Storage management administration & exploitation

This course describes and explains how to implement and exploit the features provided by the z/OS storage environment, and covers SMS in particular. It examines both hardware and software features and explains how to fully exploit them. The course will gives attendees a detailed knowledge of how best to design and test the SMS Constructs and ACS routines. It provides a basis for evaluating standards and for establishing an optimised System Managed Storage (SMS) environment. The course also explains key components such as catalogs, VTOCs and I/O definitions. There are a number of online practical sessions during the course which, among other things, teach how to write optimised ACS routines.

On successful completion of this course attendees will be able to:

  • explain IBM's storage management concept as implemented through SMS
  • exploit the hardware features utilised by SMS
  • define I/O devices and get them recognised by z/OS
  • define VTOCs and VTOCIXs
  • administer ICF Catalogs
  • define and maintain data classes, storage classes, management classes and storage groups
  • write and maintain optimised ACS routines
  • audit and optimise the SMS environment
  • describe the functions of HSM.

Schedule

datedur.lang.locationprice 
03 Jun4Eweb based 2395 EUR (excl. VAT)
02 Sep4Eweb based 2395 EUR (excl. VAT)
SESSION INFO AND ENROLMENT

Intended for

This course is primarily designed for those responsible for the z/OS Data Storage environment. It is primarily designed for Storage Administrators but is also suitable for technical support and senior operations personnel.

Background

A general knowledge of MVS concepts (see MVS and z/OS overview), the ability to use TSO (see ISPF/PDF basics) and familiarity with JCL and Utility programs (see JCL).

Main topics

  • Storage Management Overview

What is storage management?; Space management roles; DFSMS products; DFSMS Optimizer; NaviQuest feature; advantages of an SMS environment; availability management; performance management.

  • Data Storage Hardware

Direct Access Storage Devices; Count Extended Count Key Data (ECKD); I/O operations on disks; DASD performance reporting; caching concepts; Read Hit; Write commands; Write Hit; Read Miss; Write Miss; cache modes; Record Level caching; Peer to Peer Remote Copy (PPRC); Extended Remote Copy (XRC); EMC's SRDF remote copy options; HDS' remote copy options; Concurrent Copy; Extended Format Data Sets; Sequential Data Striping support; RAID technology; Serial Storage Architecture; IBM's Flashcopy; EMC's Timefinder; tape devices; IBM's Virtual Tape Server; StorageTek's Virtual Storage Manager.

  • Introduction to HCD

I/O configuration principles; I/O configuration practicalities; I/O configuration addressing; HCD definition process; Objects Managed by HCD; Load member; IODF processing at IPL; HCD Primary Option menu; Creating a new work IODF; Sizing the work IODF; Defining the new configuration menu; Pull-down menu action bar; Goto pull down menu; Filter pull down menu; Backup pull down menu; Query pull down menu; Help pull down menu; Context menus; PF keys; Keyboard navigation.

  • Catalogs & VTOCs

Catalog overview; Catalog search order; Catalog environment ; Multi-level aliases; Catalog address space; VTOC and IXVTOC; ICF environment review.

  • Auditing SMS

Working with users; identify general requirements; how to gather user data; Negotiate service levels with users; Space requirements; Meeting space requirements; Other space issues; Availability issues; Recovery; Backup/Recovery; Other service level issues; Monitor service levels; DCOLLECT; Running DCOLLECT; DCOLLECT output records; Managing data sets; PDSE processing; PDSE load libraries; Access Methods enhancements; VSAM Record Level Sharing; VSAM greater than 4 GB; What is Pooling?; Why pooling?; How many pools?; Positioning for SMS - review questions.

  • DFSMS Constructs

Service levels for data; SCDS Base Definition Panel; Data Class; defining a Data Class; defining Data Class Attributes; data set compression; data set compression information; Data Class control; Data Class implementation; JCL keywords; JCL changes; Generation Data Sets; new JCL requirements; non-VSAM Data Classes; VSAM Data Classes; Management Class; Management Class characteristics; defining Management Class Introduction Menu; defining Management Class Panel; Storage Class; Storage Class characteristics; cache attribute determination (simplified); Storage Class application selection; Storage Class define; Storage Class maintenance; Storage Groups; Storage Group major activities; isolate non-SMS data: defining a Storage Group; defining VIO Storage Group attributes; defining Pool Storage Group attributes; Storage Group rules; Device selection; Defining a Copy Pool.

  • Writing ACS Routines

ACS routines - what are they?; Automatic Class Selection - how many?; an ACS example; ACS routine rules; ACS mask rules; ACS Read/Write variables; ACS Read-only variables; ACS special purpose variables; other ACS variables; OAM & tape ACS variables; ACS operations; ACS statements ( PROC, END, SET, FILTLIST); ACS statements (SELECT, END); coding ACS routines; ACS application selection; ACS translation panel; ACS validation panel; testing ACS routines; defining test cases; ACS coding tips; ACS exit routines; ACS exit steps; programming ACS exits; ACS exit parameter structure; actions in ACS exits; ACS routines - hands-on exercises.

  • DFSMS Set-up & Control

Control Data Sets; sizing SMS Control Data Sets; defining Control Data Sets; Control Data Set application selection; SCDS base definition panel; IGDSMSxx; IEFSSNxx; activating SMS; SETSMS command; SMS-related commands; displaying SMS information; displaying Storage Group information; displaying SMS volume information; displaying device information; Start/Restart SMS address space; recovering ACDS; recovering COMMDS; enhanced ISMF.

  • HSM functional overview

HSM as part of SMS; Key commands; Migration types; Defining ML1 volumes; Small data set packing; Secondary migration; Controlling migration from ML0; Interval Migration; Command migration; Recalling data sets; Recall process; Backup flow; Backup control; Command backup - volume; BACKVOL examples; Backup command; Controlling command backup - SETSYS DSBACKUP; Controlling command backup - ML1 overflow; Command backup - data set.

Training method

Lecturing with extensive hands-on practical sessions including real-life recovery scenarios.

Duration

4 days.

Course leader

RSM Technology.


SESSION INFO AND ENROLMENT