ES82G - IBM Z: Technical Overview of HW and SW Mainframe Evolution

Overview

Duration: 2 days

This course is designed to provide an understanding of today's complex system mainframe environment on the zEnterprise System and System z servers. It is mainly targeted for operators technical support, system programmers, and any others who need to keep current in this mainframe environment. Through lecture and hands-on exercises, you learn how the hardware and operating systems interact.

This course addresses the following topics:

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: zEC12 to z10 comparisons
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

Objectives

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, from zSeries server to the latest zEnterprise EC12
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 zEC12 to z10 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 zEC12 server
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

Audience

The basic class should consist of lead operators, technical support personnel, system programmers, or anyone in the technical field who requires an understanding of how the current hardware and software interact in the large mainframe environment.

Content

Day 1

Introduction and course overview
Unit 1: Mainframe directions and System z servers
Unit 2: Server hardware and I/O configuration (part 1)

Day 2

Review
Unit 2: Server hardware and I/O configuration (part 2)
Unit 3: MVS to z/OS overview and processor concepts
Unit 4: Hardware Management Console basics
Supporting labs:

Exercise 1: Remote access set up
Exercise 2 HMC web browser and UI set up
Exercise 3: HMC familiarization and lab system activation
Exercise 4: Hardware Management Console fundamentals (optional)

Prerequisites

Basic data processing concepts
I/O concepts

Certification

This course is not associated with any Certification.

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