Introduction to the New Mainframe: IBM z/VSE Basics

Mike Ebbers · Wolfgang Bosch · Hans Joachim Ebert · Helmut Hellner · Jerry Johnston · Marco Kroll · Wilhelm Mild · Wayne O'Brien · Bill Ogden · Ingolf Salm · Joerg Schmidbauer · Martin Walbruehl · IBM Redbooks

Mar 2016 · IBM Redbooks

About this ebook

This IBM® Redbooks® publication is based on the book Introduction to the New Mainframe: z/OS Basics, SG24-6366, which was produced by the International Technical Support Organization (ITSO), Poughkeepsie Center. It provides students of information systems technology with the background knowledge and skills necessary to begin using the basic facilities of a mainframe computer.

For optimal learning, students are assumed to have successfully completed an introductory course in computer system concepts, such as computer organization and architecture, operating systems, data management, or data communications. They should also have successfully completed courses in one or more programming languages, and be PC literate.

This textbook can also be used as a prerequisite for courses in advanced topics, or for internships and special studies. It is not intended to be a complete text covering all aspects of mainframe operation. It is also not a reference book that discusses every feature and option of the mainframe facilities.

Others who can benefit from this course include experienced data processing professionals who have worked with non-mainframe platforms, or who are familiar with some aspects of the mainframe but want to become knowledgeable with other facilities and benefits of the mainframe environment.

As we go through this course, we suggest that the instructor alternate between text, lecture, discussions, and hands-on exercises. Many of the exercises are cumulative, and are designed to show the student how to design and implement the topic presented. The instructor-led discussions and hands-on exercises are an integral part of the course, and can include topics not covered in this textbook.

In this course, we use simplified examples and focus mainly on basic system functions. Hands-on exercises are provided throughout the course to help students explore the mainframe style of computing. At the end of this course, you will be familiar with the following information:

• Basic concepts of the mainframe, including its usage and architecture
  
• Fundamentals of IBM z/VSE® (VSE), an IBM zTM Systems entry mainframe operating system (OS)
  
• An understanding of mainframe workloads and the major middleware applications in use on mainframes today
  
• The basis for subsequent course work in more advanced, specialized areas of z/VSE, such as system administration or application programming
  

Ratings and reviews

Nice. Been around since early 80s, went from IBM Mainframe MVS 0S/390, to DOS/VSE, back to MVS then migrated off of Mainframe in early 2000s to Object Oriented Programming and Sybase, SQL, then Some Java in Eclipse, then onto PL/SQL, then to UNIX running COBOL (including in Eclipse), now to z/VSE in an IMS plus SQL Server environment. What a ride! This book ties some loose ends on what I was exposed to in the past to present environment which I have been away from for a few years.

Good