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----------- © 2017 Ptak Associates LLC -----------
Ptak Associates LLC Informed opinion for savvy IT
Compuware Delivers Topaz on AWS to Mainstream the Mainframe It’s time for
Compuware’s quarterly
mainframe product
announcements. This
time Compuware kicks
off its 12th quarter (3
years) of new and
enhanced product
releases by partnering
with Amazon. The duo
upends mainframe
DevOps and mainframe
IT by combining efforts
to deliver web access to the
Topaz DevOps software suite on AWS. See Figure 1.
In an industry first, Compuware provides cloud access to modern mainframe
development via Topaz. Developers can enjoy the same user experience on the cloud
as if Topaz was locally installed while fully leveraging all the security, performance,
flexibility, reliability, scalability and accessibility features of the AWS platform.
Topaz on AWS leverages Amazon AppStream1 2.0 technology, a fully managed, secure
application streaming service that allows applications to be streamed from AWS to
devices running a web browser. Now, all of Topaz’s rich capabilities and more are
accessible anywhere through the most popular web interfaces including IE/Edge,
Chrome and Firefox. The power of Topaz is accessible regardless of the device used,
be it a Windows, Mac or Chromebook desktop system.
Compuware’s patent-pending technology provides an intuitive, streamlined
configuration menu that leverages AWS best practices, and makes it easy for systems
administrators to quickly and easily configure their Topaz on AWS infrastructure,
customized to their specific needs, in a few simple steps.
Enterprises can scale the number of development environments up or down depending
on their needs. Developers have fast access to new features and functionality that
1 More information here: http://docs.aws.amazon.com/appstream/latest/developerguide/appstream-intro.html
Figure 1 – Topaz on AWS Image Courtesy of Compuware, Inc.
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Compuware makes available every 90 days without administrators having to distribute,
load, recompile, modify and test multiple individual systems or installations. Efforts to
modernize mainframe operations and capabilities happen faster with fewer delays and
without requiring the involvement of critical IT staff.
Compuware and Amazon have created a highly performant, secure and fluid developer
experience. Once developers launch Topaz on AWS, they can access datasets and
data files, analyze applications, make code changes and manage other mainframe
tasks using the Topaz suite of tools as if the user environment was locally installed.
Some architectural benefits of AWS
An important feature is that this implementation fully leverages all of the unique
enterprise product strengths of the AWS cloud architecture. These include:
• Security – individual secure deployment applied and management on a per
account basis – with built-in automated security management services to review
policies and monitor compliance with security best practices.
• Cost optimization – automated optimization assures least-cost-to-user and most
cost-effective resource management. Periodic reviews and auto-scaling combine
to optimize the operating environment as workload volumes and capacity
requirements fluctuate.
• Reliability – AWS management services work to ensure systems are architected
to meet operational thresholds to avoid when possible, and quickly recover from
inevitable failures to meet business and customer service demands.
• Operational excellence – Amazon maintains cloud centers located around the
world to assure service response and support.
• Performance efficiency – optimizes system services for maximum performance
using available resources, enabling optimal utilization of IT staff and computing
resources through automation, cloud-based services and management.
The pricing is right
All of this comes with no new charges from Compuware. The standard Compuware
Topaz licensing charge covers the use of Topaz on-premise, in the cloud or in a mixed
environment. If you already have a Topaz license, all you need to do is add an Amazon
account with AWS cloud services designed to meet the requirements of your specific
enterprise operating environment and workload. As mentioned earlier, Amazon
AppStream 2.0 services include an automated function to help users find the right
optimized pricing model and configuration for their workload and resource needs. These
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include highly flexible on-demand pricing, spot-discrete fixed price and reserved
instances for dedicated predictable workloads, and combinations. We recommend you
review the details with an AWS advisor or check here2 for more information.
What else is new?
Compuware’s quarterly announcements are never about just one thing. This time is no
exception. In addition to the major announcement, Compuware has additional
improvements and new product enhancements and capabilities to deliver.
First up is a collaboration with CloudBees Jenkins Enterprise. Leveraging Compuware
ISPW and/or Compuware Topaz for Total Test in conjunction with CloudBees Jenkins
Enterprise, large enterprises can streamline DevOps on their mainframes and
orchestrate DevOps across all platforms. Compuware will co-host a webcast with
CloudBees on October 25, which will identify opportunities and help educate users on
the latest in mainframe DevOps processes.
Next is the addition that extends ISPW
so that it can stream information and
notifications to web apps through
Webhook notifications. Webhooks
were designed to allow third-parties,
such as developers and apps, to make
changes to web APIs using callbacks.
See Figure 2. This is how ISPW can
communicate with Jenkins and other
CI services to trigger actions. In effect,
it allows ISPW to integrate with other
deployment tools and drive continuous
integration processes. Activities can be communicated by DevOps teams as they
happen in real time to such tools as Slack and Hipchat.
A bit of risk?
Choosing public cloud service delivery of the Topaz suite may appear to be risky or
even premature to some potential users. Considerations that come to mind are those
surrounding issues pertaining to security, reliability, privacy, infrastructure control and,
unfortunately, more and more government imposed legal and legislative constraints and
2 The AWS pricing information is at: https://aws.amazon.com/pricing/?nc2=h_ql_pr
Figure 2 Webhook Notifications (Courtesy Compuware, Inc.)
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mandates. Most of these issues have been and will continue to be hashed over and
argued about in the press. They remain and should remain issues of, at a minimum,
keen awareness. Our conversation with Compuware has convinced us that they are
working in lockstep with Amazon to reduce the risk and vulnerabilities as much as
possible.
Potential customers should identify potential issues and resolve what needs to be done
before making the move to the cloud. Others may find cloud-based but maintained and
operated in-house on-premise to be the right solution.
The first step to be taken is to perform due diligence to identify and assess potential
risks and vulnerabilities. Then, these can be balanced against the significant potential
benefits in the form of client/customer satisfaction, staff satisfaction and cost savings
that can result from improved operations, increased efficiencies and simplified
infrastructure management. Examine what Compuware and Amazon have done to
mitigate the risks. We believe that many will find the decision to move this development
activity to the cloud makes sense.
The Final Word
Compuware continues to deliver solutions aimed at “Mainstreaming the Mainframe.”
Their strategy depends upon their ability to identify and overcome structural and
operational issues that make mainframe utilization and COBOL code maintenance a
complex, slow and intimidating task, especially for those new to the mainframe.
Compuware has delivered significant, game-changing products each quarter for the last
3-years. They have not only improved, simplified and sped up mainframe operations
and management, but they have also introduced capabilities that were never thought
possible or are radically changing mainframe operations. They appear to us to be on
track to continue that success. Congratulations to them. Good luck as they move
forward. We recommend examining their latest offering.
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Publication Date: October 10, 2017
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