Mainframes are the workhorses of enterprise IT, powering mission-critical applications and generating enormous amounts of data daily. This data includes console messages and system logs, vital for understanding the health and performance of these systems. Yet, integrating these messages into a unified, multi-platform view has historically been a challenge — until now. With the latest advancements in VirtualZ Computing’s PropelZ, you can now unlock the power of mainframe console messages, seamlessly capturing and integrating them into modern log management tools like Splunk, Sumo Logic, or open-source platforms. PropelZ opens the door to a unified view of system logs across mainframes, cloud servers, and distributed environments — breaking down silos and delivering actionable insights.
The Challenge of Mainframe Log Integration
Enterprises often run hybrid environments with mainframes coexisting alongside Linux, Windows, or cloud platforms. Each system generates its own logs, alerts, and messages, which must be aggregated to gain a holistic view of operations. While commercial and open-source log management tools excel at handling distributed systems, they fall short when it comes to mainframe integration. Mainframe logs are notoriously difficult to capture, and traditional solutions are often expensive, complex, or limited in scope.
PropelZ: A Game-Changer for Mainframe Data Integration
PropelZ simplifies this process by offering a lightweight, real-time solution to capture Z/OS console messages and push them wherever they’re needed. Here’s how it works:
- Capture Console Messages in Real Time: PropelZ includes a compact software component that extracts console messages, system logs, and alerts directly from running Z/OS systems.
- Transform and Store Data: Once captured, PropelZ transforms the data and sends it to your chosen destination — whether it’s a cloud database, a commercial log management tool, or an open-source platform.
- Enable Advanced Analytics and Automation: With logs stored in a searchable format (e.g., SQL databases), organizations can query and analyze the data, generate reports, or even trigger automated responses to critical events.
Use Case: Unified Log Management Across Platforms
Consider a scenario where an enterprise runs multiple Z/OS systems alongside hundreds of Linux servers in the cloud. PropelZ enables:
- Centralized Log Aggregation: Push mainframe console messages into a MySQL or PostgreSQL database in the cloud, alongside logs from other systems.
- Seamless Integration with Log Management Tools: Feed mainframe logs into tools like Splunk or open-source alternatives to create a unified view of alerts and events across all platforms.
- Automated Responses to Events: Configure scripts to trigger actions based on specific mainframe events, such as notifying security teams of failed login attempts.
Cost-Effective, Scalable, and Flexible
One of the standout benefits of PropelZ is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional mainframe automation tools can be expensive and inflexible. PropelZ, by contrast, offers:
- Low-Cost Deployment: No need for specialized mainframe automation software.
- Scalability: Store weeks, months, or even years of logs in resilient cloud databases with near-infinite scalability.
- Resilience: Replicate logs across multiple cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud) or maintain on-premises copies for redundancy.
Beyond Logs: A Foundation for Data Transformation
While this use case focuses on console messages, PropelZ’s capabilities extend to other types of mainframe data, such as SMF records or sequential files. By providing a consistent, no-code way to extract and integrate mainframe data, PropelZ transforms your data strategy and unlocks new possibilities for modernization.
Start Unlocking Your Mainframe Data Potential
With PropelZ, integrating mainframe console messages into your enterprise log management ecosystem has never been easier — or more cost-effective. Whether you’re looking for a consolidated view of operations, advanced analytics, or automated responses to critical events, PropelZ gives you the tools to modernize and thrive.