z/OS Systems Programming Introduction

This course provides an introduction to z/OS systems programming.

This course is for new systems programmers, storage administrators, hardware planners and senior operations staff who are responsible for planning and controlling the I/O configuration of z/OS systems.

Delegates attending this course should be familiar with z/OS and TSO. This knowledge can be obtained from our z/OS for Beginners and z/OS TSO/ISPF Workshop courses.

On completion of this course delegates will:

• Understand the role of systems programmers.
• Be familiar with the technical set-up of z/OS systems.
• Understand the basic tailoring to the system at IPL time.
• Be able to establish the configuration of the system from PARMLIB, HCD or via operator commands.

Introduction to the Role of Systems Programming
Identifying the tasks of a system programmer, with special emphasis on tailoring of the system.

The IPL Process and Associated Parameters
Parmlib members covered:
• LOADxx.
• NUCLSTxx.
• IEASYSxx.
• COMMNDxx.
• IEACMD00.
• CONSOLxx.
IMSI with suggestions for use.
Logical parmlib.
CSA and SQA:
• Use and size.
Paging:
• How many page data sets.
• Placing and sizing page data sets.
Console set up.
Commands include:
• D IPLINFO.
• D U,IPLVOL.
• D SYMBOLS.
• D PARMLIB.
• D ASM.

Programs and Virtual Storage Layout
Parmlib members covered for general programs:
• MSTJCLxx.
• PROGxx (LNKLSTxx IEAAPFxx).
• IEAFIXxx.
• IEALPAxx.
• LPALSTxx.
• IEASVCxx.
• IFAPRDxx.
Commands for dynamic changes:
• SETPROG.
• SET PROG.
Parmlib members covered for special programs and subsystems:
• IEFSSNxx.
• SCHEDxx.

JES2
Locating the JESPARM data.
Reviewing the JESPARM data, especially:
• SPOOL and Checkpoint data set size, number and location.
• BUFSIZE, TGSIZE and TRKCELL.
JES2 display commands, including variations of:
• $D SPL.
JES2 commands for reconfiguring the checkpoint data set.
Use of CF for checkpoint.

Sysplex Considerations
SYSPLEX:
• Overview.
• Policy.
Parmlib members covered for SYSPLEX:
• COUPLExx.
System symbols and filtering within LOADxx:
• IEASYMxx.
• D SYMBOLS.
Parmlib members covered for GRS:
• IEASYSxx GRS.
• GRSCNFxx.
• GRSRNLxx.

Data in Memory
Use of Coupling Facility.
Use of Virtual Storage.
Parmlib members covered for LLA and VLF:
• CSVLLAxx.
• COFVLFxx.

SMF and GTF
Overview of SMF:
• Description of important SMF record types.
• The SMF Header.
Parmlib members covered for SMF:
• SMFPRMxx.
Parmlib members covered for GTF:
• GTFPARM.

General System Recovery, Diagnostic Facilities and SMP/E
Recovery flow:
• system recovery.
• task recovery.
User dumps, system dumps, DAE:
• ADYSETxx.
• User dump tailoring.
• System Dump Data Sets.
SMP/E overview.

Devices and Related Parameters
Parmlib members covered:
• VATLSTxx.
• CONFIGxx.
• IECIOSxx.
• ALLOCxx.
• DEVSUPxx.
• IGDSMSxx.
Device information and HCD:
• PAV.
• The role of the Workload Manager in PAV.
Configuration and device display commands:
• D M.
• D CONFIG=xx.

Channels: ESCON, FICON CF links and OSA
Comparison of channel types.
Terminology – ESCON/FICON.
Cabling rules –cascading configurations.
ESCON Directors.
HCD and ESCON/FICON.
ESCON manager.
OSA connections.