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Did I get the CPU I paid for? 
Did that software upgrade cost me CPU? 
What’s my LPAR overhead? 
Did my tuning efforts save any CPU?
Which jobs were affected the most?
How much is data sharing really costing me?
Is the new CICS release using more CPU than the last?
Have ANY of my jobs significantly changed their CPU usage?

   Cheryl Watson's ADVISOR Series

BoxScore can answer these questions! Cheryl Watson, author of Cheryl Watson’s Tuning Letter, has developed an informative suite of programs which gives you specific answers about your CPU speed and capacity. 

What is Boxscore?
BoxScore is a suite of programs that shows you the difference in CPU speed and CPU capacity after a hardware change, a software change, a change in LPAR configuration, or a tuning change.

How does Boxscore work?
BoxScore is based on the premise that installations always have at least some workloads which are fairly consistent.  These workloads will tend to use the same amount of CPU per I/O or per transaction within a certain coefficient of variance.  BoxScore analyzes hundreds or thousands of job steps or transactions and identifies these stable workloads, calculates their average CPU usage in the "control" period (before the change), and then compares this to their CPU usage in the "study" period (after the change). 

The analysis also shows whether you're experiencing the processor speed you thought you purchased.  That is, BoxScore shows the difference between the second environment and the expected MIPS and capacity for that machine and workload.  The expected MIPS are based on an internal version of Cheryl Watson's CPU Chart.  Your BoxScore license fee includes updates for that chart as processors are announced or modified.

What will BoxScore show me?

• Total MIPS (i.e. capacity) of the study configuration compared to the control configuration for each workload. 
• MIPS per CPU (i.e. speed) of the study configuration compared to the control configuration for each workload.
• Actual versus expected MIPS for the study configuration for each workload. These estimates are given for both the physical machine and, if applicable, for the logical partition.
• Identification and analysis of the stable job steps or transactions that either benefited the most or suffered the most from the change. 
• A detailed view of any of these job steps/transactions showing CPU per I/O, CPU usage,  EXCPs, change in effective MIPS, and time of each execution.
• A plot of the change in CPU usage for all stable job steps or transactions analyzed.
• A Configuration Log Report showing any changes detected in processor, MVS level, SYSID, and LPAR configuration.
• Most important, you receive printed recommendations and an analysis of the changes.  These messages have been carefully written by Cheryl to be as detailed and as informative as her articles in the TUNING Letter.  BoxScore will not only point out, for example, how much less (or more) CPU capacity you have than you expected, but BoxScore will give a list of reasons why it might be so.

 
What data does BoxScore use?
Information used from SMF is as follows:
 
 All modules - SMF type 70 (CPU & LPAR activity)
 Batch and general started tasks - SMF type 30, 
             subtype 2, 3, and 4 (step and interval termination)
 CICS - SMF type 110, and CICS/TMON log data
 TSO - SMF type 32, and TSO/MON data 
 IMS - IMS Log 
 DB2 - SMF type 101
 COMPAT - SMF type 72
 GOAL - SMF type 72
What environment does BoxScore require?
BoxScore uses SAS® in MVS and requires an SMF post-processor: MXG®, CA-MICS® or IT Service Vision™. 

How much does BoxScore cost?
BoxScore is priced at $11,900, with an annual license fee renewal of $2095.  Prices are not based on processor size, and BoxScore is offered as a site license. 

Is there a trial period?
There is a no obligation trial period. If you are not completely satisfied with BoxScore, return the software within 45 days and owe nothing. 

Where can I get more information?
Our detailed brochure, which includes sample reports, can be downloaded in PDF format. Click to initiate the download process. Please allow a few minutes while the file loads. 

How do I order BoxScore?
To order BoxScore, simply print out the License Agreement and Order Form. Once completed, return it to us to receive the latest release of BoxScore. You can also call us at 941-924-6565 or fax us at 941-924-4892 or send email to boxscore at watsonwalker.com.