19
Fri, Apr
5 New Articles

TechTip: Performance Advisor for V5R3

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

If you've ever used iSeries Navigator, I'm sure you have an opinion about its performance. You may be happy with it or frustrated by it, or you may know that a rich, interactive GUI shouldn't be expected to perform the same as a text-based user interface (wink, wink). No matter what your opinion is, iSeries Navigator now has a way in V5R3 to analyze the performance of the PC running your iSeries Navigator client, the network connecting your PC to your iSeries, and the iSeries server you're connecting to.

Before we discuss the performance advisor, you should also know that the V5R3 iSeries Navigator client has had some performance improvements made to it in areas of the Java Virtual Machine, caching, and list management. In addition, some usability problems that were perceived as performance problems were also fixed. Visit the iSeries Navigator Web site for more details on how to upgrade to the V5R3 client even if you don't have V5R3 i5/OS.

How to Get the Advisor

Unlike other functions in iSeries Navigator, the performance advisor is not available with the iSeries Access for Windows CDs. It is only available for V5R3 from a Web site. (Note: You can also go to the iSeries Navigator Web site to get the latest link and download information for the performance advisor.) From the Web site, download the file and install it onto your PC where iSeries Navigator is running. It will add the performance advisor menu the next time you open iSeries Navigator.

How to Use It

The performance advisor will only install onto a V5R3 client, but you can analyze any V5R1, V5R2, or V5R3 iSeries. Once you open iSeries Navigator, click on the system you want to analyze and then click Diagnostics>Analyze Performance. A wizard will come up asking what you want analyzed. I recommend that you analyze all three areas (PC, Network, iSeries) and add all the iSeries systems you use to the wizard. Why? Because the analysis doesn't take long, and once the results are shown, you can save the results as a Web page. And having a performance summary about your entire iSeries Navigator environment is quite useful.

The picture below shows the results window for all three areas.

http://www.mcpressonline.com/articles/images/2002/TechTip%2001%20-%20Performance%20Advisor%20V4--10150400.png
(Click image to enlarge.)


Multiple iSeries systems will show up as additional nodes. You'll see three types of information with status indicators: Tips (indicated by a light bulb), Warnings (a red triangle), and Failures (a red X).

As you can see, we analyze many items. Even if we find no problems, we still show you what we were looking for and what we found. For example, suppose I select CPU Speed. If my PC is over the recommended speed, it will explain, "iSeries Navigator recommends that the CPU speed of the PC be at least 800 MHz. The PC meets this recommendation." However, if the CPU speed is lower, it will warn you that there may be a problem and recommend a solution. Although the recommendation for slow CPU speed is usually "Duh, upgrade," the suggestions for other items in the PC, Network, or iSeries sections offer valid suggestions as to which system values or job attributes to change or which i5/OS jobs to change the priority of.

Another nice option is to select the "Show tips, warnings, and failures only" checkbox at bottom left. This will hide all the items we found that seemed fine, instead showing only those items that we think could be changed to potentially improve your performance experience.

Again, you can choose to save the analysis as a Web page so that you can refer to it later. The format will show you all the current settings we found as well as the explanations and suggestions of changes to make.

I hope this tip helps you get a handle on your iSeries Navigator performance issues. If you need more information or would like to send in a performance comment, visit the iSeries Navigator Web site and click "Comment."

Greg Hintermeister is a user interface designer at IBM. He has extensive experience designing user interfaces for iSeries Navigator, the IBM Virtualization Engine, wireless applications, and numerous Web applications. Greg is a regular speaker at user groups and technical conferences. You can email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

GREG HINTERMEISTER

Greg Hintermeister works at IBM as a user experience designer and is an IBM master inventor. He has extensive experience designing user interaction for IBM Systems Director, IBM Virtualization Manager, System i Navigator, mobile applications, and numerous Web applications. Greg is a regular speaker at user groups and technical conferences. You can email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$0.00 Raised:
$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: