Using the CICS Feature › Alert Management › How the TOP Limit Works

How the TOP Limit Works

In order to use the Alert Management option of the CICS Feature, the TOP Limit of work must be defined. TOP Limit processing works for each defined CICS system in Performance Management Assistant. It is the last step in the total system management. The TOP Limit is maintained by the administrator. It can contain a value from 0 to 999. A value of 0 deactivates the TOP Limit, thus deactivating Alert Management.

Within the TOP Limit (meaning the number defined as a parameter) all transactions of the current system are observed statistically and, at the end, a runaway test check is performed. The statistical limits are based on up to eighteen months of stored interpreted profiles. To determine the TOP consumer and issue alerts, one of two conditions normally exists:

• Transaction consumption is static. A standard deviation check is performed and if the result indicates an increase in the consumption (runaway), an alert is issued.
• Transaction consumption is not static. A standard deviation check is performed and if the result indicates a drastic increase in the consumption (runaway), an alert is issued.

In a runaway situation, the transaction is added to the Alert file with the state OPEN and the reason STAT. Alerts can be viewed under the Alert Management dialog.

The range of the statistical observation is limited to one year. For a transaction alert to be issued, it must have been observed in at least three separate profiles collected during the period of statistical observation.