Topaz for Java and other news

Compuware is pleased to announce that once again, we have fulfilled our promise of delivering quarterly enhancements and new functionality to our customers. January saw the launch of a new product, Topaz, and significant product enhancements to Strobe, Abend-AID, File-AID and Xpediter. We delivered again in April and added new capabilities to the Topaz suite of products.

Today, we are proud to keep our promise once again with this newest quarterly deliverable. 

Introducing Topaz for Java Performance

Introduced today, Topaz for Java Performance provides performance metrics for Java Batch programs and WebSphere transactions running on z/OS. Topaz for Java Performance runs on specialty processors and answers questions about your Java environment such as why applications are performing slowly or erratically. 

This is accomplished by analyzing samples and providing metrics for insights into:

• Peak CPU usage
• Appropriate Heap Memory Allocation
• Number of Threads used and blocked Threads that can cause latency
• Class Methods using the most CPU and which ones should be tuned for optimal throughput

Topaz for Program Analysis

Topaz for Program Analysis, first delivered in April, adds Data Flow capabilities—rich visualization of the flow of data within programs. With this release you can now view the complete usage for any given field: how data gets into that field; how that field is used to set other fields; and how that field is used in comparisons. Data Flow includes analysis of both the desired field and any fields that occupy the same storage. This is particularly helpful to a programmer charged with making changes to an unfamiliar program.   

Topaz for Enterprise Data

Topaz for Enterprise Data, first delivered in January, increases the performance of Host to Host copy with compression and zIIP enablement. By off-loading processing from general processors to zIIP processors the new copy functionality results in dramatic improvements in general CPU time.

Health Checks: File-AID, Abend-AID and Strobe

Compuware products now leverage the IBM Health Check framework. Six new Health Checks are spread across the File-AID, Abend-AID and Strobe product families. 
These new Health Checks focus on:

• Deployment: ensure that Compuware solutions are properly deployed to give maximum value.
• Configuration: validate, detect and report on configuration issues that could cause outages.
• Environmental: detect, report and recommend actions to be taken if conditions at a customer site change or force a change to our solutions.

File-AID

The full suite of File-AID products has been enhanced. The enhancements below are just a few highlights. Please visit go.compuware.com to access the Release 
Notes for each product.

File-AID/MVS

• Edit and Browse now utilizes 64-bit storage automatically if required
• compare: Exclude non-compare fields; reduce report output; use SMS settings
• Multiple dataset support for Search/Update
• Buffer allocations “above the line”

File-AID for IMS

• Replace database records in extracts containing IMS logical relationships
• FLEX support

File-AID for DB2

• Reduce CPU spikes by restricting parallel processing

File-AID/RDX

• Extended dataset support
• Performance improvements

File-AID Data Solutions

• Extended Selection Criteria support
• Buffer allocations “above the line”

New Choice for Product Releases: Classic versus Progressive

In this "Age of the Customer," CIOs are leveraging technology in new ways to engage customers and gain timely business analytics. As the system of record, the mainframe plays a crucial role in these efforts, requiring mainframe application development to become more agile and be performed with higher velocity.  
These new requirements can be best met by taking advantage of our new capabilities on a quarterly basis. However, some customers prefer to stay on an annual, or less frequent schedule for updates.

For this reason, we are providing customers with a choice:

• Classic Releases: “business as usual” for those wanting annual upgrades. All products will have a “classic" release which will only receive new functionality on a yearly basis. Bug fixes and currency upgrades will still be available throughout the year as necessary.
• Progressive Releases: for those wanting to exploit new functionality as soon as we release it during the year. Progressive releases also include fixes and currency updates but may also contain new functionality.

For more information on Classic versus Progressive releases, please visit go.compuware.com.