NetSpy
VTAM Interface

NetSpy
VTAM Interface records response time and loads data in an SMF user record, or the VM equivalent. Recording is for site-selected host applications (for example, TSO, IMS, and CICS) and terminal sessions with those applications.
rm
NetSpy
VTAM Interface records response time and loads data in an SMF user record, or the VM equivalent. Recording is for site-selected host applications (for example, TSO, IMS, and CICS) and terminal sessions with those applications.
The resulting SMF type data consists of up to five record subtypes, one that contains load and response data by application, three that contain terminal session load and response information, and one that contains virtual route activity and response time data. These records are written at user-defined intervals and their content can be tailored to include information for specific resources.
The
NetSpy
VTAM Interface is similar to the NPM Session Subsystem in function and in information provided. However, there are enough differences in the actual data provided that three
MICS Network Analyzer
Option files are used to accommodate the data. The files containing only
NetSpy
data are:
Network Response Time and Definite Response
Like Tivoli NPM,
NetSpy
records host and network response times. And, like NPM, network response is calculated only for network responses where definite response (DR) is active.
A key feature of
NetSpy
is its ability to activate DR for some or all network responses. This feature, called FORCEDR, is provided as a
NetSpy
initialization option. The user may specify, for each application, the percentage of transactions where the FORCEDR is to be used, from 10 to 100 percent. Use of FORCEDR permits
NetSpy
to calculate network response time with no application overhead or interference, and with minimal line traffic overhead.
Multiple Session Manager Support
Multiple session managers, such as
TPX
Session Management for z/OS,
Teleview
for z/OS, NetView Access, and others, permit a user at a single terminal to access multiple host applications (for example, TSO, CICS, and IMS) simultaneously. The multiple session manager accomplishes this by establishing a session with the real terminal, and one or more "virtual terminal sessions" to various applications on behalf of the user.
For terminal sessions of this type, network monitors provide correct host and network information for the session between the real terminal and the multiple session manager, but they cannot report complete information for the virtual terminal sessions between the multiple session manager and the host applications.
NetSpy
, however, provides a general interface to multiple session manager applications, which permits accurate recording of network response and terminal name for virtual terminal sessions. This is accomplished by having the session manager notify
NetSpy
when a new session is activated or session switching occurs. If you are running a multiple session manager application at your site or are considering implementing one, check with the vendor to verify that it will communicate with
NetSpy
using the multiple session manager interface.
An expanded discussion of the effects of multiple session manager products on network information is provided in the Multiple Session Manager Considerations section. A later section in this chapter discusses the
NetSpy
multiple session manager interface in more depth.