Operating OS/390 and JES2 course outline

Operating OS/390 and z/OS with JES2

Duration: 4 days

Audience: Operators who need to control an OS/390 or z/OS system

Prequisites: Awareness of the role of an operator

Objectives: Top Contents

On successful completion of this course each student will be able to:

* describe the structure and functions of OS/390
* explain how RACF or ACF2 controls access to OS/390 resources
* use TSO and ISPF commands to log on and log off
* use commands to create, save, list, edit, and delete a dataset
* issue commands to display the status of hardware resources
* issue commands to vary hardware devices online and offline
* issue commands to control the use of the initiators
* describe the use of the OS/390 consoles
* issue commands which control the JES spool queues
* issue commands which control the printers
* issue commands which will offload spool file contents to tape or cartridge
* issue commands which stop and start an OS/390 system
* use SDSF to view the system log
* using relevant manuals, find the meanings of messages
* clear messages which no longer need a response
* issue commands which control users and jobs
* find the cause of WAITING FOR DATASETS conditions
* use TSO and ISPF commands to log on and log off
* use commands to create, save, list, edit, and delete a dataset
* read and interpret JCL

Contents: Top Objectives

The OS/390 and z/OS System
z/OS component parts and related program products. OS/390 and z/OS features: concurrency, reliability, protection, operator intervention, etc. Operating System concepts: address spaces, data spaces, addressing, hiperspaces; 64-bit considerations, the line, the bar; Virtual Lookaside Facility; LNKLST Lookaside; Data-in-Virtual objects; use of expanded storage, hardware considerations; Batch Pipes, VIO, Hiperbatch; loading modules in ESA, I/O required; catalog address space and VLF; how disk I/O is handled; paging, swapping; task management; storage and storage management; how OS/390 controls its environment. Data Facility products, HSM, SMS; Security features, RACF or ACF2. TSO and ISPF. Spooling: JES2 and SDSF. Networking. Tape management. PR/SM. Sysplexes. Job scheduling, CA-Scheduler, CA-7, OPC.

RACF or ACF2
How RACF or ACF2 controls access to datasets; naming conventions; terminal access; reporting of violations; control of disks and tapes; submitting jobs to OS/390.

Using TSO and ISPF
Logging on; primary menu; menu hierarchy and structure; session profile, setting PF keys; browsing datasets, editing datasets, using the utilities to allocate (create) a dataset, and perform dataset maintenance; using the jump function; splitting the screen; 3 or more screens.

Controlling the console
Master and Alternate Consoles, CONSOLxx definition, setting an inline message area, message indicators, PF keys, PFKTABxx definition, using the K (CONTROL) command; sending messages to consoles, jobs, and users, the broadcast dataset; monitoring system activity, TRACK, MONITOR.

Controlling the system resources
Displaying the device status, DEVSERV PATHS, displaying units, unit status - online, offline, allocated, etc.; varying devices online and offline; controlling the initiators; displaying machine characteristics; dump datasets; SMF datasets; domains; changing local time.

Operating Techniques
Starting z/OS and OS/390, start-up options: link pack area, CLPA, MLPA, page datasets, CVIO; catalogs and alternate start-up system; starting tasks; shutting down z/OS and OS/390, sending messages to all users, closing started tasks, halting VTAM, stopping JES, problem handling; performance groups.

SDSF for operators
Accessing SDSF; entering JES commands on the screen; DA I H O ST options, PR INIT options, using the prefix; browsing the LOG, finding strings; entering OS/390 commands; automatic update; re-creating JCL from jobs which have run.

Controlling jobs
Using JES commands to control job queues, changing job attributes, holding, releasing, cancelling, purging, requeuing jobs; WAITING FOR DATASETS problem.

Controlling output
Using JES commands to list output characteristics; setting output classes; releasing and cancelling held output; purging non-held output; displaying forms information; controlling the printer - starting, stopping, interrupting, etc.

JES2 techniques
The Offload system; Starting and stopping JES; multiple commands; automatic commands.

Abend codes and messages
Typical abend codes which occur in normal day-to-day operations; significance of main categories of codes OCx, x22, x06, x37, x13, etc; handling warning messages e.g. spool file at 80%; WTO Buffers; SMF full, etc.

Reading JCL for operators: extra day
Running jobs in OS/390
Overview of a job; how JES processes a job; OS/390 datasets and access methods; compilation and link edit; statements: JOB, EXEC, DD, OUTPUT, PROC, PEND, etc; syntax rules; JES2 control statements: JOBPARM, ROUTE, etc; access to DB2. CA-JCLCHECK.

The JOB Statement
Function and format; positional parameters: accounting information, 'programmer' name; keyword parameters: CLASS, MSGCLASS, NOTIFY, REGION, TIME, TYPRUN, etc; how jobnames are handled by TSO and the security system.

The EXEC and IF Statements
Function and format; constructing stepnames; PGM and PROC; common parameters: PARM, REGION, TIME, COND; use of the IEFBR14 program.

The DD Statement
Function and format; use of DDNAME to link program with JCL; function of the catalogs; SMS and non-SMS datasets; parameters for VSAM, printer, QSAM, tape, pds, in-stream, and generation datasets; DSN, DISP, SYSOUT, UNIT, VOL, SPACE, AVGREC, DCB, LABEL, DUMMY, AMP, etc; Special DDNAMES: JOBLIB, STEPLIB, SYSUDUMP, SYSPRINT, SYSOUT, SYSIN, SYSPRINT, SYSLIB, SYSABOUT, etc; special techniques: concatenated datasets, temporary datasets, non-existent datasets, backwards referencing. SMS considerations.

The OUTPUT Statement
Function and format: controlling printer output, remote printers, FCBs, special stationery, multiple copies, etc.

Catalogued Procedures
Catalogued and In-stream procedures; using parameter libraries; modifying EXEC parameters; modifying DD parameters; symbolic parameters; setting defaults, PROC; handling in-stream data.

Batch Utilities
Introduction to general format and required datasets; IEBCOPY, IEBGENER, IEBUPDTE, IEHLIST, IEHINITT, etc. SORT, IKJEFT01, DFSRRC00.

Introduction to MVS dump codes
System and User abend codes; messages on log; common failures (e.g. OC7, 806, B37).