Published on March 21, 2026

IBM z/OS Bootcamp

Demo Test

@Demo_Test

Launch course

This course is designed to give new hire IT professionals an introduction into the IBM Z environment. The IBM mainframe servers, operating systems and software products will be discussed. Through lecture and hands-on labs, this course will provide the basic skill set to jump start productivity for technical professionals who are new to the mainframe environment. The skills taught in this course can be applied across multiple mainframe job roles. This course consists of 16 lecture units and 11 lab exercises.

Table of contents

Short Summary
Modality
Cost
Publish date
Retire date
Duration
Agenda
Objectives
Brand/Department
Product
Skill Level
Key Topics
Audience
Labs
Follow-on Courses

Short Summary

This basic class is intended for the technical professional that is new to the mainframe environment.

Modality

Classroom or Instructor-led online

Cost

paid

Amount

300

Publish Date

March 2, 2013

Retire Date

June 30, 2028

Duration

80 hours

Agenda

Mainframes and distributed server comparisons: Why so many servers?
Mainframe directions: Past, current, and future
Mainframes: System z introduction and relative performance comparisons
IBM System z hardware design: Frames, CEC cage, books, models and MSUs
I/O Infrastructure and processor usage
System z Capacity on Demand
Physical/Logical partitioning, server initialization, and CHPIDs
I/O configuration and HCD overview
MVS to z/OS software overview
z/OS Parallel Sysplex
z/OS enhancements on the zPlatform
z/Architecture overview and virtual addressing concepts
System concepts: The big picture
HMC introduction, groups, and activation profiles
Determining object status and error conditions
Activation and operating system interface
z/OS base elements and optional features
z/OS system programming
z/OS system libraries
Data center components and trends
TSO/E and ISPF/PDF
Data sets and accessing with ISPF/PDF
ISPF/PDF editor
Copy/Move/Rename/Delete
Data Set List
TSO/E commands and TSO/E programming
Introduction to JES and JCL
JOB, EXEC, and DD statements
DD parameters
Traditional applications
Programming languages
Object technology
System-level-security
Network-level security
Transaction-level security
Directory services
z/OSMF
SDSF
Working with UNIX System Services
Introduction to utilities and conditional execution
Data management, organization, and format
Generation data groups
Procedures
More about utilities
More on procedures
Selected JCL topics
SORT and MERGE
ABENDs

Objectives

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Describe and categorize the various servers that are commonly found in data centers
Identify and describe workloads that are commonly used on mainframes and distributed servers
Describe a typical data center with multiple server platforms:
- Why so many servers
- Current concerns and considerations
- Potential future actions
Identify when the first IBM general purpose mainframe was introduced
Describe several key IT and mainframe strategies introduced in the 2000s
Identify current and future data center trends
Describe why smarter systems are required to meet future requirements
Introduce the zEnterprise System and describe how it can apply to current and future business requirements
Describe the basic functions, characteristics, and terminology of System z servers
Identify and list the various System z servers and hardware models
Identify the number of CPs and specialty processors available to various System z servers
List relative performance of recent System z servers as compared to previous servers
Identify and list IBM mainframe servers supporting multiple channel subsystems and z/Architecture
Identify key components of the zEnterprise System and their purpose
Describe and compare various System z components:
- Frame layout and cage usage
- Server models, books, memory, and cache structure
- Performance and millions of service units (MSUs)
Describe and compare I/O infrastructure and processor usage across mainframes
I/O cages, drawers and technology used
PU, cache, and book fan-out connectivity
Describe how and what System z physical components are used when processing instructions and performing an I/O operation
Identify System z Capacity on Demand (CoD) options available for planned and unplanned outages
Describe the CoD provisioning architecture and which servers can use it
Describe how logical partitioning is used, resource assignments, and initialization activities
Describe mainframe channels, usage, and CHPID assignments
Describe the purpose and use of HCD
Identify mainframe operating systems and their supported mainframe servers
Describe how the mainframe OS evolved from the System 360 servers to the current release
List some of the major enhancements provided by the recent z/OS versions and to what servers they apply
List z/OS coexistence and release support strategy
Describe the various queues that are used to dispatch work
Describe the difference between a base and Parallel Sysplex
List Parallel Sysplex main characteristics
Describe the purpose and use of the coupling facility
Identify the difference between the following sysplex configurations
- MULTISYSTEM, MONOPLEX, and XCFLOCAL
Identify and describe the major enhancements provided by the System z software and hardware platform:
- 64-bit architecture, IRD, HiperSockets, MLCSS, MIDAW
- Multiple subchannel sets, zHPF, CPM, HiperDispatch, zDAC
- TEF, RI, DAT2, Flash Express, zAware, and autonomic computing
Identify processor architectural modes and their supported addressing implementations:
- Bimodal, trimodal, address spaces, virtual addressing, and storage usage
Describe the various queues that are used to dispatch work
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
Build and customize user-defined groups
Identify profile types, usage, and assign profiles to objects
Use the Details window to determine object status and assignments
Describe how and why unacceptable status conditions and hardware messages are presented to the HMC
Identify the HMC activation process for CPCs and images
Send messages to the operating system
List program management services that z/OS provides
List main elements and optional features of the z/OS system
Describe the responsibilities of a z/OS system programmer
Explain system libraries, their use, and methods for managing their content
List main components of a data center and recent improvements being made to data centers
List attributes of TSO/E
Know how to log on to TSO/E
Recognize a ready prompt
Describe what ISPF is
Recognize the ISPF/PDF primary option menu
Enter ISPF and navigate through ISPF/PDF panels
Name the three data set types
Describe the attributes of data set names
Use the ISPF/PDF panels to allocate, edit, move, copy, and rename data sets
Use line and prefix commands while editing data sets
Describe the general layout of a TSO command
Issue some of the more common TSO commands
Describe the attributes of a CLIST and a REXX exec
Explain how a CLIST differs from a REXX exec
Describe the responsibilities of JES
Describe the need for job control language (JCL)
Define the JOB, EXEC, and DD statements
Differentiate between single and multistep jobs
Explain JCL errors, return codes, and ABENDs
Describe the JCL statement format
Code JOB statements and JOB statement parameters
Code EXEC statements to invoke a program and pass PARM parameters to the program
Introduce the DD statement and a few of its parameters
Discuss the COMMENT statement
Create a new data set
Reference an existing uncataloged data set
Reference an existing cataloged data set
Code and discuss the DISP parameter
Use special DD statements
Detect and correct JCL syntax and usage errors
Describe the use of traditional DB/DC applications like CICS, IMS, and DB2 on z/OS
Describe the purpose of the Language Environment
Describe the support provided for object-oriented application development on z/OS
Discuss z/OS security architecture
Describe the components of network security, transaction security, and platform security on z/OS
Explain the differences between authorization and authentication
Identify some firewall technologies within the security server
Describe the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
Describe the purpose and benefit of z/OS Management Facility
Describe the functions provided z/OS Management Facility
List SDSF commands used to display jobs, active users, and tasks
Know how to filter SDSF output based on DEST, PREFIX, OWNER and SYSNAME
Know how to enter JES and MVS commands through SDSF and use ULOG to view commands and their output
Describe the main features of UNIX System Services (USS) in z/OS
Describe briefly the UNIX shell and utilities
Describe the hierarchical file system (HFS)
Describe the application services provided in USS
Describe how to start and manage a process in USS
Describe how security is handled in USS
Identify the different types of utility programs
Establish the rules for coding utility control statements
Describe the functions of system and data set utility programs
Review the JCL and utility control statements appropriate for:
- IEBGENER
- IEBPTPCH
- IEHLIST
- IDCAMS
Use the DFSMS/dfp Utilities Manual for reference
Discuss the COND parameter and conditional execution of job steps
Examine the record formats supported by z/OS
Compare blocked and unblocked data sets
Discuss system-determined block size
Introduce the SMS-managed data sets
Describe the data set organizations supported by z/OS
Differentiate between PDS and PDSE data sets
Discuss VSAM data set creation through JCL
Describe a procedure
Differentiate between a cataloged procedure and in-stream procedure
Describe procedure modifications through overriding, adding, or nullifying parameters
Use symbolic parameters to modify procedures
Compare the PROC and EXEC statements for supplying symbolic parameters

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