Technologies / Infrastructure

z/OS VSAM and Access Method Services

Master the management of VSAM and non-VSAM datasets using IDCAMS. Learn to code and use Access Method Services functions, including DEFINE, REPRO, ALTER and LISTCAT commands.

Issues

Understand the structure and use of VSAM datasets or clusters
Coding IDCAMS command to define and load VSAM clusters
Coding IDCAMS command to define and load alternative indexes
Coding IDCAMS command to view, change and delete directory entries
Coding IDCAMS command to print data sets
Calculating direct-access storage device (DASD) space requirements for VSAM clusters
Job Control Language (JCL) coding for IDCAMS and VSAM cluster processing programs
Using IDCAMS and JCL options to improve VSAM task performance
Reorganizing, backing up and recovering VSAM and non-VSAM data sets
Interpreting the IDCAMS list of the Integrated Catalog Facility (ICF).
Selecting and using the right documentation to use VSAM and IDCAMS

Who is this training for?

This is an intermediate course designed for those managing datasets using IDCAMS and VSAM

Prerequisites

z/OS Facilities (ES15)
z/OS Job Control Language and Utilities (ES07) or
Fundamental System Skills in z/OS (ES10)
or have equivalent experience

Training program

Explain the function of control intervals (CI) and control areas (CA)
Describing the purpose of CI and CA divisions and how they are implemented
Estimating DASD space requirements for different cluster types
ICF Directories
Discuss the use of the ICF directory
Describing the structure, purpose and basic content of the root directory
Describing how to locate the root directory during initial program loading (IPL)
Discuss the structure, purpose and basic content of user directories
Creation of ICF catalogs
Describing the directory search
Discuss and create two types of aliases
IDCAMS Commands, Part 1
Overview of the IDCAMS program
JCL coding to run IDCAMS
Coding the DEFINE CLUSTER command to create specific VSAM data set organizations
Encoding LISTCAT command to format and print directory entries
JCL for VSAM
Explaining the creation and removal of VSAM clusters using JCL and the DFSMS data class object
Describing additional JCL parameters that support VSAM clusters
Discuss the purpose of the data class
Explanation of data class assignment using JCL and automatic class selection (ACS) procedures
IDCAMS commands, part 2
Describing the functions of the REPRO, PRINT and DELETE commands
Using the REPRO command to load and back up a VSAM cluster
Using the PRINT command to print the VSAM cluster in different formats
Using the DELETE command to delete a directory entry for a data set and to remove a data set from a volume
Describe and code modal commands to provide conditional execution of Access Method Services (AMS) instructions
Buffering
Explain the impact of buffer space on performance, both positive and negative
Explain the use of data buffers and indexes in sequential and direct processing
Evaluating the use of JCL Access Method Parameters (AMP) keywords for buffer management
Encoding of buffer keywords in the Dataset Definition (DD) instruction.
VSAM integrity and security
Explanation of how integrity and security are maintained
Discuss the meaning and use of SHAREOPTIONS
Discuss the need for serialization of data set updates
Describing the use of ENQ/DEQ macros to serialize data set updates in multi-region and multi-system environments
Explain the impact of SHAREOPTION caching and modification
Explanation of sharing at the VSAM record level
Using VSAM's integrity and security options: RECOVERY, ERASE, VERIFY and password
Comparison of VSAM passwords with Resource Access Control Facility (RACF) security.
Tuning
Explanation of the use of CI and CA FREESPACE
Discuss the impact of cache on performance
Describing the space allocation process using KEYRANGES and multi-volume data sets
Explanation of the content of Index CI
Explanation of how VSAM key compression works
IDCAMS ALTER
explanation of the basic function of the ALTER command
Coding the ALTER command to modify the processing options of existing VSAM objects
Coding the ALTER command to modify caching, FREESPACE, SHAREOPTIONS and password options
Alternative indexes
Describing the reasons for using an alternative index
Discussion of the basic content of the alternative index
Using PATH to process base cluster records directly and in an alternative key sequence
Define and load the alternative index
Explanation of the impact of SHAREOPTIONS when opening the base cluster and associated alternative indexes
Explanation of programming issues and JCL
Advanced features and expanded format data sets
Explanation of VSAM's advanced features, extended format data sets and their main features
Explanation of data stripping
Explanation of compression
Explanation of the multi-volume allocation option
Explanation of extended addressability
Explanation of system-managed caching
Explanation of partial space release
Explanation of easing space constraints
Reorganization, backup and recovery of data set
describing the need to back up the data set
explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of REPRO
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of EXPORT/IMPORT.
explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of DFSMS Data Set Services (DFSMSdss) DUMP/RESTORE
explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of DFSMS Hierarchical Storage Management (DFSMShsm) HBACKDS/HRECOVER
discussion of backup frequency
determining when reorganization is required
AMS command coding for backup, recovery and reorganization
Linear data sets (LDS)
describing Data-In-Virtual (DIV)
explanation of the structure and application of LDS
Explaining the use of the DIV macro to access the LDS
discussion of LDS candidates
Aids in management and problem analysis
Explanation of the use of the DCOLLECT command to collect management and planning information about the storage subsystem
Discuss the tools used to identify and track VSAM errors
Coding of the AMS EXAMINE command to test the structure of the sequential key data set (KSDS)
Interpreting the output of the EXAMINE command to determine how to recover from a KSDS structural error
Calling the Generalized Trace Facility (GTF) tool to track VSAM events
Calling tools to print GTF trace output
Local and global shared resources
Explanation of techniques for saving virtual storage through shared buffers and control blocks
Discuss the concept of shared resource pools
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of local shared resources (LSRs)
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of global shared resources (GSR)
Describing macros that control the use and allocation of shared resources
Discuss how to determine and monitor the allocation of shared buffers in CICS and the Information Management System (IMS)
CICS VSAM recovery
describing the main functions of CICS VSAM recovery
Explain the concepts of transaction processing, backup and recovery
An explanation of how to implement and manage CICS VSAM recovery
Application coding considerations
Describing VSAM processing terminology
Define the various VSAM processing options
Explanation of merging directory entries, JCL parameters and program definitions that specify processing options
Discussion of VSAM programming support and JCL requirements in the Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL), Programming Language One (PL/I) and Assembler languages
Describing JCL and programming requirements for COBOL, PL/I and Assembler languages

Delivery Methods

Online

Convenience of participating from anywhere
Interactive live sessions with trainer
Materials available for 30 days
No travel costs

On-site

Direct contact with trainer and group
Intensive hands-on workshops
Networking with other participants
Full focus on learning

Frequently asked questions

What are the prerequisites for this training?

For z/OS VSAM and Access Method Services we recommend: z/OS Facilities (ES15); z/OS Job Control Language and Utilities (ES07) or; Fundamental System Skills in z/OS (ES10).

What is the format and duration of this training?

The training lasts 4 days and is available in online and on-site format. Sessions run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We can also customize the schedule to fit your team's needs.

Who is this training designed for?

This training is designed for: This is an intermediate course designed for those managing datasets using IDCAMS and VSAM.