Defining a Performance HDB

Defining a Performance HDB allows you to collect (load) and report historical performance data. The definition alone does not cause any action by CICS PA.

Select option 2 Define from the HDB menu to define a new HDB. Then when prompted, select option 1 to create a Performance HDB.
Figure 1. New HDB Definition Menu
            New HDB Definition Menu     
                                        
Select an HDB type then press Enter.    
_  1. Performance - CMF List or Summary 
   2. Statistics  - CICS Statistics     
                                        
In the following example, we have given the HDB a name of CICSP1H and a description of Summary HDB for CICSP1.
Figure 2. New HDB Definition
  File  Systems  Options  Help                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              New HDB Definition                            
Command ===> _______________________________________________________________
                                                                            
Specify new HDB definition options then press EXIT to save.                 
                                                                            
Name . . . . . . CICSP1H_  APPLID  CICSP1__ +  Image ________               
Qualifier  . . . ________  _  Explorer                                      
Description  . . Summary HDB for CICSP1__________                           
                                                                            
HDB Format:                             Selection Criteria:                 
 Template  . . . PRODSUM_  +             _  Performance                     
                                                                            
Data Retention Period:                                                      
 Years . . 10_  Months . . ___  Weeks . . ___  Days . . ___  Hours . . ___  
                                                                            
Data Set Allocation Settings:                                               
 DSN Prefix . . . . . . JCH_______________                                  
 Management class . . . ________    (Blank for default management class)    
 Storage class  . . . . ________    (Blank for default storage class)       
  Volume serial . . . . ______      (Blank for system default volume)       
  Device type . . . . . ________    (Generic unit or device address)        
 Data class . . . . . . ________    (Blank for default data class)          
  Space Units . . . . . CYLS____    (TRKS, CYLS)                            
  Primary quantity  . . 10______    (In above units)                        
  Secondary quantity    10______    (In above units)                        
                                                                            
F1=Help  F3=Exit  F4=Prompt  F7=Backward  F8=Forward  F10=Actions  F12=Cancel
The other options are:
APPLID
APPLID is optional and specifies the CICS® system that the HDB applies to. You can use Prompt (F4) to select from a list of CICS systems defined in your System Definitions.

Specify APPLID to ensure that only data for this CICS system is loaded into the HDB. At Load time, CICS PA will generate JCL that includes this APPLID in the command deck and DD statements for this system's SMF Files.

Qualifier
If Qualifier is specified, the value is used as the DB2 schema in place of the Database as specified in DB2 Settings. It is also incorporated into the DB2 table name:
qualifier.CPA_hdbname
Qualifier is mandatory if Explorer is selected, and optional otherwise. If Qualifier and Explorer are both entered then details of this HDB will be included in the manifest for the CICS PA plug-in the next time it is rebuilt for this qualifier.
Explorer
Select the Explorer option to make this HDB eligible for inclusion in the manifest for the CICS PA plug-in.
Template
The format and type of the HDB is determined by the Template.

In the example above we have specified PRODSUM, the Template created in the previous step. You can use Prompt (F4) to select from a list of defined Templates. PRODSUM is a Summary Template and HDB CICSP1H inherits its attributes.

If you have selected the Explorer option, you must choose an internal template that has been predefined for use with the CICS PA plug-in.

Selection Criteria
HDBs have optional Selection Criteria that allows you to filter the CMF performance class records used to build the HDB. For example, the HDB only includes data for a particular application's transaction ids, such as TRAN=MY*. Select Performance to specify Selection Criteria.

Templates can also specify Selection Criteria. If the Template and HDB both have active Selection Criteria then both are checked and both must match for the record to be processed.

Template Selection Criteria typically focuses on the type of data being recorded. For example, if your Template is monitoring File Control activity then its Selection Criteria can specify FCTOTAL>0 to include only transactions that used File Control services.

HDB Selection Criteria typically focuses on the application targeted by the HDB. For example, if the HDB is for MY application then its Selection Criteria can specify TRAN = MY* to include only transactions in MY application.

The resultant HDB will include data for transactions matching MY* that use File Control services.

Data Retention Period
The Data Retention Period specifies how long the HDB container data sets are to be kept. Typically:
  • Summary HDBs need to keep their container data sets for many years for long term trend analysis.
  • List HDBs used for ad-hoc reporting might only need to keep their container data sets for a few hours or days.
Only one Retention Period can be specified: either years, months, weeks, days, or hours. You can leave it blank to ensure data is never expired.

Container data sets are deleted by HDB Housekeeping after they have passed their expiry date.

Use HDB Maintenance to check container data set status or to alter the retention period.

Data Set Allocation Settings
Data Set Allocation Settings specify the allocation attributes of the data sets that contain data for this HDB. CICS PA dynamically allocates container data sets at load time.

The format of the data set name is:

DSN-prefix.HDB-name.Dyyddd.Thhmmss.HDB

where the DSN prefix is the data set name high level qualifier.

Specify allocation settings that satisfy your installation requirements. The size of container data sets is not critical. Typically you would specify a size that accommodates a single load request. For example, if you load data into the HDB daily, then 10 cylinders might be sufficient. However if CICS PA encounters an out-of-space condition (ABENDx37) during load, then it simply closes the data set and recommences loading in a new data set. You can decide to specify a larger size initially and adjust it later using HDB Maintenance.

Exit (F3) to save the HDB. You are now ready to use this HDB.