Using the z/OS load module system status index to distinguish product tag files

• US 8,423,957 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Presland, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T
• Application Number:
  US12/540,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 717101-103, 717120-123
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing software product information in a z/OS environment. Product information associated with a software product is determined and then processed to generate product tag information. A System Status Index (SSI) attribute is generated with a unique identifier signifying that the SSI attribute comprises SSI product tag information. The SSI product tag information is then associated with the SSI attribute with the unique identifier. The z/OS environment is then scanned for SSI attributes. Those SSI attributes comprising a unique identifier are processed to read their associated SSI product tag information. The product tag information is then processed to generate software product information, which is then stored in a repository of software product information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing software product information, comprising:

selecting a software product in a z/OS environment;

determining product information associated with the software product;

processing the product information to generate product tag information;

generating a System Status Index (SSI) attribute;

associating the product tag information with the SSI attribute;

scanning the z/OS environment to discover the SSI attribute;

determining whether an SSI attribute comprises a unique identifier, the unique identifier signifying that the SSI attribute comprises SSI product tag information; and

reading product tag information from the SSI attribute if the SSI attribute comprises the unique identifier, wherein the product tag information is used to generate software product information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier distinguishes the SSI attribute being associated with the product tag information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein SSI attributes comprising the unique identifier are processed to generate the plurality of software product information stored in the repository.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ending the scanning of the z/OS environment if an SSI attribute comprising the unique identifier is not discovered.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the product tag information associated with the SSI attribute in a repository of software product information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the repository comprises at least one of a Local Knowledge Base (LKB) and a Global Knowledge Base (GKB).

7. A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer-usable medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code managing software product information and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for;

selecting a software product in a z/OS environment;

determining product information associated with the software product;

processing the product information to generate product tag information;

generating a System Status Index (SSI) attribute;

associating the product tag information with the SSI attribute;

scanning the z/OS environment to discover the SSI attribute;

determining whether an SSI attribute comprises a unique identifier, the unique identifier signifying that the SSI attribute comprises SSI product tag information; and

reading product tag information from the SSI attribute if the SSI attribute comprises the unique identifier, wherein the product tag information is used to generate software product information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the unique identifier distinguishes the SSI attribute being associated with the product tag information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein SSI attributes comprising the unique identifier are processed to generate the plurality of software product information stored in the repository.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

ending the scanning of the z/OS environment if an SSI attribute comprising the unique identifier is not discovered.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the product tag information associated with the SSI attribute in a repository of software product information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the repository comprises at least one of a Local Knowledge Base (LKB) and a Global Knowledge Base (GKB).

13. A non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

selecting a software product in a z/OS environment;

determining product information associated with the software product;

processing the product information to generate product tag information;

generating a System Status Index (SSI) attribute;

associating the product tag information with the SSI attribute;

scanning the z/OS environment to discover the SSI attribute;

determining whether an SSI attribute comprises a unique identifier, the unique identifier signifying that the SSI attribute comprises SSI product tag information; and

reading product tag information from the SSI attribute if the SSI attribute comprises the unique identifier, wherein the product tag information is used to generate software product information.

14. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the unique identifier distinguishes the SSI attribute being associated with the product tag information.

15. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 14, wherein SSI attributes comprising the unique identifier are processed to generate the plurality of software product information stored in the repository.

16. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

ending the scanning of the z/OS environment if an SSI attribute comprising the unique identifier is not discovered.

17. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

storing the product tag information associated with the SSI attribute in a repository of software product information.

18. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 17, wherein the repository comprises at least one of a Local Knowledge Base and a Global Knowledge Base (GKB).

19. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are deployable to a client computer from a server at a remote location.

20. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are provided by a service provider to a customer on an on-demand basis.