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z/OS - nothing better
Updated September 18, 2023

z/OS - nothing better

Gadi Ben-Avi | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with IBM Z

We have two computers at our production site and one at our DR site. All computers run z/OS. One system runs a payroll application, and the other runs a provident Fund Application. Both systems provide services to external customers. The computers are connected to an IBM DS9810F storage system and an IBM TS7770 virtual tape system.
  • Massive I/O
  • Support many users concurrently
  • Very little downtime required.
  • It's hard finding new people with the required knowledge.
  • It seems expensive.
  • Very little down time
  • Massive i/o
  • We've always used z/OS for these applications. Every attempt to even plan using a different system failed very early in the initial stages for various reasons.
We recenetly attepted to evaluate moving an application to the MicroFocus environment.
The initial assessment failed because of cost.

Do you think IBM Z delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with IBM Z's feature set?

Yes

Did IBM Z live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of IBM Z go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy IBM Z again?

Yes

Most business applications are suited to z/OS. It's no surprise that most banks and insurance companies worldwide run on z/OS.

Using IBM Z

50 - Operations, Systems, programmers, Payroll analysts.
5 - Systems programmers,
CICS specialists,
DBA's
  • Run monthly payroll calculations
  • Create pay slips with personal messages
  • Importunely, the powers that be want to move us of z/OS
It's still the best solution for us.

Evaluating IBM Z and Competitors

  • Other
When we started with IBM Z, there weren't any other options.
Along the way, other options have become available, but none were good enough.
Back then, there were no other options.

IBM Z Implementation

The implementation was always in-house.
  • Implemented in-house
Yes - Most the applications we run are 40 years old and have gone the many development stages.
  • None that I know

IBM Z Training

  • Online Training
  • In-Person Training
Over my 33 years on this platform, I attended many in person courses, conferences, and other training opportunities.
There are many online courses from both IBM and other vendors. Most are great. All of the documentation is available online.

Configuring IBM Z

Each computer is different.
You can choose how many CPU's you need, what type of CPU's, how much memory you need, how many channels and network interfaces you need.
You can partition the machine into many LPAR's.
The options are endless.
Work with an IBM business partner who is an expert.
Some - we have done small customizations to the interface - IT very easy, if you know how, to add options to ISPF, which is the main interface you use in z/OS.
Some - we have added small pieces of custom code - We have a huge ISPF application that helps non-professionals do things.

IBM Z Support

Support from most of the vendors is great.
We've had the unfortunate opportunities to open Severity 1 problems, and they were always resolved in a timely manner.
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Problems get solved
Kept well informed
Immediate help available
Support understands my problem
Support cares about my success
Quick Initial Response
None
THere is other option
A while back I was in the process of putting a new computer into production.
I realized the an important function (STP - the function that lets z/OS get the accurate time from the network) wasn't working.
After trying to solve the problem on my own, I opened a Severity 1 issue.
I was online with support teams from around the world until they found a way to bypass the problem so I put the computer into production.

Using IBM Z

Once you learn how, it easy.
It's different than most other systems.
ProsCons
Like to use
Easy to use
Technical support not required
Well integrated
Consistent
Convenient
Feel confident using
None
  • The builtin editor is great
  • Monitoring system activity is easy with SDSF
  • There a products to do anything you would need. Usually more than one option for each task.
  • Configuring a new system.
Yes - There a many options. There is HMC Mobile that lets you control the HMC from your phone.
There are also other options.

IBM Z Reliability

If you need more processing power, just add more CPU's or memory.
The largest system can have close to 200 CPU's and 40 TB of memory.

If that is not enough, you can add more physical computers, and connect them using a sysplex.
The Z in IBM Z is for zero down time.
If you configure your system according to IBM's best practices, you can achieve zero downtime.
Performance is a major part when you configure your system.
IBM has many tools to study your system and suggest the appropriate configuration.
With the right contract, you can add processing power dynamically and remove it when no longer needed.

Integrating IBM Z

Some integrations are more difficult than others.
  • Many other systems running Windows or *nix
z/OS connects to the network using TCP/IP.
It can be a web server, a database server, an ftp server, or almost any other kind of server.
It can publish it's features as web services, or as other types of services.
  • Nothing new
  • File import/export
  • API (e.g. SOAP or REST)
Know what options available.
If there is more than one option, evaluate more than one.

Relationship with IBM

IBM is usually ok.
THe relationship with IBM is a long term relationship.
I'm not involved with that part.
You usually go through a business partner.
Since we're in a small market, there is only one.

Upgrading IBM Z

Yes - Our most recent upgrade was a new computer. Once we dod all of the configurations, moving it int production was a simple matter of shutting down the old system, connecting the cables, and starting the new computer.
  • A new system with some new functions
  • Lower software costs.
  • More of the same