Guided Tour: Statistics HDB

Every aspect of the CICS PA Historical Database is controlled using the ISPF dialog.

This section takes you through the process of defining and using a Statistics HDB.

Setup. Initially, your HDB environment requires a minimal one-time setup. HDB definitions are saved in the HDB Register, a VSAM KSDS. CICS PA automatically defines the Register for you when you first try to use it.

Then the required steps are:
  1. Definition.

    Unlike Performance HDBs, Statistics HDBs do not require a Template, so you can immediately define the HDB and its options, such as the characteristics of the HDB data sets and the retention period of the data.

  2. Load.
    Loading data into the HDB is performed by the standard CICS PA batch reporting utility. The command that requests the utility to load an HDB is:
    HDB(LOAD(...
    CICS PA reads the CICS® statistics and server statistics data and builds the HDB data sets. Because the HDB Load process is part of the normal batch reporting process, you can run CICS PA reports and load HDBs together with a single pass of the SMF data.
  3. Report.

    Unlike Performance HDBs that are reported in batch, Statistics HDBs are reported in the dialog.

    You can also use Statistics HDBs to generate batch Statistics HDB Alert reports. These reports show any statistics that meet the conditions you have specified in a Statistics Alert definition. For details, see Statistics alert reporting.

  4. Export.
    Export allows you to load HDB data into a DB2® table. CICS PA automates this process with two simple steps:
    1. First define the DB2 table to house the data. CICS PA generates JCL to do this for you by creating the necessary DDL to define the table.
    2. Then load the data into the table. CICS PA generates JCL to do this for you by creating the necessary DB2 Load Utility statements to load the data.
  5. Extract.

    Extract allows you to extract HDB data into a CSV (comma separated variable) file, suitable for importing into a PC-based spreadsheet application.

  6. Maintain.

    HDB maintenance allows you to change your HDB definition and manage the HDB container data sets.

  7. Housekeeping.
    HDB housekeeping should be run periodically to cleanup your HDB environment. Housekeeping performs two tasks:
    1. Deletes HDB container data sets that have expired or have delete pending.
    2. Removes definitions from the HDB Register that are no longer required.