z/OS Concepts

Course Overview

This course will show delegates how the installation definitions set at initialisation time and later are handled by the system. The course also deepens the delegates' understanding of the functions of the z/OS operating system so that the effect of performance tuning and availability of diagnostic data is understood better. There are some topics which introduce system features, such as Workload Manager, or installation activities such as performance tuning which are explored further in other courses.

Audience

This course is designed for anyone setting up or maintaining the z/OS operating system. It builds upon the information in the course ZOSI (z/OS for Beginners) looking more in depth at the functions of the operating system. It can be seen as a complement to the courses ZOSISP (z/OS Implementation Using ServerPac) and SPI (z/OS System Programmer Introduction) in developing an installation tailored and configured system.\

Prerequisites

Delegates should have attended z/OS for Beginners or have equivalent knowledge.

Course Outline

System Initialisation

• The role of the hardware
• Hardware Configuration Definition
• The role of the Operator
• Main System Parameters in setting up the system
• The role of the System Programmer

The Hardware Software Interface

• PSW
• Interrupts
• The Nucleus
• The Link Pack Areas
• SVC Routines
• Serialisation

The z/OS Operating System

• Major Functions
• The Supervisor and characteristics
• Program Management
• Storage Management
• Task Management

Scheduling Work in z/OS

• Job Entry Subsystem
• Started Tasks
• Initiators
• Allocation and Device Management
• SMS
• Serialisation

I/O Processing

• OPEN functions
• The Program and the Access Method
• The I/O Supervisor

Recovery and Diagnosis

• Hardware Errors
• Software Errors
• Error Handling
• Recovery Manager
• Dumps
• Logrec
• Introduction to IPCS

Introduction to System Maintenance

• Releases and Compatibility
• SMP/E

Introduction to Performance

• Introduction to the Workload Manager
• RMF

Introduction to Security

• RACF and Security Server