Part One objective is to logon to z/OS and complete a few simple tasks.
'No Experience Necessary'. You will be shown exactly what to do.
For example, if Z##### is in the written instructions or on a screen shot when your ID is Z00001, then replace Z##### with Z00001.
Success is a matter of reading the instructions carefully!
Questions & Password Resets- Contest Question & Answer Slack Channel
- 3 failed password attempts
result in the following messages:
IKJ56425I LOGON REJECTED, RACF TEMPORARILY REVOKING USER ACCESS
IKJ56418I CONTACT YOUR TSO ADMINISTRATOR
We are aware your ID has been revoked.
Wait for 20 minutes, then try to logon again with the initial password you received in an email.
If a password reset is still needed after following instructions:
Send note to zskills@us.ibm.com.
On subject line write "Password Reset" and your unique ID.
- Master the Mainframe Facebook Page
Master the Mainframe instruction page information:
- When the instruction web page is large, then drop downs are visible
- When the instrucion web page is small, then the drop downs may not be visible
- When the instrucion web page is small, then click 'pancakes' to view options
Next: Workstation Preparation
IBM's mainframe has gone through many name changes reflecting advancements in the technology.
The word mainframe captures an impressive history.
The latest IBM mainframe is a z14 with technical DNA from 50+
years of advancements.
- 171 5+ GHz customer usable processors
- 32 TB of memory - Yes that is TeraBytes of processing memory for programs and data
- 1000+ adapters each with dedicated processors and memory for disk and network I/0 traffic
- 5 levels of internal cache - each cache has large memory sizes
- 832 GB/second throughput
- Running thousands of operating systems concurrently without any extra network cables or power supplies
- Network delay between the operating systems is near zero
- Supports 5 unique operating systems, z/OS, z/VM, Linux, z/TPF, z/VSE, and KVM
- Unparalleled security and encryption capability
- A machine made for handling today's massive amount of data and providing real time analytics
Optional:
Hear the story from Connor, a high school student, who decided to buy a near 20 year old
IBM mainframe, moved it to his parents basement, and made it work.
I Just Bought an IBM z890 - Now What?
Connor now works for IBM on IBM Z technology
Three pieces of software are required to participate in the contest:
- Telnet 3270 Emulator (TN3270) - access mainframe environment applications such as z/OS ISPF. TN3270 is a text only interface.
- SSH Client - access z/OS Unix System Serivces shell using VT100 or VT220 terminal emulation. A text only interface.
- Web Browser - Done, given you are reading this text.
TN3270 Emulator and SSH Client installation for Windows, Linux, and Mac are described in the Preparation Guide > Required Workstation Software.
TN3270 Emulator and SSH Client configuration for Windows, Linux, and Mac are described in the Preparation Guide > Connection Instructions.
Log on to z/OS ISPF
Click twisty to expand sections
3270 emulator software prerequisites
3270 emulator software prerequisites:
- Installed
- Configured to access IP Address 192.86.32.153
- Session started
If prerequisites are not met, then see the Preparation Guide drop down and review Connectivity Instructions.
The screen below will appear as a result of starting a successfully configured 3270 emulator session.
If the screen below fails to appear, see the Preparation Guide, Overview drop down.
Logon to the Time Sharing Option (TSO) environment using 3270 emulator
software as instructed.
The input cursor is positioned in the lower left - waiting for logon z#####
to be typed followed by enter key.
** Don't forget to replace Z##### with your ID.
TSO/E LOGON screen should appear.
The cursor is placed at the Password input field.
Type the password previously sent to you in an email.
press right side Ctrl key which is the default enter key in most TN3270 emulators
A message current password expired is displayed.
Enter a new password of your choice in the New Password input field to continue.
Avoid using a password that you've used previously on this system or on any
other system.
Make sure your contest password is completely different than your
Facebook, Google, Apple, Yahoo!, online banking, laptop/desktop, or other
password.
Choose a new password that follows rules highlighted below
Pay attention to the directions on the screen.
z/OS requires new password twice.
What you type and enter is NOT visible on your screen.
- Less than or equal to 8 characters in length.
- Not be a password that you've used previously on this system.
If you receive an authorization error, retype the password again making sure that you are entering it correctly.
If a mistake is made during this process, system will prompt again for the correct password format until requirements are met.
If all goes well, then logon messages will appear
The above screen will appear momentarily.
Below - notice the three asterisks *** to the left of the cursor?
z/OS is waiting for enter key to continue.
Press the enter key (Ctrl) and you're on your way!
The screen below will appear with the ISPF Primary Option Menu.
Submit JCL to Allocate Part 1 Data Sets
Enter tso submit 'zos.public.jcl(part1)' as shown
Enter a as shown in response to ENTER JOBNAME CHARACTER(S) -
Remember -enter- is required to proceed when *** is displayed.
Verify Successful Allocation of Part 1 Data Sets
The ISPF Primary Option Menu is displayed, then type 3.4
-enter- as shown
The ISPF Data Set List Utility panel is displayed.
Type your assigned ID in the Dsname Level field, then -enter- as shown:
Data Sets Matching the type ID are displayed
Using ISPF to view Unix File Path and Files
Depress function key 3 (F3) or enter exit to return to previous panel.
On the Data Set List Utility panel, type over your ID in the Dsname
Level field with /z/z#####
(replacing ##### with your ID unique number)
Note: Unix file names are case sensitive
The result is z/OS UNIX Directory List for Pathname /z/z#### which is empty.
You will create a UNIX file in your directory during Part 1.
Enter return to display the ISPF Primary Option Menu
Create and Copy Unix File to a Data Set
Enter u on the Option command line as shown
A z/OS UNIX shell prompt is displayed
Enter who am i > me
The output of unix command who am i
is redirected > to unix file name
me
Now copy UNIX file me to a partitioned data set name, pds.data,
as member name me using the unix cp command as shown
Enter cp me '//pds.data(me)'
Enter exit to terminate the z/OS UNIX shell session
Session ended message is displayed. Press -enter- to proceed.
On the ISPF Primary Option Menu, enter 3.4
The Data Set List Utility panel is displayed again.
Enter your ID in the Dsname Level field.
Observe a Command ===> line exists and a Command column exits.
Tab to the left of Z#####.PDS.DATA, then enter e as shown
Below - observe EDIT in the upper left corner indicating Z#####.PDS.DATA is in EDIT
mode.
Tab to the left of member named ME and enter s
to select member ME as shown
Displayed is the content of member ME in data set name
Z#####.PDS.DATA
Enter return
Get credit for completing Part 1
From the ISPF Primary Option Menu enter tso scorep1
A message You have successfully completed Part 1 is displayed.
Enter to proceed in response to ***
How to terminate ISPF session and logoff
When you want to terminate ISPF session and logoff TSO, then -
From the ISPF Primary Option Menu, enter x
to terminate the ISPF session.
If Specify Disposition of Log Data Set panel appears as seen below, select
Process Option .... 2 to Delete data set without printing
A 'logoff' existed in the command field of the TSO logon panel resulting
in a logoff from the TSO environment.
The TSO logoff command is explored in Part 2.
Part 1 introduced terminology and basics used in Part 2:
- TN3270 emulator to connect z/OS
- Logon to z/OS Time Sharing Option, TSO
- ISPF, Interactive System Productivity Facility, a panel driven TSO application
- Data Set Names
- UNIX file directory and file names
- UNIX shell prompt command processing
- Edit a Partitioned Data Set member
- Terminate ISPF session and logoff of TSO
While there are many ways to interact with z/OS, learning 3270 TSO/ISPF accelerates mastery of other web based z/OS interfaces.
Participation in the Master the Mainframe contest can prove useful in your résumé.
Hands-on mainframe experience distinguishes you from other job seekers and employers are always excited to meet young people who've learned something about the mainframe.
Brag to your friends about completing Part 1 by posting a message to your social media networks.
For more background and information about mainframes and to see examples of
how important the mainframe is, check out the following web site: