A lot of system output is generated in IBM Z environments including JCL output, job logs, SYSOUTs, and SYSLOGs. This output must be retained and reviewed for troubleshooting, debugging, security, compliance, and analysis.
This blog highlights six essential capabilities that IBM Z output management solutions should offer. Each capability plays a crucial role in ensuring effective management exceeds IBM Z system output retention and review requirements.
Understanding IBM Z Output Management
IBM Z output management involves collecting, archiving, viewing, and retrieving system output (JCL output, job logs, SYSOUTs, and SYSLOGs) based on predefined retention policies. These policies are essential for auditors, customers, regulators, security personnel, and other stakeholders. Retention and retrieval requirements are not only necessary for system output, they also apply to IBM Z reports.
Below are six critical capabilities to consider when purchasing or upgrading IBM Z output management software:
1. Universal System Output Access
IBM Z system output should be accessible via various interfaces including TSO/ISPF, VTAM, CICS, Web UIs, and Eclipse-based IDE plug-ins. Modern output management solutions should also support downloads in multiple formats such as Excel, Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML, and text.
Web UIs provide a user-friendly way to access IBM Z output without requiring specialized interfaces. They offer features such as report searching, filtering, scrolling, and switching between HTML and PDF views, making system output accessible to a broader audience.
📖 Further Reading: Beyond the Green Screen: Making IBM Z Reports & Output Universally Accessible
2. Annotations & Acknowledgements for Job Documentation
Some IBM Z output management solutions such as SEA’s $AVRS, provide annotation and acknowledgment features that allow users to document job activity directly within the job’s output.
This functionality enables operation technicians to use predefined acknowledgment codes and job notes to communicate across shifts, ensuring continuity in handling job execution issues. Job notes can also serve as historical records when jobs are archived or recalled.
3. Application Integration with RESTful APIs
RESTful APIs extend IBM Z output access beyond the mainframe, allowing integration with enterprise applications, scripts, or programs running on Windows, Linux, mobile devices, web applications, and IoT systems.
This capability enhances automation and streamlines workflows by embedding IBM Z system output into broader IT ecosystems.
4. Off-Mainframe Archival Storage
Solutions like $AVRS View facilitate off-mainframe storage, enabling organizations to migrate large volumes of system output to distributed environments, such as Windows or Linux servers. Users can then access this archived data through web interfaces or JavaScript APIs.
This feature is particularly beneficial when migrating away from or decommissioning mainframe systems, allowing users to access their archived IBM Z output from any device with a web browser.
📖 Further Reading: Storing Z System Outputs in a Distributed Environment
5. Integrated Security for Output Access
IBM Z output management solutions should seamlessly integrate with widely used external security systems, such as RACF, ACF2, and Top Secret, ensuring secure authorization of user access.
When system output is stored off-mainframe, solutions should also support distributed server authentication mechanisms like Windows Active Directory (AD) security to maintain access control.
6. Advanced Archiving & Backup Capabilities
Beyond standard mainframe archiving and backup features, advanced capabilities enhance retention and access management while optimizing disk space. When evaluating IBM Z output management software, consider these key archive/backup features:
- Custom retention periods for archived output, assignable to individual jobs or job classes.
- Automatic job purging after successful system output archiving.
- An archive facility that allows users to assign jobs to specific archive files.
- Online batch/restore functionality for archived files.
- Data compression for efficient storage utilization.
- Flexible archive history retention and backup controls.
Final Thoughts
Selecting an IBM Z output management solution with these six essential capabilities ensures organizations can effectively retain, manage, and secure system output. Whether maintaining compliance, optimizing accessibility, or integrating with modern applications, the right output management software enhances operational efficiency and future-proofs mainframe environments.
By leveraging advanced output management tools, businesses can streamline workflows, improve security, and ensure seamless access to critical IBM Z system output data.
