Translating the business analysis into technical definitions

The SMS definitions are the mechanisms by which the results of your business analysis are implemented. The ideal groups, classes, and cycles identified during analysis must be translated into practical terms. This section discusses the OAM-related SMS parameters and how they can be used to customize OAM for your needs.

As in any translation process, compromises and approximations must be made. For example, you might have to make trade-offs between performance and cost (DASD versus optical versus tape storage) as you implement your storage management policy.

Be alert to the subtle factors that can influence system performance and, therefore, should be considered during this translation process. For example:

The number of class transitions for a given object during its lifetime can have a significant effect on work load.
The effective data transfer rate is faster for a single large object than for multiple small objects.

The choice you make for any single parameter has the potential to affect many other parameters. Be prepared to adjust those choices after installation, as you tune and refine your system.