Mainframe Topology discovers z/OS assets and their relationships by analyzing SMF records. Distributed with Ops/MVS, it provides a detailed view of application dependencies and system configurations. The architecture relies on the analysis of SMF data to identify key z/OS components, including applications, CICS regions, IMS systems, and DB2 subsystems, mapping their interdependencies without requiring agents.
The tool processes SMF records related to system activity and resource usage to infer relationships between z/OS assets. The specific SMF record types processed are detailed in the product documentation. Integration with other tools is achieved through standard data exchange formats that can be consumed by other monitoring and analytics platforms.
Security is ensured through z/OS security controls like RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret, which govern access to the SMF records. Competing products include BMC Discovery for z/OS and IBM Z Service Management Explorer. Mainframe Topology distinguishes itself through its integration with Ops/MVS and its reliance on SMF data for topology discovery.
The tool's architecture is designed for efficient processing of SMF data, providing a scalable solution for discovering and mapping mainframe assets.