PXS

Production EXecution Scheduler

PXS is a market leader in the automation of the running of VME batch work, used by a large number of ICL customers.

• It is used by some of the world's largest users because of its comprehensive facilities.
• It is used by some of the smallest because of its simplicity.
• It is used by some of the most demanding because of its support for advanced VME features.

What is PXS?

PXS is a VME software system which provides facilities to define and describe batch work which can then be executed automatically, in a precisely controlled manner.

The goal of PXS is that all planned and ad hoc work can be designed by a suite designer, and run once or many times without operator intervention.

PXS makes a Major Contribution to Quality

It improves the quality of service to the user and reduces the development, implementation and running costs of applications.

In the Design and Definition Phase

• PXS enables the definition of work schedules directly from system design documentation so that the application requirements are fulfilled exactly.
• PXS makes it possible to reduce your jobs to modules running a single application program so that SCL is simple and error free.
• PXS provides a structure of suites, jobs, parameters and conditions so that no SCL is required to implement work dependencies or schedule the work.
• PXS requires no change to existing applications ; it also provides transition facilities.

In the Testing Phase

• PXS runs real work, test work or 'dummy' work, in exactly the same way with no changes to the work definitions or Job SCL. This enables thorough testing of the application system design.
• PXS provides a screen based interface for invoking work, setting parameters, monitoring and controlling the running of work.

In the Job Control Phase

• PXS provides a screen based interface for operations controllers or end users to invoke work and set parameters.
• PXS enables parameters used by many jobs to be specified once, thus reducing errors in job submission.

In the Runtime Phase

• PXS provides a simple and natural interface for operators to monitor and control work.
• PXS automatically schedules work exactly according to the rules contained in the suite flow charts.
• PXS optimises machine resources by scheduling work as soon as all its dependencies have been satisfied.
• PXS enables the control of concurrencies and the use of resources to maximise throughput.

Other Features of PXS

• It enables the design and running of applications with dependencies across a network of mainframes.
• It uses VME privacy facilities to ensure applications are secure and the privacy/High Security strategy is not compromised.
• It uses standard ICL interfaces in the ICL recommended way to guarantee minimum risk, clear delineation of responsibilities and long term protection of your investment.
• It runs as a VME scheduler hook to ensure that it always totally agrees with VME on the state of all work. This also ensures that recovery from system or scheduler failures is instant and automatic.

The Design Objectives of PXS

The architecture of PXS incorporates three main goals:

1. PXS should be simple and intuitive in use. to this end it looks and feels like a simple extension to VME, so that all its users (e.g. applications designers, systems support, operations support and operators) should find it easy and natural to use.
2. PXS complements rather than duplicates VME's facilities and features, which are amongst the best in the world.
3. The production schedule must reflect the application design. 95% of the decisions made in scheduling production are made on the basis of dependency on other work running, and on logical conditions defining when and if work should be executed. It is because PXS directly implements the design of the application that people find it so natural and simple to use.

Try PXS for yourself