Call for z/VM CPU MF Counters Data

Version 2, 2022-08-11: now contains upload instructions

To help improve its understanding of customer z/VM environments, IBM Z Systems Hardware Development is requesting specimens of CPU MF counters from customer z/VM systems.

Though IBM is especially interested in data from z/VM systems running large MongoDB or large Oracle workloads, data from any modern z/VM workload would be great.

Because z/VM collects the CPU MF counters by including them in the Monitor data stream, what we are asking for here is a MONWRITE file, collected so as to include CPU MF counters.

Conditions

When you collect, make sure the following conditions are true:

  1. Collect data from a peak period, not from an off-shift or quiet period.

  2. The system should be running as expected, rather than running in duress or running poorly.

Preparing to Collect

To prepare to collect, do this:

  1. Make sure you enable your system to collect CPU MF counters. For instructions, refer to this article.

  2. If you are able, please configure CP Monitor with these commands:
    CP MONITOR EVENT ENABLE ALL
    CP MONITOR EVENT DISABLE SEEKS ALL
    CP MONITOR EVENT DISABLE SCHEDULER ALL
    CP MONITOR SAMPLE ENABLE ALL
    CP MONITOR SAMPLE INTERVAL 1 MIN
    
    If you are not able to set Monitor as described above, please make sure you run Monitor at least like this:
    • We need event records in the command domain. To check this, issue CP QUERY MONITOR and look in the events section for COMMAND DOMAIN ENABLED:
      MONITOR EVENT ACTIVE    BLOCK    4     PARTITION    7808
      ...
      
      COMMAND   DOMAIN ENABLED
      
      
      If you find the command domain not enabled, issue this:
      
      CP MONITOR EVENT ENABLE COMMAND
      
      
    • We need sample records in the processor domain. To check this, issue CP QUERY MONITOR and look in the samples section for PROCESSOR DOMAIN ENABLED CPUMFC:
      MONITOR SAMPLE ACTIVE
                     INTERVAL    1 MINUTES
                     RATE     1.00 SECONDS
      ...
      
      PROCESSOR DOMAIN ENABLED CPUMFC
      
      
      If you find the processor domain not enabled, issue this:
      
      CP MONITOR SAMPLE ENABLE PROCESSOR
      
      
      If you find ENABLED NOCPUMFC, you did not enable the partition for CPU MF counters. Do the instructions here.

Collecting

Collect like this:

  • Collect only 30 to 60 minutes of MONWRITE data. Collecting more data is not useful and just makes the MONWRITE file larger.

  • If you are using IBM MONWRITE, you can run it according to this simple procedure.

  • If you are collecting in some other fashion, please be aware that we need the config records.
    • If you are using IBM MONWRITE, do not use the NOCONFIG option.
    • If you are using Velocity Software's ZWrite, make sure to tell it to include the config records.

    The result of the collection will be a MONWRITE file.

    Packaging

    Compress your MONWRITE file with COPYFILE ( PACK. This makes the file smaller, so uploading it doesn't take quite so long.

    For example, if your MONWRITE file is called D073022 T070500 B, compress it like this:

    COPYFILE D073022 T070500 B = PACK = ( PACK REPLACE
    
    This will create file D073022 PACK B in packed format. The packed file is the one we want.

    Uploading

    Updated 2022-08-11 with upload procedure

    To send the data, open a support case against z/VM and upload the PACK file into the case. Post into the case that the data does not represent an actual problem but rather is for the Z Hardware z/VM CPU MF counters study. Also post into the case that you would like z/VM Level 2 to alert Brian Wade that data has arrived.

    Remember that every time you move the packed file from one computing system to another, you must move it in binary transfer mode. Moving the file in ASCII mode will destroy it.

    Limitations

    1. The purpose of this activity is to give IBM an opportunity to see the CPU MF host counters from z/VM workloads of interest.

    2. IBM will not provide analysis, diagnosis, tuning tips, or other feedback about your data or what it reveals. IBM especially will not provide diagnosis or consulting services that might conflict with fee-based services offered by IBM or by third parties.

    3. Do not use this exercise as a substitute for the normal support case process. If you are experiencing z/VM difficulties, open a z/VM case as usual.

    4. You agree IBM may use your data in its studies of z/VM systems' characteristics. You also agree that IBM may discuss your systems' characteristics in public, provided IBM scrubs identifying markings, such as machine serial numbers, names of systems, or names of virtual machines, from its discussions.

    5. IBM reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.