MAINFRAMES

z-OS Overview Concepts and

Architecture
NAGARAJU DOMALA
 Course Topics
• What is a mainframe?
• Evolution of IBM Mainframes
• Understand Mainframe Components
• Types of Processors
• Characteristics of Mainframe Computer
• Mainframe Architecture
• TSO Overview
• ISPF Overview
• What is dataset?
• Allocate sequential and partitioned datasets
• Line Commands, Primary Commands, Edit Profile and Sequence numbers
• Understand the TSO, ISPF environment, practice the dataset allocations

Nagaraju Domala
What is a mainframe?
 A large computer system that is used to host the databases, transaction servers,
and applications that require a great degree of security and availability.
 Early mainframe systems were housed in enormous, room-sized metal boxes or
frames, which is probably how the term mainframe originated.

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What is a Mainframe?
 Centralized control of resources.
 Hardware and operating systems that can share access to disk drives with other
systems, with automatic locking and protection against destructive
simultaneous use of disk data.
 Hardware and operating systems that routinely work with hundreds or
thousands of simultaneous I/O operations.
 Clustering technologies that allow the customer to operate multiple copies of
the operating system as a single system. This configuration, known as Parallel
Sysplex
 Additional data and resource sharing capabilities

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What is a Mainframe?
 Reliability, availability, and serviceability
 Security – Protection against unauthorized use
 Scalability
 Thousands of transactions per second
 Thousands of users and application programs concurrently accessing numerous
resources
 Terabytes of information in databases
 Large-bandwidth communication
 Continuing compatibility – IBM mainframes maintained compatibility for past 4
decades
 Evolving architecture - Business and Technical challenges

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Evolution of IBM Mainframe?
 1964 – System / 360
 1970 – System / 370
 1994 – System / 390
 2000 – z series servers

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Terminology to understand Mainframe Hardware
 Central Processor Complex or CPC - the physical collection of hardware that
includes main storage, one or more central processors, timers and channels
 Processing Units (PUs) - processors within a CPC. When IBM delivers the CPC,
the PUs are characterized as CPs (for normal work), Integrated Facility for
Linux (IFL), Integrated Coupling Facility (ICF) for Parallel Sysplex
configurations, and so forth.
 System - indicates the hardware box, a complete hardware environment (with
I/O devices), or an operating environment (with software), depending on the
context
 Processor – a single processor (CP) within the CPC

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Mainframe Components - Hardware
Laptop Central Processor Complex (CPC)

LPAR1 LPAR2 Real Memory LPAR3…. LPARn

System System
Controller CP1 CP2 CP4 CP5 Controller CP7.. CPn
Channel Subsystem
CH1 CH2 CH3 CH4 CH5 CH6 CH.. CH100 CH.. CHn

Other
Control Unit ESCON FICON
Systems
switches Switches
LAN
Control Unit Control Unit Control Unit Control Unit
HMC

Tape Devices Direct Access Storage Devices (Disks)

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Mainframe Components - Software
Application Programmer End User or Customer
(Emulation Programs) (Emulation Programs)

Interactive Facilities
TSO/ISPF/UNIX CICS/IMS DC Admin Business Applications

Middleware Components
DB2 IMS DB/DC CICS WebSphere XML Processing Functions

z/OS Components
Languages – C, C++, Fortran, PL/1, COBOL, Fortran, Java, REXX, CLIST, Assembler

Base Control Program JES Communications server Channel Sub System

Security Server Cryptography Services IBM HTTP Server DFSMSdfp

Language Environment (LE) UNIX System Services 3270 PC File Transfer

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Types of Processors
 Central Processor (CP) – Used for normal processing by OS.
 System Assistance Processor (SAP) – Assists CP and other processors (special code) to
provide the I/O subsystem.
 Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) – normal processor with one or two instructions
disabled that are used only by z/OS. not counted when specifying the model number.
This can make a substantial difference in software costs.
 zAAP - This is a processor with a number of functions disabled. z/OS use them to
execute Java code. Not counted for model number.
 zIIP - The System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) is a specialized engine for
processing eligible database workloads. The zIIP reinforces the mainframe’s role as the
data hub of the enterprise by helping to make direct access to DB2 more cost effective
and reducing the need for multiple copies of the data.
 Integrated Coupling Facility (ICF) - These processors run only Licensed Internal Code.
They are not visible to normal operating systems or applications. A coupling facility is,
in effect, a large memory scratch pad used by multiple systems to coordinate work.
ICFs must be assigned to LPARs that then become coupling facilities (used in Parallel
Sysplex). 10

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Moderately Large Mainframe Configuration

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TSO Overview
 Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF) and Program Development
Facility (ISPF/PDF)
 Command language – REXX, CLIST
 Line editor
 Interactive compile, debug access
 Batch job submission, retrieval
 Library control

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TSO Overview
 Time Sharing Option/Extensions (TSO/E) allows users to create an interactive
session with the z/OS system.
 TSO provides a single-user logon capability and a basic command prompt
interface to z/OS.
 Logging on to TSO requires a 3270 display device or, more commonly, a TN3270
emulator running on a PC
 Logon - The procedure by which a user begins a terminal session.
 3270 emulation – The use of software that enables a client to emulate an IBM
3270 display station or printer, and to use the functions of a host system.

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ISPF Overview
 ISPF Primary Option Menu
 More ISPF options displayed
 Keyboard mapping
 PF1-HELP and the ISPF tutorial
 Using the PA1 key
 Customizing your ISPF settings

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What is dataset?
 z/OS files are called data sets.
 z/OS uses record-oriented file system.
 Record- A group of related data, words, or fields treated as a unit.
 terms used when allocating a data set.
 Volume serial
 Device type
 Organization
 Record format
 Record length
 Block size
 Extent
 Space

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Working with Datasets
 Dataset is a collection of logically related data records, such as a library of
macros or a source program
Types of data sets:
 Sequential – Also known as Physical Sequential (DSORG = PS)
 Partitioned – Also referred to as Library (DSORG = PO)
 PDS – Partitioned Data Set
 PDSE – Partitioned Data Set Extended
 VSAM – Virtual Storage Access Method
 ESDS – Entry Sequenced Data Set
 KSDS – Key Sequenced Data Set
 RRDS – Relative Record Data Set
 LDS – Linear Data Set

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Type : numeric alphabetic alphanumeric
numeric(real)
Size : min and max
3digits to 7 digits
Format : 5int 2 dec

Date : format : mm/dd/yyy dd/mm/yyyy

Two types : Sequential ds
Rando/direct ds
Gama09.dxc.nag.cobol.sourcr : 44 chr length

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Sequential Dataset
Record-1
Record-2
Record-3
...
...
...
...
Record-n
Spare Space

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Partitioned Dataset

First Member

First Loc.

Second Member
Second Loc.

Third Loc.
Third Member
Directory

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More about Datasets
 How to allocate them
 TSO ALLOCATE, ISPF Menus, Using JCL

 Naming the datasets

 Segments or qualifiers, HLQs

 Allocating space on DASD volumes through JCL

 Logical records and blocks
 Data set extents

 Data set record formats

 Fixed
 Fixed Block
 Variable
 Variable Block
 Undefined 20

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DASD
 Identified by a VOLUME LABEL or VOLUME SERIAL
 Eg: TS0001 , TECHM12 etc.
 Organized into TRACKS and CYLINDERS
 TRACKS are the concentric circles on the disk surface containing BLOCKS of
data. It can also be defined as the amount of data which a read/write head
can access without being repositioned as the disk spins beneath it
 CYLINDERS consist of all the tracks aligned in parallel that can be accessed
without moving the actuator. It can also be defined as the amount of data
accessible with one position of access mechanism using all the read/write
heads
 The outermost Cylinder is Cylinder 0
 Space on the DASD is allocated in Contiguous chunks called EXTENTS

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VTOC
 VTOC is the directory of the contents of a Volume used by I/O subsystems to
access datasets.
 Is created while initializing the volume
 Present at a specific location on every DASD volume
 All the datasets in the volume have an entry in VTOC
 VSAM datasets have entries for Data and index components only
 Every PDS has only one entry
 VTOC does not permit duplicate dataset names
 Each dataset has a label called DSCB (Dataset Control Block) which contains
dataset details like name, characteristics and space information.

 A catalog describes data set attributes and indicates the volumes on which a
data set is located.
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What is z-OS
 z/OS is the most widely used Operating System on IBM Mainframe.
 z/OS is designed based on z/Architecture (64bit processing) introduced in Oct
2000.
 z/OS is compatible with earlier versions of Mainframe Operating Systems (at
the core of z/OS is MVS – Multiple Virtual Storage, the OS on prior IBM
mainframe systems).

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z-Series – other operating systems
 In addition to z/OS there 4 other z series operating systems that are commonly
in use.

 z/VM
 z/TPF
 z/VSE
 Linux for z Series

 Like z/OS these 4 OS are also built based on their predecessors (developed for
various purposes) and are designed to use z Series Architecture

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z-Series – other operating systems –z/VM
 z/VM (z/Virtual Machine)
 has two basic components: a control program (CP) and Conversational Monitor
System or CMS.
 z/VM is a hypervisor because it runs other operating systems in the virtual
machines it creates
 The control program artificially creates multiple virtual machines from the real
hardware resources.
 CMS runs in a virtual machine and provides both an interactive end user
interface and the general z/VM application programming interface

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z-Series – Operating Systems –z/TPF
 z/TPF (z/Transaction Processing Facility)
 z/TPF operating system is a special-purpose system that is used by companies
with very high transaction volume, such as credit card systems and airline
reservation systems. z/TPF was once known as Airline Control Program
 z/TPF can use multiple mainframes in a loosely-coupled environment to
routinely handle tens of thousands of transactions per second, while
experiencing uninterrupted availability that is measured in years

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z-Series – Operating Systems –z/VSE and Linux
 z/VSE (z/Virtual Storage Extended)
 the z/VSE operating system provides a smaller, less complex base for batch
processing and transaction processing. The design and management structure
of z/VSE is excellent for running routine production workloads consisting of
multiple batch jobs (running in parallel) and extensive, traditional transaction
processing.
 z/VSE is based on the DOS (Disk Operating System) which was originally
developed as a temporary alternative to OS/360
 Linux for zSeries
 Linux on zSeries is used to refer to Linux running on an S/390 or zSeries system

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Multiprogramming and Multiprocessing
 z/OS is capable of multiprogramming, or executing many programs
concurrently. With multiprogramming, when a job cannot use the processor,
the system can suspend, or interrupt, the job, freeing the processor to work on
another job.
 z/OS can also perform multiprocessing, which is the simultaneous operation of
two or more processors that share the various hardware resources, such as
memory and external disk storage devices. The techniques of
multiprogramming and multiprocessing make z/OS ideally suited for processing
workloads that require many input/output (I/O) operations.

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Address Space
 An Address Space is the complete range of memory addresses available to a
program.
 An Address Space can be seen as the amount of memory locations that the
processor can physically address i.e.., location 1, location 2 .. Location n etc..
This is limited by the number of bits used for addressing.
 In a 64 bit operating system an address space can range up to 16 exabytes
(18,446,744,073,709,600,000 bytes)
 Under z/OS each program (including user sessions) operate in its own address
space, and huge number of programs can be run simultaneously.
 However, "Real Storage" available to the system is limited. Hence the concept
of "Virtual Storage" is developed, wherein Auxiliary Storage is used to mimic
the "Real Storage"

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Virtual Storage
Page Address Space1 Address Space3
Frames

Real
Storage

Page Slot

Page
Data
Set
DASD

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Active pages
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Swapping and Paging
CPU1 CPU2
Swap Data Sets
Swapping refers to moving
entire address spaces from
real storage to auxiliary Address Address Address Space 1
storage. Inactive address Space 3 Space 5 Swapped out
spaces are swapped out Swapped Swapped
In In
Address Space 2
Real Storage Swapped out

Paging refers to moving Address Space 4

pages of programs from Page Data Sets Swapped out
real storage to auxiliary
storage. Active pages of Address Address
address space are in real Space 3 Space 5 Address Space 6
storage. Inactive pages Swapped Swapped Swapped out
are on auxiliary storage In In

Auxiliary Storage 31

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