Cisco Cisco Tidal Enterprise Adapter for zLinux Data Sheet

Features and Benefits

Cisco Workload Automation Adapter for zLinux can dramatically simplify the process of scheduling, tracking,

and managing job workflows regardless of the number of dependencies, systems, and applications involved.

This adapter, in combination with Workload Automation, offers the following capabilities:

Increased Mainframe Reach – The adapter makes it possible to manage dependencies among existing

mainframe applications and other distributed job processes. Jobs running on the zLinux platform can be

triggered by status changes, by the results of jobs running on other platforms, or by processes running in other

applications. Users can define, launch, monitor, and control application and database jobs and can respond to

file events without modifying existing jobs or schedules.

Batch and On Demand Processing –The adapter is designed to accommodate batch and on demand job

processing on the zLinux platform, providing comprehensive support for the traditional date and time scheduling

model, as well as complex event- and dependency-based processing.

zLinux Virtualized Environments – Cisco Workload Automation Adapter for zLinux is well suited to the rapid

changes within a virtualized mainframe environment. Whether zLinux instances are implemented in individual

logical partitions(LPARs) or z/VM virtual machines (VMs), the zLinux adapter allows users to schedule jobs

effectively, and it scales to accommodate the growth and expansion of a zLinux infrastructure.

IT Policy Alignment – Each job group can contain several job definitions, enabling detailed control and error

recovery procedures. These procedures make it possible for IT staff to consistently follow documented best

practices. Information technology infrastructure library (ITIL) processes for request fulfillment, issue

management, and change management can be supported, with interfaces and integration techniques available

for a range of ITIL-oriented operations environments,

Event-Driven Processing – In addition to time- and date-based scheduling, the adapter can dynamically

introduce jobs—and entire business processes—into a mainframe environment when triggered by business

events from a wide range of application adapters and platform-supported agents.

Flexible Monitoring and Alerting – Cisco Workload Automation Adapter for zLinux allows users to view and

manage alerts within the scheduling system. Alerts can be automatically sent to browser-enabled devices for

anytime, anywhere status connectivity and can be configured to initiate process recovery steps. Automated

actions are extensive and can be easily defined, enabling users to send an email message to the appropriate

owner, generate a message to the central console, or trigger a support incident via the appropriate ITIL-oriented

operations systems.

Robust Security and Audit Capabilities – Security policy—and changes to it— are tied to enterprise security

management tools and processes. As an example, access can be controlled to scheduling functionality as a

whole or tied to specific jobs, events, or actions—on an individual user or workgroup basis.