z/OS System Services Structure from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

This unit sets the stage for the remainder of the course. The major functions of a z/OS system are reviewed, with emphasis on the relationships between components. The use of control blocks in an z/OS system is introduced, and basic IBM z System instruction execution and interrupt handling are described.

Operating environment initialization

This unit presents what occurs during the initialization of the base control program of z/OS. It also discusses what control the system programmer has over customization of the Initial Program Load (IPL) process and what control the operator has over the IPL process.

Task Management

z/OS BCP provides task management and supervisor services in order to enable the sharing of system resources and maximize the work that is processed in a given time. A solid understanding of these services is necessary to perform many system programmer activities. Examples include identifying bottlenecks, and determining status when a wait state or failure occurs.

Addressability

z/OS and IBM z System provide the architectural foundation that allows greater flexibility and more design options in the development of application programs with needs that extend beyond the boundaries of a single address space.This unit examines the hardware and software facilities that enable a program to interact with other programs executing in other address spaces and use data in data spaces.

Input/Output Supervisor

One of the primary functions of any computing system is the processing of data. Much of the data that is processed exists external to processor storage; that is, it might be out on a tape or DASD volume or it might be entered from a terminal. The handling of data requires the services of both software and hardware (channel subsystem and the devices attached to it).Understanding the roles of software and hardware in handling I/O requests is necessary for determining how to configure the hardware, how to tune the I/O configuration, and in analyzing I/O-related problems.

Storage Management

One of the major resources available to the users of an z/OS system is storage. Programs executing in the system, whether user applications or z/OS system routines, are vying for storage. Each of the areas of storage, however, is a limited resource, and use and availability must be managed to maintain program integrity. This managing of storage in z/OS is handled by three storage managers, virtual, real, and auxiliary. In this unit, we will gain an understanding to how each of the areas of storage is assigned, used, and managed is necessary for determining how much storage is required for your installation. This is also required for tuning your system to make the most efficient use of storage, and for analyzing storage-related failures.

Recovery termination manager

The resolution of errors often requires the analysis of information produced at the time of the failure. The responsibility of the recovery termination manager (RTM) is to gather the failure indications, interface with system and application error recovery routines, and to generate the failure documentation. Understanding the function of the recovery termination manager and recovery routines is helpful for analyzing the failure documentation and for determining how to tune the system for the control of the documentation produced.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

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Covers fundamentals critical for core mainframe system administrators

Taught by industry experts Jeff Bisti

Examines the structure and control blocks of z/OS BCP and system services

Covers key concepts such as task management, addressability, and input/output supervisor

Provides a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of the z/OS system

May require prior knowledge of mainframe systems and concepts

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in z/OS System Services Structure with these activities:

Review the basics of computer architecture

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Reviewing the basics of computer architecture will help you to better understand the underlying hardware and software components of the z/OS system and how they work together.

Browse courses on Computer Architecture

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Read a book or article about computer architecture
Watch a video lecture on computer architecture
Take a practice quiz on computer architecture

Join a study group to discuss z/OS BCP and system services

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Joining a study group will provide you with an opportunity to discuss z/OS BCP and system services with other students, which can help you to better understand the material and identify areas where you need additional support.

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Find a study group that meets your needs
Attend study group meetings regularly
Participate in discussions and ask questions

Practice identifying control blocks using z/OS system macros

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Practicing identifying control blocks using z/OS system macros will strengthen your understanding of the structure and control blocks of the z/OS BCP and system services.

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Install an z/OS simulator on your computer
Use the z/OS simulator to practice issuing system macros
Identify the control blocks that are returned by the system macros

One other activity

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Contribute to an open-source project related to z/OS

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Contributing to an open-source project related to z/OS will give you hands-on experience with the z/OS system and help you to learn how to work with others to develop and maintain software.

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Find an open-source project related to z/OS
Contact the project maintainers to learn how you can contribute
Make a contribution to the project

Career center

Learners who complete z/OS System Services Structure will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Systems Programmer

A Systems Programmer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing computer operating systems and system software. The z/OS System Services Structure course is highly relevant to a career as a Systems Programmer, providing in-depth knowledge of the internal workings of z/OS, including its structure, control blocks, and system services. This understanding is essential for effectively managing, troubleshooting, and enhancing z/OS systems.

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Mainframe Operator

A Mainframe Operator is responsible for operating and maintaining IBM mainframe computers. The z/OS System Services Structure course is highly relevant to a career as a Mainframe Operator, providing in-depth knowledge of the internal workings of z/OS, including its operation, control, and maintenance. This understanding is essential for effectively managing and troubleshooting z/OS systems.

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Performance Analyst

A Performance Analyst is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing the performance of computer systems and applications. The z/OS System Services Structure course can be useful for someone looking for a career as a Performance Analyst because the course provides a deep understanding of the performance monitoring and tuning capabilities of z/OS, enabling them to effectively identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.

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Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst is responsible for analyzing, designing, and implementing computer systems and applications. The z/OS System Services Structure course can be useful for someone looking for a career as a Systems Analyst because the course provides a comprehensive understanding of the architecture and functionality of z/OS, enabling them to effectively design, develop, and maintain complex systems.

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Storage Administrator

A Storage Administrator is responsible for managing, monitoring, and optimizing storage systems such as SANs and NASs. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Storage Administrator because the course provides a deep understanding of the storage management capabilities of z/OS, enabling them to effectively configure, troubleshoot, and manage storage systems.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from security threats such as hacking and malware. The z/OS System Services Structure course can be useful for someone looking for a career as an Information Security Analyst because the course provides a solid understanding of the security features and mechanisms of z/OS, enabling them to effectively monitor, respond to, and prevent security incidents.

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Computer Hardware Engineer

A Computer Hardware Engineer is responsible for designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting computer hardware such as processors, memory, and circuit boards. The z/OS System Services Structure course can be useful for someone looking for a career as a Computer Hardware Engineer because the course provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and control blocks of z/OS, enabling them to understand the architecture and operation of computer systems.

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Technical Support Specialist

A Technical Support Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to users of computer systems and applications. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Technical Support Specialist because the course provides a deep understanding of the internal workings of z/OS, enabling them to effectively troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator is responsible for the maintenance, configuration, and performance of database systems. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Database Administrator because the course provides a deep understanding of the underlying structure and functionality of z/OS, enabling them to effectively manage and troubleshoot database systems.

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Virtualization Administrator

A Virtualization Administrator is responsible for the implementation, management, and optimization of virtualization technologies such as VMware and Hyper-V. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Virtualization Administrator because the course provides a deep understanding of the underlying virtualization capabilities of z/OS, enabling them to effectively configure, manage, and troubleshoot virtualized environments.

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Network Administrator

A Network Administrator is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of computer networks. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Network Administrator because the course provides a deep understanding of the networking capabilities of z/OS, enabling them to effectively configure, troubleshoot, and optimize network performance.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to extract meaningful insights and develop predictive models. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Data Scientist because the course provides a deep understanding of the data management capabilities of z/OS, enabling them to effectively access, process, and analyze large volumes of data.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Software Engineer because the course provides a deep understanding of the operating system and system services of z/OS, which can be utilized to enhance the performance, reliability, and security of software applications.

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IT Project Manager

An IT Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and managing IT projects. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as an IT Project Manager because the course provides a deep understanding of the complexities of z/OS systems, enabling them to effectively manage and coordinate IT projects involving z/OS.

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Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud computing solutions. The z/OS System Services Structure course may be useful for someone looking for a career as a Cloud Architect because the course provides a deep understanding of the underlying infrastructure and services of z/OS, enabling them to effectively design, implement, and manage cloud solutions.

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