IBM z/OS Bootcamp

Skills Gained

• Describe and categorize the various servers that are commonly found in data centers
• Identify and describe workloads that are commonly used on mainframes and distributed servers
• Describe a typical data center with multiple server platforms:
  • Why so many servers
  • Current concerns and considerations
  • Potential future actions
• Identify when the first IBM general purpose mainframe was introduced
• Describe several key IT and mainframe strategies introduced in the 2000s
• Identify current and future data center trends
• Describe why smarter systems are required to meet future requirements
• Introduce the zEnterprise System and describe how it can apply to current and future business requirements
• Describe the basic functions, characteristics, and terminology of System z servers
• Identify and list the various System z servers and hardware models, from zSeries server to the latest zEnterprise EC12
• Identify the number of CPs and specialty processors available to various System z servers
• List relative performance of recent System z servers as compared to previous servers
• Identify and list IBM mainframe servers supporting multiple channel subsystems and z/Architecture
• Identify key components of the zEnterprise System and their purpose
• Describe and compare various System z components:
  • Frame layout and cage usage
  • Server models, books, memory, and cache structure
  • Performance and millions of service units (MSUs)
• Describe and compare I/O infrastructure and processor usage across zEC12 to z10 mainframes
• I/O cages, drawers and technology used
• PU, cache, and book fan-out connectivity
• Describe how and what System z physical components are used when processing instructions and performing an I/O operation
• Identify System z Capacity on Demand (CoD) options available for planned and unplanned outages
• Describe the CoD provisioning architecture and which servers can use it
• Describe how logical partitioning is used, resource assignments, and initialization activities
• Describe mainframe channels, usage, and CHPID assignments
• Describe the purpose and use of HCD
• Identify mainframe operating systems and their supported mainframe servers
• Describe how the mainframe OS evolved from the System 360 servers to the current zEC12 server
• List some of the major enhancements provided by the recent z/OS versions and to what servers they apply
• List z/OS coexistence and release support strategy
• Describe the various queues that are used to dispatch work
• Describe the difference between a base and Parallel Sysplex
• List Parallel Sysplex main characteristics
• Describe the purpose and use of the coupling facility
• Identify the difference between the following sysplex configurations
  • MULTISYSTEM, MONOPLEX, and XCFLOCAL
• Identify and describe the major enhancements provided by the System z software and hardware platform:
  • 64-bit architecture, IRD, HiperSockets, MLCSS, MIDAW
  • Multiple subchannel sets, zHPF, CPM, HiperDispatch, zDAC
  • TEF, RI, DAT2, Flash Express, zAware, and autonomic computing
• Identify processor architectural modes and their supported addressing implementations:
  • Bimodal, trimodal, address spaces, virtual addressing, and storage usage
• Describe the various queues that are used to dispatch work
• Use system commands to display active address spaces and identify their current status
• Describe the high level interaction between z/OS, CSS, and I/O devices during I/O processing
• Describe the role of the HMC and SE for System z servers
• Identify and change the HMC user interface style
• Identify CPC and image objects usage on the HMC
• Build and customize user-defined groups
• Identify profile types, usage, and assign profiles to objects
• Use the Details window to determine object status and assignments
• Describe how and why unacceptable status conditions and hardware messages are presented to the HMC
• Identify the HMC activation process for CPCs and images
• Send messages to the operating system
• List program management services that z/OS provides
• List main elements and optional features of the z/OS system
• Describe the responsibilities of a z/OS system programmer
• Explain system libraries, their use, and methods for managing their content
• List main components of a data center and recent improvements being made to data centers
• List attributes of TSO/E
• Know how to log on to TSO/E
• Recognize a ready prompt
• Describe what ISPF is
• Recognize the ISPF/PDF primary option menu
• Enter ISPF and navigate through ISPF/PDF panels
• Name the three data set types
• Describe the attributes of data set names
• Use the ISPF/PDF panels to allocate, edit, move, copy, and rename data sets
• Use line and prefix commands while editing data sets
• Describe the general layout of a TSO command
• Issue some of the more common TSO commands
• Describe the attributes of a CLIST and a REXX exec
• Explain how a CLIST differs from a REXX exec
• Describe the responsibilities of JES
• Describe the need for job control language (JCL)
• Define the JOB, EXEC, and DD statements
• Differentiate between single and multistep jobs
• Explain JCL errors, return codes, and ABENDs
• Describe the JCL statement format
• Code JOB statements and JOB statement parameters
• Code EXEC statements to invoke a program and pass PARM parameters to the program
• Introduce the DD statement and a few of its parameters
• Discuss the COMMENT statement
• Create a new data set
• Reference an existing uncataloged data set
• Reference an existing cataloged data set
• Code and discuss the DISP parameter
• Use special DD statements
• Detect and correct JCL syntax and usage errors
• Describe the use of traditional DB/DC applications like CICS, IMS, and DB2 on z/OS
• Describe the purpose of the Language Environment
• Describe the support provided for object-oriented application development on z/OS
• Discuss z/OS security architecture
• Describe the components of network security, transaction security, and platform security on z/OS
• Explain the differences between authorization and authentication
• Identify some firewall technologies within the security server
• Describe the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
• Describe the purpose and benefit of z/OS Management Facility
• Describe the functions provided z/OS Management Facility
• List SDSF commands used to display jobs, active users, and tasks
• Know how to filter SDSF output based on DEST, PREFIX, OWNER and SYSNAME
• Know how to enter JES and MVS commands through SDSF and use ULOG to view commands and their output
• Describe the main features of UNIX System Services (USS) in z/OS
• Describe briefly the UNIX shell and utilities
• Describe the hierarchical file system (HFS)
• Describe the application services provided in USS
• Describe how to start and manage a process in USS
• Describe how security is handled in USS
• Identify the different types of utility programs
• Establish the rules for coding utility control statements
• Describe the functions of system and data set utility programs
• Review the JCL and utility control statements appropriate for:
  • IEBGENER
  • IEBPTPCH
  • IEHLIST
  • IDCAMS
• Use the DFSMS/dfp Utilities Manual for reference
• Discuss the COND parameter and conditional execution of job steps
• Examine the record formats supported by z/OS
• Compare blocked and unblocked data sets
• Discuss system-determined block size
• Introduce the SMS-managed data sets
• Describe the data set organizations supported by z/OS
• Differentiate between PDS and PDSE data sets
• Discuss VSAM data set creation through JCL
• Describe a procedure
• Differentiate between a cataloged procedure and in-stream procedure
• Describe procedure modifications through overriding, adding, or nullifying parameters
• Use symbolic parameters to modify procedures
• Compare the PROC and EXEC statements for supplying symbolic parameters

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