focus areas along with key performance metrics that one should track when doing z/VM capacity planning. Additionally, we'll discuss at a high level some models for planning: natively on z/VM through home grown tools, through tools on z/OS, or in conjunction with other products. The companion document is a list of the top performance metrics to track.
  • Finding Your Way - The z/VM Website, Documenations, and Other Hints for the New User How many of us get a little nervous trying something new? Maybe the first day of school or first day at a new company? Was it a confusing day or did you have someone help you out? Pointing the way and orienting you in the right direction? This session is meant to keep the person that is new to z/VM from having those same butterflies on their first day at the keyboard. The session will help you understand the various channels for information and help on the z/VM product. This will include some examples of the HELP facility in z/VM, a brief tour of the z/VM library and utilities to access the library, as well as pointers and discussion about various web sites and mailing lists that have proven helpful over the years.
  • z/VM Systems Management Fundamentals: The Strategies and Options This presentation reviews discusses what makes up Systems Management, what infrastucture is available for systems management, and the products and features available. The presentation includes several backup charts on various solutions.
  • z/VM 6.3 - Increasing the Endless Possibilities of Virtualization This presentation reviews the changes in z/VM 6.3 for Single System Image and Live Guest Relocation. Unlkie other presentations that discuss how to set up an SSI Cluster or use Live Guest Relocation, this presentation covers two major topics: what makes this implementation special or unique and what are some uses for this clustering technology.
  • Performance Update April 2013 This presentation includes much of the older z/VM 6.2 Performance Update with a short preview of the z/VM 6.3 release.
  • The Merits of z/VM This presentation talks about some of the strengths of z/VM that do not fit into a spreadsheet as easier as others. It will then speak about what makes the z/VM implementation of guest mobility better. Finally, we will walk through a series of ways you can use Single System Image Clusters and Live Guest Relocation.
  • z/VM 40th Anniversary This video gives a brief review of the history of z/VM.
  • z/VM 6.2 Performance Update This presentation covers various aspects of z/VM 6.2 Performance. The majority of the presentation is focused on the newly introduced Single System Image Clusters and Live Guest Relocation. The presentation also looks at some other performance improvements in z/VM 6.2 as well as some performance-related changes to system configuration.
  • z/VM Performance Update 2011
    The presentation covers the various performance changes in z/VM 6.1.0 and those that went out as service. In addition, there is information on some of the common questions about z/VM Performance. Some gotchas are also discussed.
  • z/VM Scheduler and Dispatcher The presentation covers the structure and workings of the z/VM scheduler. Included are discussions on tuning and monitoring with an eye on Share and SRM settings.
  • z/VM 5.4.0 Performance Update The presentation covers the various performance changes in z/VM 5.4.0. It describes the changes and where appropriate, provides results from various lab measurements. Some additional information on z10 performance and service that affects performance are included.
  • Conquering Performance Gotchas for z/VM Mode LPARs The presentation gives some background on z/VM Scheduling and then discussees how it applies in an environment with Speciality Engines, particularly for z/OS guests and Linux guests in z/VM Mode LPARs.
  • z/VM System Limits This presentation is now maintained by my colleague Jacob Gagnon. The link points to the current version on the z/VM presentations page. How large can z/VM systems be in theory? in practice? This presentation describes some known limits, explains how to track where you are in reference to the limits, and discusses practical considerations.
  • z/VM Virtualization Basics The word virtualization appears in more and more places these days. This presentation covers what virtualization means in a z/VM system and some of the basic implementation concepts. It is a good overview of z/VM.
  • VM Considerations for Guest Performance -- Last updated May 21, 2003
    This presentation covers various considerations and features for getting better performance for guests such as Linux.
  • VM Performance Update 2002 -- Last Updated May 29, 2002
    This presentation covers the z/VM releases from 3.1.0 to 4.3.0.
  • VM Performance 101 This presentation is an introduction to VM Performance. It includes guidelines on measurement, configuration, and tuning.
  • VM Performance Update 2001 -- Last Updated June 21, 2001
    This presentation covers performance of z/VM 3.1.0 and some Linux connectivity performance.
  • VM/ESA Case Studies 2000 -- Last Updated April 10, 2000
    The presentation walks through five new case studies. VMPRF, RTM, and other tools are illustrated.
  • VM/ESA 2.4.0 Performance Update -- Last Updated November 1999
    The presentation discusses performance related changes in VM/ESA 2.4.0. In addition, includes some information on ADSM Version 2 and other VM related performance changes.
  • VM/ESA Performance Case Studies 1999 -- Last Updated November 1999
    The presentation walks through five case studies. If you ever wondered what I did from day to day, this presentation will give you a better understanding.
  • Performance Analysis for VM Applications -- Last Updated August 1998.
  • VM/ESA 2.3.0 Performance Update -- Last Updated September 1998.
  • Various TCP/IP Performance Presentations
  • VM/ESA Data in Memory Techniques -- Last Updated August 1997.
  • VM/ESA 2.2.0 Performance Update -- Last Updated March 1997.
  • SFS Performance Management Part I -- Last Updated April 2021. This session provides an understanding of Shared File System (SFS) performance management. The presentation will cover performance tasks, such as preventing performance problems, monitoring performance, and solving performance problems. Tuning tips and a case study will be included. Attendees should have some familiarity with SFS, but they need not be experts.
  • SFS Performance Management Part II - Mission Possible -- Last Updated February 1997. The Intro to SFS Performance Management session discussed the basics of Shared File System (SFS) performance management. And if you attended, you learned you do not need to be an SFS expert to manage the SFS performance. Now we will go a step further and try and combine SFS internals with performance. What are those things inside SFS called agents? Are they spies or part of some covert action? If you choose to attend this session, you will learn to tell the good agents from the misbehaving agents, when VM data space exploitation is appropriate, and what all those counters from QUERY FILEPOOL REPORT really mean. As always, if the speaker gets too silly, his management will deny any knowledge of his action. Hope to see you for this Mission: Possible.
  • VM/ESA Greater N-way Thoughts -- Last Updated October 1996. VM/ESA has provided support for running on a real multiprocessing environment and for virtual machines with multiple virtual processors ever since VM/ESA existed. However, hardware and software advances have customers asking questions about VM/ESA and MP environments. The huge improvements in price/performance offered by CMOS processor technology raises the question of how well does VM handle N-way support. The recent support added to VSE/ESA 2.1 for multi-processor support raises questions of how to set up and tune a virtual n-way guest. This session reviews the traditional VM/ESA real and virtual MP support and ties that into the new technology. Key considerations for these new environments will be covered to keep you and your users happy.
  • The VM/ESA Scheduler Made Simple -- Last Updated October 1996. This session is designed to remove some of the mystery of the VM/ESA scheduler. You'll learn the difference between relative and absolute share settings and how to use (or not use) other SRM tuning parameters. You'll also learn what 'surplus' share really means and additional details on the limit share (or share capping) added in VM/ESA 1.2.2.
  • VM for VSE Guest Performance html or Newer version in PDF -- Last Updated October 1999. Is VM good for VSE Performance? Bill Bitner of IBM's VM Performance Evaluation department answers that question with "It depends!". This presentation will look at what it depends on, what is meant by performance, and factors that include V=R/F/V guests, enhanced minidisk cache, virtual disk in storage, CCW translation, and hardware assists.
  • What is Good Monitor Data? -- Last Updated 1992 An old presentation that describes use Monitor data and what things should be added to the monitor. The audience was primarily CP developers, but others might find it interesting.
  • Care and Feeding of Monitor APPLDATA -- Last Updated 1992. An old presentation that describes use of Diagnose DC to contribute data to the CP monitor in the APPLDATA domain. Note this does not include the new function codes for the diagnose added in VM/ESA 2.3.0 for generation of Config and Event records.

The information provided, and views expressed on this site are my own and do not represent the IBM Corporation.



Back to Bill's Home Page