z/OS Systems Programming Introduction

Prerequisites:

Persons attending this course should be familiar with z/OS and TSO.

Course Description:

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

On completion of the course delegates will be able to understand the role of systems programmers, and be familiar with the technical set-up of z/OS systems. They will be able to understand the basic tailoring to the system at IPL time and be able to establish from PARMLIB, HCD or via operator commands, the configuration of the system.

This course includes the following modules:

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