z/OS System Programmer Fundamentals

This course is designed to describe the basic components that apply to all z/OS systems. It includes high level concepts that apply to the z/OS hardware platform and the z/OS software. It then provides a more detailed analysis, description and lab activities that can be applied to the system programmer role to maintain z/OS systems.

Discussion activities include: The POR, IPL process, JES implementation and operating environment, VTAM environment for TSO, ISPF, SNA and TCP/IP networking, RACF, ISPF/PDF and UNIX System Services. It defines the classic approach to data management in a z/OS system. It identifies various software products and utilities used to define, maintain, and manage catalogs and data sets in the z/OS environment. It also discusses Parmlib usage and requirements for system initialization and operation that include: System symbolics, WLM, SFM, RMF and system logger. Both single system and multi-system sysplex usage is identified. z/OS install, upgrade options, maintenance using SMP/E and I/O configuration requirements using HCD is listed and described.

This intermediate class is intended for new System Programmers and System Administrators, who require an overall understanding of the z/OS platform, z/OS components, data management, and installation and maintenance activities used in z/OS systems.

You should:

• Have z/OS installation experience or have attended z/OS Installation (ES41A)
• Be familiar with end user activities on MVS, including knowledge of JCL, IDCAMS, the MVS address space structure, and the concept of batch scheduling using JES initiators

• Describe the basics of z/OS architecture
• Identify basic components of a z/OS system
• Discuss what you have learned about LPARs
• Describe maintenance principles
• Identify and list the POR process
• Describe the IPL process
• Identify the basic address spaces
• Describe how to shut down z/OS
• Implement a basic JES2 batch environment
  • Identify how work can be started in z/OS and it's relationship to the job entry subsystem
  • Describe how JES2 prepares and executes work in z/OS
  • Explain JES2 start options
  • Describe JES2 parameters that can be customized to support z/OS batch
  • Identify how communications and control of JES2 can be done using the operator commands and SDSF

• Describe JES3 configuration and job processing phases
• Identify JES3 start options
• Describe the two networking schemes in the z/OS environment: SNA and IP
• Identify SNA networking resources
• Explain how SNA sessions are established
• Describe the role of TCP/IP as a physical filesystem in UNIX System Services
• Implement and start a local VTAM instance to provide the base for SNA applications such as TSO
• Implement and start TSO
• Start a TCPIP stack and check accompanying messages
• Identify the main functions of Security Server (RACF) and the role it plays in controlling user access to the system
• Describe the contents of RACF user, group, and resource profiles
• Describe how RACF profiles are used to authorize user access to a data set resource
• Identify two key members used for TCAS startup
• Name the components of ISPF
• Describe the general layout of ISPF/PDF panels
• Describe how UNIX System Services are used in z/OS
• Describe briefly the UNIX Shell and utilities and how they are accessed
• Describe the application services provided in UNIX System Services
• Describe how security is handled in UNIX System Services
• Describe the classical z/OS data management
  • DASD init: VTOC, VTOC index
  • ICF catalog creation: BCS, VVDS
  • MCAT/UCAT
  • IDCAMS utility
  • DFSMS: DFSMSdss, DFSMShsm
  • Data, storage, and management classes

• Define the hierarchical data management
  • HFS file system
  • zFS file system

• Define load-parameters for IPL
• Define symbols for use in system initialization
• Define a configuration for system initialization
• Define a library for procedures
• Identify the sysplex resources required to run WLM
• List the main components that comprise a WLM service definition for a system/sysplex
• Describe the function of WLM service definition parameters such as workloads, service goals, periods, and WLM subsystems
• Describe how SMF data set are created and used
• Explain SMF record types and how they are used
• Identify the three RMF monitor types
• Describe how the RMF monitor is used for reporting purposes
• Identify System Logger components and usage for:
  • Sysplex configuration and CF logstreams
  • Single system and DASD-only logstreams

• Describe SMF usage of logstreams
• Describe the differences between IOCDS and IODF
• Identify and list the HCD definition process sequence
• Describe how the HCD dialogs are used to define a configuration
• Discuss the purpose of Hardware Configuration Manager
• Describe the overall concept of SMP/E: Global, target and DLIB zones
• Describe what elements and SYSMODs are
• Create an SMP/E working environment
• Identify the batch and ISPF interfaces to SMP/E
• Install a user function using RECEIVE, APPLY, and ACCEPT
• Explain how to remove a SYSMOD with RESTORE
• Describe the installation options available to install z/OS
• Use the attributes of z/OS elements and features to identify the contents of a z/OS product
• Describe the contents of the ServerPac offering and important install documentation sources
• List the main steps in the ServerPac build process
• Describe hardware and software prerequisites for performing a ServerPac installation in:
  • The driving system
  • The target system

Day 1

• Welcome
• Unit 1 - What makes up a z/OS system?
• Exercise 1- Introduction to z/OS setup
• Unit 2 - System boot: POR and IPL
• Exercise 2 - Complete the IPL: Start JES, start networking
• Unit 3 - Processing user work with z/OS
• Exercise 3 - LOGON into TSO and create a new user profile

Day 2

• Unit 4 - Networking, z/OS communication server
• Exercise 4 - Data administration
• Unit 5 - What else is needed for end user access to the system?
• Exercise 5 - Automate startup and monitor the system

Day 3

• Unit 6 - Data management
• Exercise 6 - System logger
• Unit 7 - A closer look at IPL: IPLPARM, SYS1.PARMLIB, SYS1.PROCLIB
• Exercise 7- Define a string of DASD and ACTIVATE dynamically

Day 4

• Unit 8 - System management: WLM, SMF, RMF, and system logger
• Exercise 8 - Install and maintain a user function
• Unit 9 - Hardware configuration definition
• Unit 10 - Software maintenance: SMP/E
• Unit 11 - Change management: ServerPac and other IBM services