This four-day course is a complete introduction to the use of SMP/E for installing new software and applying changes to existing software (PTFs, APARs etc.) for the z/OS environment. All the important aspects of using SMP/E are covered, including a detailed explanation of what happens 'under the covers'.

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

• explain what SMP/E is and how it works and describe the SMP/E installation process
• install products & service (PTFs & APARs) in a z/OS environment (including related products such as CICS, Db2 etc.)
• identify and correct common SMP/E installation problems
• understand the major configuration and control options available in SMP/E
• discuss the various product and service delivery options available from IBM (including ServerPac, CBPDO, ESO and RSU)
• interpret the output produced during SMP/E processing
• resolve maintenance conflicts using appropriate SMP/E reports
• correctly handle missing prerequisite, requisite, and conditional requisite conditions
• resolve error holds using both automatic and manual procedures
• correctly install products and service in a cross-zone environment

Schedule

Intended for

Individuals with JCL knowledge who are responsible for installing and maintaining software utilising SMP/E.

Systems Programmers responsible for using SMP/E to install products and service in the z/OS environment.

Background

Attendees must be able to use TSO/ISPF (see ISPF/PDF basics), write JCL and run batch jobs (see JCL), as well as having a clear understanding of the z/OS environment (see MVS and z/OS overview).

Main topics

• Introduction

SMP/E elements; how products are packaged; system modifications; the SMP/E database; sysmod: receiving, applying, accepting, restoring; System Generation; CSI; CSI configuration options; invoking SMP/E.

• Receive processing

The Receive process; Modification Control Statements; MCS: header statement functions, software environment statement; the Global Zone definition entry; GZONE entry example; Global Zone options entry; options entry example; Global Zone utility entry; Utility entry example; SMP/E allocation; Global Zone DDDEF entry; DDDEF entry example; review of Global Zone entries; creating Global Zone entries – UCLIN; relative file packaged tapes; receive processing; Global Zone sysmod entry example; Exception sysmods; held sysmod entry example; Holddata example; the RECEIVE command; Sysmod entry with SOURCEID example; REPORT SOURCEID output examples; SMP/E dialogs primary option menu & query selection menus.

• Apply processing

Product function & installation methods; Target Zone definition entry; TZONE entry example; Target Zone DDDEF entry; Target Zone DDDEF entry example; Target Zone DDDEF PATH entry; Target Zone DDDEF PATH entry example; MAC, SRC, and MOD element MCS; Data Element MCS; Program Element MCS; identifying the target system structure; how JCLIN processing works; JCLIN processing example; JCLIN report example; JCLIN: MAC and ASSEM entries, MOD and LMOD entries, DLIB entries; Invoking JCLIN; the save control dataset; determining target libraries; apply processing; concatenating macro libraries for assemblies; SYSLIB DDDEF example; the APPLY command; Target Zone SYSMOD entry example; element service level; Target Zone MAC and SRC element entries; Target Zone MOD and DATA element entries; base and dependent functions revisited; replacing an existing product; Sysmod installation via the SMP/E dialogs; SMP/E dialogs: sysmod management options.

• Accept processing

Function installation methods; Distribution Zone definition entry; DZONE entry example; Distribution Zone DDDEF entries; Distribution Zone DDDEF entry example; Accept processing; concatenating macro libraries for assemblies; the ACCEPT command; Distribution Zone SYSMOD entry example; Distribution Zone MAC and SRC element entries; Distribution Zone MOD and DATA element entries; Sysmod installation via the SMP/E dialogs; SMP/E dialogs – sysmod management options.

• Product maintenance

Product maintenance (service); product maintenance sysmods; product maintenance sysmod naming convention; product maintenance ++VER statement; updating MAC and SRC elements; updating MOD (and LMOD) elements; Sysmod relationships; the prerequisite relationship; the requisite relationship; the supersede relationship; the negative prerequisite relationship; TZONE sysmod entries; related APPLY command parameters; element service level; tracking the service level of an element; element entries; exception sysmods; resolving error holds; resolving system holds; the RELEASE MCS statement; maintenance exposure; the REPORT ERROR SYSMODS command; Sysmod regression; Sysmod construction rules; managing regression; restore processing; concatenating macro libraries for assemblies; the RESTORE command; Sysmod relationships and restore; Reject processing; the REJECT command; service delivery mechanisms used by IBM; the Recommended Service Upgrade.

• Additional SMP/E features

The conditional requisite relationship; the REPORT CROSSZONE command; cross product 'borrowing'; cross zone 'borrowing'; callable services support; processing SYSLIB in JCLIN; CALLIBS in LMOD element entries; installing LMODs that use CALLIBS; the zone management commands; installing SYSGEN and SMP/E products; the GENERATE command; the CLEANUP command; descriptive MCS statements; product and feature entries.

• Installing products and service

Reporting problems to the vendor; preparing for installation; installing maintenance; product delivery mechanisms used by IBM.

Training method

The course contains valuable and extensive hands-on exercises that demonstrate all the major aspects of using SMP/E to install products and apply maintenance.

Duration

4 days.

Course leader

RSM Technology.