Mainframe Open Education Project
  • Welcome: Learn & Contribute to MOE
    • MOE Vision, Mission and Content Phases
    • Who Can Contribute?
    • Contributor Log In
    • Earn A Contributor Badge
    • MOE Management System
    • MOE Events
    • Project Support
    • Legal Disclaimer, Copyright and License
    • Code of Conduct
    • Project Governance
    • Why MOE
  • Introduction: What is Enterprise Computing?
  • Chapter 1: What is a Mainframe Today?
    • Role of the Mainframe Today
      • Mainframe and the Cloud
      • Enterprise Computing
      • Hybrid Cloud
    • Who Uses the Mainframe and Why
    • Mainframe versus Server
    • Mainframe Basic Architecture & Components
    • How the Mainframe Works
    • Mainframe Security Myths
    • Mainframe Evolution
    • Mainframe Modernization
    • Video: ITs Best Kept Secret
    • Get Ready: Talk Like a Mainframer
    • Looking Back: The First 50 Years of Mainframe
  • Chapter 2: Foundational Technology
    • Brief Introduction to z/OS
    • TSO/E, ISPF, and UNIX System Services (USS): Interactive facilities of z/OS
    • Data Sets and How They Work
    • Job Control Language and System Display and Search Facility
      • Understanding the JCL(Job Control Language)
        • Understanding the JOB Statement
        • Understanding the EXEC Statement
        • Understanding the DD Statement
        • Creating a Physical Sequential (PS)
        • Understanding Libraries in JCL
        • Understanding Instream Procedures, Cataloged Procedures, and Symbolic Parameters in JCL
      • Utilities
        • IEBCOMPR
        • IEBGENER
          • Copying Between Sequential Datasets and PDS Members Using IEBGENER
          • Generate PDS member while copying
          • Copying a UNIX File to a PS File
        • IEBCOPY
          • IEBCOPY selective copy using select statements
          • IEBCOPY Exclude members while copying
          • IEBCOPY renaming member while copying
      • GDG
        • GDG parameters
        • GDG base
        • GDG Generation
          • Referencing GDG Generations Using Relative Numbers
        • Alter and Delete GDG
    • Enterprise Software Development and Implementation
    • Programming languages for Mainframe
    • Modern Application Management
    • Video: System Overview
    • Video: MVS Using Dynamic Allocations
    • Article: Red Hat OpenShift 4.7 on IBM Z Is a Game Changer for Container Orchestration and Managemen
    • IBM z16
  • Chapter 3: Roles in Mainframe
    • Roles and Categories
      • Category Definitions
  • Chapter 4: Deeper Dive in Role Chosen
    • IT Operations and System Support and Services
    • IT Business/Software Product Application Development and Support
    • IT Software Engineers
    • IT Architects
  • Chapter 5: Career Path Opportunities
    • Learning Programs
    • Job Opportunities
    • Career Event Calendar
    • Open to Hire
  • Mainframe Events and Conferences 2024
  • My Mainframe Journey: From Student to Professional
  • Backlog on Topics
  • Additional Community Resources
    • Communities
    • Courses, Tutorials, Manuals
    • Education Programs
    • IBM Mainframe Timeshare Services
  • Digital Certificate Badges
    • z/OS Mainframe Practitioner
  • Reviewer List
  • Modern Mainframe
    • What is a modern mainframe environment?
    • z/OSMF
      • What is z/OSMF?
      • Why it is important in a mainframe shop
      • z/OSMF Learning Materials
    • Zowe
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  1. Chapter 1: What is a Mainframe Today?

Get Ready: Talk Like a Mainframer

An introductory overview of more than 30 key terms used in mainframe management.

PreviousVideo: ITs Best Kept SecretNextLooking Back: The First 50 Years of Mainframe

Last updated 1 year ago

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Ready to embark on the journey of becoming a mainframer? Fantastic! To kickstart your exploration, let's begin by unraveling the language of the mainframe world.

In the video below, titled "Talk Like a Mainframer," we'll guide you through 33 popular terms that seasoned mainframers use in their daily discourse. Whether you're a budding enthusiast or a seasoned pro, understanding this unique lexicon is key to navigating the intricate landscape of mainframe technology.

For your reference, here are the terms mentioned in the video above:

  1. z/OS: A widely used operating system for IBM mainframe computers that uses 64-bit central storage. A descendant of the IBM 360, 370 XA, and 390 ESA MVS which were 24 and 32-bit operating systems.

  2. Abend: Term for abnormal ends associated with a job or task. Not a crisis; return codes or reason codes aid troubleshooting.

  3. Syslog (System Log): Contains dumps and messages on consoles.

  4. Job Log: Provides information before and after an abnormal end, aiding analysis.

  5. ACK: acknowledgment field. Shorthand confirmation is commonly used in developer conversations.

  6. APARs (Authorized program analysis reports): Identifies bugs and progresses through temporary fixes to the final Program Temporary Fix (PTF).

  7. Batch Jobs: Automated tasks, often scheduled during low-usage times for activities like report generation.

  8. BCP (Base Control Program): Core of z/OS, residing in the central electronic complex, aka the "Box" or "Keck."

  9. CICS (Customer Information Control System). Middleware subsystem optimizing high transaction volumes.

  10. CEC (Central Electronic Complex): Houses core mainframe hardware components, often referred to as the "Keck" or "Box."

  11. Sysprogs: A systems programmer. Manage the mainframe, handling tasks like installing products, dealing with JCL, and ensuring smooth operations.

  12. Concurrent Upgrades: Allow dynamic updates without rebooting.

  13. Coupling Facility: Ensures data consistency across parallel systems.

  14. IMS (Information Management System): Legacy subsystem.

  15. ESM (External Security Manager): Handles security for products, including ACF2, Top Secret, and RACF.

  16. Fiber Channel: Communication channel.

  17. OSA (Open Systems Adapter): a Network Interface Card (NIC)

  18. GDPS (Global Data Processing Services): High-end solution for disaster recovery.

  19. Parallel Sysflex: Facilitates parallel systems, often referred to as a "Plex."

  20. HMC (Hardware Management Console): Desktop gateway to the mainframe.

  21. ISPF (Interactive System Productivity Facility): Provides a terminal interface for system management.

  22. JCL (Job Control Language): Simplifies job creation.

  23. LPARs (Logical Partitions): Allow logical segmentation of a single mainframe into multiple systems.

  24. LIC (Licensed Internal Code): Mainframe firmware.

  25. MSUs (Millions of Service Units): Measure processing capacity.

  26. MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second): Measure processing capacity.

  27. PAX Files: Essential for installing products.

  28. SMP (System Modification Program): Controls changes to the operating system.

  29. SMF Records: Record types, particularly "Type 89" for SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool).

  30. SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool): Crucial for usage reporting.

  31. Type 89 Record: Part of SMF Records, specifically for SCRT.

  32. z/VM: z Virtual Machine used to run other z/VMs or operating systems.

  33. SAF (Security Access Facility): Standard universal security API in z/Systems to enable security calls to the ESM access control products.

  34. RACROUTE: Standard security program instruction used to invoke the SAF API security calls to the ESM(s).

Glossary of z/OS terms and abbreviations
z/OS dictionary
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