Balancing Disk Data Across Arms

["Law, Tom" <actlaw@xxxxxxxx>]

Has anyone used the DSKBAL command provided by IBM on a 4.2 system?  This
function is available via PTF.

We run some accounting Monthend jobs that are heavy I/O.  When these jobs
run, other batch jobs slow down (other batch jobs are actively running) and
show I/O waits in  Performance Tools.

In the past year, we have added several disk drives to this system.
Generally, 1 or 2 at a time.  I believe what has happened is that since
these drives are empty when they are added, the IBM algorithm for spreading
data across arms actually fills these empty drives until the percentage used
is even again across all arms.  Thus, restoring or copying files in
production applications actually put this data on  these empty drives.
(timing)    I can see in performance tools that during the Monthend process,
4 or 5 arms will exceed the guidelines for the device.  These are the where
the accounting data is located.

Without doing a full SAVSYS and RESTORE (option 21),  The Support Center
told me to install this PTF and use the DSKBAL command.  

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks    
        
Thomas A. Law Jr.

Senior Systems Programmer
Americas - MIS Tech Support
NACCO Materials Handling Group
1813 E. Voorhees St.
Danville, IL. 61832
Phone:  217-443-7622
Fax:    217-443-7657
Work E-mail:  ACTLAW@NMHG.COM <ACTLAW@NMHG.COM>

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