IBM System z Parallel Sysplex Operations

This course is designed so that students can learn how z/OS systems operate in a Parallel Sysplex environment through discussion topics and hands-on lab exercises.

Students learn problem determination skills, practice enhanced sysplex operations, including management of the coupling facility (CF), and use recovery capabilities provided by the System z servers.

The course consists of six units and 12 hands-on lab exercises.

You should have an understanding of:

• Basic data processing and I/O concepts and terminology
• z/OS console operation, including display of device, job, and console status

• Identify the difference between a base and a Parallel Sysplex
• Describe the hardware components of a Parallel Sysplex
• Describe the software components of a Parallel Sysplex
• List sysplex couple data sets and define their purpose
• Identify and describe sysplex commands to display signaling and couple data set usage
• Identify all coupling facility links, speeds, and connectivity options for System z servers
• List the various structure types and how they are used
• Identify potential users of a CF
• Describe the CFRM policy and required parameters within the policy
• Describe how the CF is used to enable resource and data sharing
• Use commands to display and change the operational status of a CF
• Use the various z/OS commands to determine the current status of sysplex members
• Remove a system from the sysplex
• Describe structure and connector attributes
• Use z/OS commands to resolve a problem structure status
• Use z/OS commands to remove, add sysplex primary or alternate couple data sets, and modify CDS settings
• Describe procedures for moving off a coupling facility for maintenance or other reasons
• Describe the operator options to relocate structures between CFs
• Use z/OS, JES2 commands, and CFRM polices, if required, to remove structures, CF links, and CFs
• Describe and identify various sysplex CF configurations, including high-availability CF configurations
• Describe the types of failures and recoveries that can be automated with SFM
• Start and stop SFM policies and identify SFM actions for each system
• Identify new SFM support at z/OS 1.8 and z/OS 1.9
• Determine the status and parameters of any sysplex console
• Use z/OS commands to display console attributes, change console attributes, and route messages to any sysplex member
• Describe the use and purpose of console switching groups
• Identify console updates that apply to z/OS 1.8 and z/OS 1.10
• Define why time synchronization is required in a sysplex
• Describe time synchronization options in a sysplex
• Describe Sysplex Timer (9037) configurations
• Define server time protocol terminology and configurations:
• Mixed Coordinated Timing Network
• STP-only Coordinated Timing Network
• Identify three major phases of the IPL process
• Describe what happens during each phase of the IPL process
• Identify and resolve IPL-related problems
• Perform a successful IPL of the z/OS system

The audience includes operations personnel and technical staff who are directly involved in the installation, operation, systems support, and software support of their Parallel Sysplex environment.

Day 1

• (00:30) Welcome
• (02:30) Unit 1: Sysplex overview
• (01:00) Unit 2: Coupling Facility
• (03:00) Supporting labs

Day 2

• (00:30) Review
• (03:00) Unit 3: Sysplex operation and recovery
• (03:30) Supporting labs

Day 3

• (02:30) Review and labs
• (01:00) Unit 4: Sysplex Failure Manager and console operations
• (01:00) Unit 5: Sysplex timer and Sever Time Protocol operation
• (00:45) Unit 6: z/OS IPL flow
• (02:00) Supporting labs