November 16, 2010 � Agenda

8:30 � 9:00         Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking

9:00 � 9:15         Welcome and Introductions � Ben Geolat

11:30 - 12:00     Introducing Forsythe Technology, Inc.

12:00 - 1:00       Lunch - sponsored by Forsythe Technology, Inc.

1:15 - 2:15         IT Cost Optimization using a Financial Management for IT Service Approach (Presentation, Handout)

                           Presented by Charles Williams, KEDARit

2:30 - 3:30         A Cohesive Framework to Quantify Computer Systems Assurance

                           Presented by Dr. Dominique Heger, Fortuitous

3:30                    Closing Remarks

Presentation Abstracts

Understanding IBM's zEnterprise Server, from a Technical Positioning Perspective

It has been a few months since IBM announced the zEnterprise System of Systems.  IBM's Classic Large Systems Architecture now consists of three components:

1.      The zEnterprise Server, or z196 for short.  This is IBM's Next Generation Mainframe   

2.      The zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension, or zBX for short. The zBX Frame introduces Blade (UNIX, x86) and Optimizer technology into the Large Systems Architecture within a tightly coupled, point-to-point high-speed private data and service network. IBM has also added a management layer that inter-operates as firmware and provides an operational framework across disparate architectural (UNIX, x86, Large Systems, Optimizers) boundaries. 

3.      A new architecture and related set of technologies: "zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager" or zManager for short.  IBM is now capable of managing all architectures, x86, UNIX, and Large Systems.

As the Capacity Planning and Performance Lead for your enterprise do you understand what has been shared above from a Business Value, Workload Selection, and Technical Positioning Perspective?  Are you interested in hearing:

�         The types of questions your peers have raised as they evaluate IBM's zEnterprise System?  

�         What types of workloads may be appropriate to deploy within the zBX Frame?

Plan on listening to what  Jim Fyffe, the Large Systems Technical Leader for the Western Half of North America, has to say regarding this announcement.

Parallel File System Technologies in a Linux 2.6 Cluster and GRID Environment

Local file systems support a persistent name space and hence, view devices as being locally attached. There is no need in the file system design to enforce device-sharing semantics.  Contemporary interconnects allow multiple cluster nodes to share storage devices. IBM�s GPFS or Red Hat�s GFS parallel file systems take a shared, network-attached storage approach. These file systems are designed on the premise that a stable, scalable, and maintainable shared-disk file system has to exist within the context of a cluster or GRID.

This presentation elaborates on parallel file system design questions, focusing on scalability, availability, and performance. The focus of the discussion is on Linux 2.6 based cluster and GRID environments. To fully appreciate the complexity of parallel file system implementations, the presentation also elaborates on the actual multi-layered Linux 2.6 kernel IO stack.  This is a technical presentation that will enable the audience to:

�         Understand and compare the terminology used in the cluster file system arena

�         Understand the Linux 2.6 I/O stack from the application level down into the HW

�         Discuss the technical specifications of the GPFS and the GFS file systems

�         Understand the complexity behind distributed locking (scaling in parallel file systems)

�         Understand the implications of parallel file systems in a GRID environment

�         Understand the performance potential (and differences) of GPFS and GFS

Planning for Virtualization on Power

This presentation looks at planning issues around implementing virtualization technologies on Power. There will be a virtualization introduction and then a discussion around planning for virtual SCSI, Shared Ethernet Adapters, the Shared Processor pool, AME (memory expansion), LPM (Live partition Mobility) and NPIV (Nport virtualization). Time permitting we will also talk about sizing issues and Power7 planning.

IT Cost Optimization using a Financial Management for IT Service Approach

This session discusses how current IT Financial Management concepts are implemented to enable organizations to achieve greater cost optimization and increase the recognition of the value of the IT organization.

The speaker provides a prescriptive approach to integrating TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), ABC (Activity-Based Costing) accounting disciplines, and ITSM (IT Service Management) practices to address today's challenges regarding staff reductions and other targeted spending cuts, while also meeting increasing business demands for services and service levels.

This session defines today's IT financial management objectives, industry benchmarks, and presents a structured approach to determine how to:

�            Monetize the value of technology and staff,

�            Translate business demands for technology into high-valued services,

�            Accurately forecast the impact of 'belt-tightening' on IT and the business, and

�            Scale IT resources (people, process and technology) to better align to business objectives.

A Cohesive Framework to Quantify Computer Systems Assurance

This presentation introduces a system-engineering and evaluation methodology that focuses on the stability of an entire IT computing infrastructure. The discussion describes the 'Cohesive Systems Assurance' (CSA) methodology, which encapsulates the concepts and methods of (1) product assurance (reliability, availability, and maintainability), (2) performance & scalability, and (3) dependability (security and safety).

The argument made is that systems stability represents the quality of service provided by an entire computing infrastructure, and therefore quantifies the usefulness, trustworthiness, and effectiveness of an IT environment. In the presentation, actual case studies highlight the CSA methodology.

This presentation will enable the audience to:

�         Understand how to quantify overall systems stability

�         How to conduct cross-system evaluations/comparisons

�         Learn about the layered methodology and the tools being used

�         Identify the system's critical code path and the associated parameters

�         Understand how to use the methodology as a business tool

Speaker Biographies

James R. Fyffe, Jr.

Jim is currently the zStack Technical Leader for the Western half of North America.  Operating within this role, Jim has responsibility for all Large Systems Technical Messaging across the West IMT Technical Community.   He is also viewed as The Technical Leader supporting IBM�s zEnterprise Offering.  The skills he has developed are freely shared across the Technical Community Worldwide.

Prior to this role, Jim operated as the Chief Technical Advisor supporting worldwide markets.   This was a technical and highly visible position with worldwide responsibility. Operating in this capacity,  he supported Cross-Brand (system z, power, storage, system x) opportunities. For example, he provided technical guidance and team leadership to critical complex projects in the UK, shaping business decisions in CEEMEA relative to skills and technical hiring, mentoring other technical individuals in their professional development in NA, Japan, and GCG.  He also reviewed the way IBM conducts traditional technical implementations and processes within the Japan IOT.  This assignment concluded June of 2010.

Dominique Heger

Dominique Heger has over 25 years of IT experience, focusing on systems modeling, performance evaluation, and capacity planning. He is the owner/founder of DHTechnologies, an IT consulting company in Texas. He has successfully conducted large-scale projects for Boeing, AT&T, LLNL, NERSC, Wells Fargo, and CERN. Dominique worked for IBM, Hewlett-Packard (at CERN Geneva), and Unisys. Over the years, he has published over 30 papers and books on performance-related topics with IEEE, CMG, or the IBM Press. He holds an MBA/MIS from Maryville University St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from NSU, Florida. Next to his work in computer science, he very much enjoys training horses in the Texas Hill Country and team roping.

Jaqui Lynch

Ms. Lynch, who is a Solutions Architect for Forsythe Technology, Inc, has more than 33 years experience in the information technology Industry. She's been responsible for many projects and Operating Systems across multiple vendor platforms, including mainframes, UNIX* systems, midrange systems and personal workstations. She is also a technical editor for IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems edition. More information can be found at http://www.circle4.com/jaqui/. She is a past president of CMG and has been extensively involved in CMG at both the national and regional levels.

Charles Williams

Charles Williams has 32 years of leadership and practitioner experience in the highly-competitive technology industry. Mr. Williams has a successful track record of managing organizations in achieving greater levels of IT Service Management, Financial Management, and Governance and Compliance. 

Mr. Williams has held executive positions with IBM, Booz Allen & Hamilton, American Airlines, and First Horizon Mortgage. He has written articles published in Business Week, Bitpipe, and Information Week. He is a frequent speaker at SIM, AFCOM, Serena Software, and InterSystems conferences. 

Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Iowa, certifications in Business Process Engineering and the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). He has completed graduate and professional education courses in Business and Finance at American University and the University of Texas.

As CEO of KEDAR Information Technologies, which specializes in IT Service Management and IT Financial Management solutions, Mr. Williams works with CIOs and Business Executives to improve their IT Cost Optimization methods and increase the organizational recognition of the Value of IT..