Mainframe System Administrator
Competency-based
ONET: 15-1142.00
180
Skills
275h
Related instructions
Classroom instruction topics
- Onboarding and Softskill/Business Software Training
- AP Computer Science Principles
- IBM Z Xplore
- IBM z/OS Mainframe Practitioner (3 courses)
- z/OS REXX Programming Workshop
- Db2 Fundamentals V12/IBM CICS Video Course Series/Controlling CICS Transaction Server Operations 5.6 /CICS Concepts and Operation Assessment 5.6 /IMS Fundamentals
- IBM z/OS V2R2 Communications Server TCP/IP / Implementation: Volume 2 Standard Applications (Chapter 3)
- z/OS System Services Structure
- SMP/E for z/OS Workshop
On-the-job training
- Demonstrate teamwork and collaborative behaviors
- Examples of teamwork and collaboration
- Feedback from team members and mentors
- Demonstrate good communication skills
- Examples of ability to present technical information clearly in both oral and written communications
- Feedback from team members and mentors on ability to ask relevant questions
- Understand and model good feedback behaviors
- Examples of giving and receiving feedback
- Feedback from team members and mentors
- Demonstrate a willingness to learn from mentors
- Feedback from mentors during progress reviews and “learning moments”
- Demonstrate the importance of using a standard approach to implementing change, adopting a risk mitigation approach
- Evidence of following formal/informal change management procedures
- Evidence of assessing risk when implementing changes and having risk effective mitigation plans for assigned projects
- Evidence of developing a back-out plan for assigned projects
- Evidence of a test plan when implementing new software/hardware changes
- Demonstrate an ability to follow process and procedures with accurate and complete documentation
- Evidence of knowledge of processes and procedures and know where to locate documented procedures as required
- Create documentation related to implementation of processes and procedures for new or existing implementations
- Evidence of documentation of technical procedures for internal users or clients
- Demonstrate basic understanding of structured programming design and its relationship to data structures
- Demonstrate an understanding of pseudocode.
- Demonstrate an understanding of variables, operators, constants and data types.
- Demonstrate an understanding of functions, parameters and recursion.
- Demonstrate an understanding of arrays.
- Demonstrate an understanding of APIs.
- Demonstrate basic understanding of Mainframe terminology and basic concepts
- Describe and compare various System z components: Frame layout and cage usage
- Describe and compare various System z components: Server models, books, memory, and cache structure
- Describe and compare various System z components: Performance and millions of service units (MSUs) (note: Covered in glossary)
- Demonstrate basic understanding of mainframe hardware components and the structured nature of the Mainframe I/O architecture
- Describe what IBM Z physical components are used when processing instructions and performing an I/O operation (Also covered in Mainframe Architecture and Mainframe Features).
- Describe the CoD provisioning architecture and which servers can use it
- Describe how logical partitioning is used, resource assignments
- Describe mainframe channels, usage, and CHPID assignments
- Describe the purpose and use of HCD
- Identify mainframe operating systems and their supported mainframe servers
- Describe the various queues that are used to dispatch work (Also Mainframe Features)
- Describe the difference between a base and Parallel Sysplex (Covered in JES & JCL Part 1 and next several sections. Introduced in Why Use Mainframe)
- List Parallel Sysplex main characteristics
- Describe the purpose and use of the coupling facility Identify processor architectural modes and their supported addressing implementations: Address spaces
- Describe the purpose and use of the coupling facility Identify processor architectural modes and their supported addressing implementations: Virtual addressing
- Describe the purpose and use of the coupling facility Identify processor architectural modes and their supported addressing implementations: Storage usage
- Introduced in Mainframe Architecture and explained further in z/OS System Libraries. Also covered in Application Infrastructure and z/OS Components.
- Use system commands to display active address spaces and identify their current status
- Describe the high level interaction between z/OS, CSS, and I/O devices during I/O processing
- Describe the role of the HMC and SE for System z servers
- Identify and change the HMC user interface style Identify CPC and image objects usage on the HMC
- Locate the documentation that List program management services that z/OS provides
- Locate the documentation that List main elements and optional features of the z/OS system
- Explain system libraries, their use, and methods for managing their content
- Describe the responsibilities of JES (Covered in JES & JCL Part 1 and next several sections).
- Describe the use of traditional DB/DC applications like CICS, IMS, and DB2 on z/OS (And Part 2, plus proceeding sections)
- Describe the purpose of the Language Environment (Specifically covered in Language Environment but broadly covered in the course it’s within).
- Describe the support provided for object-oriented application development on z/OS (Briefly covered in JES & JCL Part 1 but this is mostly pre-req knowledge covered in section 7).
- Explain the differences between authorization and authentication (Covered in z/OS Security and Transaction Level Security)
- Describe the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) - Covered in QUIZ in reference to glossary.
- Describe the purpose and benefit of z/OS Management Facility
- List SDSF commands used to display jobs, active users, and tasks (Exercise 2)
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to filter SDSF output based on DEST, PREFIX, OWNER and SYSNAME (Exercise 1 and 2)
- Describe the main features of UNIX System Services (USS) in z/OS
- Describe briefly the UNIX shell and utilities
- Describe the hierarchical file system. Describe the application services provided in USS
- Describe how to start and manage a process in USS
- Demonstrate basic understanding of access method concepts in MVS and the structure and design of VSAM files
- Discuss VSAM data set creation through JCL
- Describe the following data sets and how they are used and accessed (random or sequential): KSDS
- Describe the following data sets and how they are used and accessed (random or sequential): ESDS
- Describe the following data sets and how they are used and accessed (random or sequential): RRDS
- Describe the following data sets and how they are used and accessed (random or sequential): LDS
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the associated software and system components that comprise a z/OS System, their purpose and how they interact
- Demonstrate example of how z/OS provides support for On Demand Business
- Describe how security is ensured in a z/OS environment (Covered in z/OS Security and proceeding sections).
- Characterize the major products and facilities that support z/OS systems
- Describe z/OS connectivity, communication facilities, and interfaces (Mainframe Architecture, Mainframe Features, Why Use Mainframe)
- Describe the concept, strategy, and benefits of the z/OS environment (Mainframe Architecture, Mainframe Features, Why Use Mainframe)
- Describe security support provided by z/OS (And proceeding sections)
- Describe the different types of Systems Management support (SMP/E, SMF, and RMF)
- Describe the scalability, availability, backup, and recovery features in z/OS (Mainframe Features, Sysplex)
- Describe System Services support (storage management, job management, work management, data sets, and data set management) (z/OS Components, Working with Datasets )
- Demonstrate basic understanding and application of the concepts and facilities of TSO and IBM’s Interactive System Productivity (ISPF), including familiarization with the Editors
- Log on to TSO and navigate through ISPF/PDF dialogs and use the basic ISPF/PDF functions and the ISPF Editor
- Use ISPF/PDF to allocate data sets and edit data sets (including hierarchical file system replace with ZFS as previously stated bfiles) using the ISPF Editor primary and line commands
- Use ISPF to create and manipulate (copy, rename, delete, list, sort, and merge) data sets
- List attributes of TSO/E
- Name the three data set types
- Describe the attributes of data set names
- Use line and prefix commands while editing data set
- Describe and use TSO/E commands
- Invoke a REXX exec and TSO CLIST
- Invoke UNIX processes
- Manipulate HFS directories and file systems using the UNIX SystemServices ISHELL
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the structure of ICF catalogs and the related VTOC and index VTOC
- Describe the classical z/OS data management: DASD init: VTOC, VTOC index
- Describe the classical z/OS data management: ICF catalog creation: BCS, VVDS 13.1.3 MCAT/UCAT
- Describe the classical z/OS data management: DCAMS utility
- DFSMS: DFSMSdss, DFSMShsmDescribe the classical z/OS data management:
- Describe the classical z/OS data management: Data, storage, and management classes
- Describe the classical z/OS data management: Define a zFS file system
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the hierarchical and relational DBMS
- Explain how databases are used in a typical online business.
- Describe two models for network connectivity for large systems
- Explain the role of DB2 in online transaction processing
- List common DB2 data structures
- Describe how SQL works on z/OS
- Give an overview of application programming with DB2
- Explain what the IMS components are
- Describe the structure of the IMS DB subsystem
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the concepts, functions and facilities of CICS
- Describe the role of large systems in a typical online business
- List the attributes common to most transaction systems
- Explain the role of CICS in online transaction processing
- Describe CICS programs, CICS transactions, and CICS tasks
- Discuss the CICS IMS components
- Demonstrate basic understanding of how security is implemented on the mainframe
- List and describe the basic features and concepts of zSeries architecture and of the z/OS operating system as they relate to security administration
- Identify the security requirements of a system
- Describe the components of network security
- Describe how security is handled in USS
- Use the basic facilities and features of the implemented security product
- Use the security product to define users and protect resources
- Knowledge: Have a basic understanding of file transfer tools, concepts and configurations
- Connect to a remote host to get/put files
- Describe Managed File Transfer including auditability, security, recoverability and platform connectivity.
- Have a basic understanding of how to use and exploit the additional utilities/ facilities/ program products widely utilized within an enterprise mainframe environment
- Describe the system initialization process of the z/OS operating systems
- State the differences between an address space, data space, and hyperspace
- Describe the basic process of translating a virtual address to a real address (IPL and Mainframe Architecture)
- Explain the difference between paging and swapping (Note, swapping is described but the term swapping is not used. This is generally an Intel/PC term.)
- Describe how a z/OS task is created. (z/OS Components and JES & JCL 1)
- Describe dispatching, interrupt processing, supervisor calls, cross memory services, and serialization
- Describe the purpose of the Job Entry Subsystem (JES)
- Illustrate the flow of a job through the z/OS environment
- Describe the allocation process for data sets in the z/OS environments
- Illustrate how an I/O request is processed in a z/OS environment
- Describe how workload management is accomplished in a z/OS environment (Covered in Introduction to System Programming, z/OS Components, Mainframe Features, Sysplex)
- Explain the z/OS recovery processes and list available Problem Determination Tools
- Describe z/OS storage management concepts (z/OS Components)
- Describe the UNIX System Services functions provided in the z/OS environments
- Explain the network topologies and protocol support provided in z/OS
- Demonstrate basic understanding of what can go wrong in a mainframe environment
- Select the appropriate IBM publication to provide further technical information (SRLs, Technical Bulletins, Self-study and other z/OS courses)
- Demonstrate basic understanding and ability of how to code or update job control statements with sound syntax to execute mainframe programs and access datasets following local practices and standards
- Use JOB, EXEC, DD and COMMENT statements in a multistep job
- Explain JCL errors, return codes, and ABENDs
- Use the functions of system and data set utility programs
- Use the COND parameter and conditional execution of job steps
- Use various record formats supported by z/OS
- Use blocked and unblocked data sets
- Discuss system-determined block size
- Awareness of SMS-managed data sets Differentiate between PDS and PDSE data sets
- Describe a procedure
- Differentiate between a cataloged procedure and in-stream procedure
- Describe procedure modifications through overriding, adding, or nullifying parameters
- Compare the PROC and EXEC statements for supplying symbolic parameters
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Creating new data sets
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Referencing existing data sets
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Condition code testing
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: IF/THEN/ELSE/ENDIF constructs
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Generation data groups
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Output routing
- Code or identify and describe basic JCL statements using proper syntax and coding rules, including JCL for: Invoking a program and passing PARM parameters
- Using the DISP parameter
- Identify Storage Management Subsystem requirements and: code or identify and describe in an existing job: instream and cataloged procedures
- Identify Storage Management Subsystem requirements and: code or identify and describe in an existing job: symbolic parameters in procedures
- Identify Storage Management Subsystem requirements and: code or identify and describe in an existing job: procedure overrides and additions super
- Identify Storage Management Subsystem requirements and: code or identify and describe in an existing job: selected utility programs
- Identify Storage Management Subsystem requirements and: code or identify and describe in an existing job: tape processing facilities
- Code or identify the sort and merge control statements and associated JCL statements
- Tailor existing JCL and submit batch jobs
- Use symbolic parameters to modify procedures
- Demonstrate basic understanding of and ability on how to create and use programs written in the REXX language
- Write and execute a program using the REXX language using various data parsing techniques and built-in REXX functions
- Create user-defined internal and external functions and subroutines
- Issue host commands from within REXX execs
- Code programs that read and write data sets
- Use instructions and commands that manipulate the data stack
- Explain how a CLIST differs from a REXX exec
- Demonstrate basic understanding to know when to exploit IBM utility programs such as IEBGENER, IDCAMS etc.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the utility control statements appropriate for: IEBGENER
- Demonstrate an understanding of the utility control statements appropriate for: IEBPTPCH
- Demonstrate an understanding of the utility control statements appropriate for: IEHLIST
- Demonstrate an understanding of the utility control statements appropriate for: IDCAMS
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of HCD
- Identify and discuss the HCD definition process sequence
- Demonstrate how the HCD dialogs are used to define a configuration
- Demonstrate knowledge in how to connect peripheral devices
- Assist with the connection of peripheral devices when possible
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the use of SMP/E to manage the deployment and lifecycle of mainframe software products
- Use the SMP/E dialogs to install a product and its related service
- Manage exception SYSMOD data
- Use primary and secondary data sets as required by SMP/E
- Analyze output from SMP/E processing and resolve commonly encountered problems
- Use the REPORT command to determine software dependencies between zones
- Use the BUILDMCS process to create a function SYSMOD from an installed product and its service
- Use SMP/E functions to install software service automatically over the internet
- Implement support for communication server FTP client
- Use the RECEIVE ORDER command to order and install z/OS maintenance automatically over the Internet
- Demonstrate basic understanding of how to Perform and upgrade a major product in a production
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of:
- Implementation plans
- Risk assessments
- Back out plans
- Test plans
- Change management processes to execute the implementation plan
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