University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Module Catalogue
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2007/8 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: COMM021 Module Title: INTRODUCTION TO THE IBM ZOS OPERATING SYSTEM
Module Provider: Computing Short Name: CSM26 Previous Short Name: CSM26
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: MITCHELL WP Dr (Computing)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Delivery
Assessment Requirements

Unit(s) of Assessment

Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)

Coursework component

40

Exam (2 hours)

60

 

Qualifying Condition(s)  

Module Overview

The first computers were mainframes. Once computing moved to the desktop and the internet it looked as if mainframes would become obsolete. Many large corporations are now finding that quite the reverse is true. Many see mainframes as the optimal solution when systems and services need to be constantly available, be built with very high levels of data security and implement solutions that are highly scalable to vast data structures.

Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Some familiarity with operating systems and machine architectures would be helpful.
Module Aims
The module aims to introduce students to the leading industry standard for mainframe design, the IBM Mainframe. It will show how  mainframes are specifically optimised to integrate business applications, and to meet the critical transactions and evolving demands of e-business. Students will gain a professional familiarity with the basics of z/Architecture, which is designed to eliminate bottlenecks associated with the lack of addressable memory and automatically directs resources to priority work through the Intelligent Resource Director (IRD).
Learning Outcomes
  1. Analyse and evaluate the basic concepts of the System z architecture
  2. Demonstrate both a theoretical and practical knowledge of the fundamentals of the System Z Operating System
  3. Demonstrate a professional understanding of mainframe computing
Module Content
  1. Introduction: mainframe architecture, real-world usage
    z/OS overview: hardware, virtual storage, workload management,
    interactive usage
  2. Data sets (DFSMS, allocation, VSAM, catalogs)
  3. Batch processing: JES, JCL, SDSF, utilities
  4. Application programming: design, development process, programming
    language overview
  5. Online workloads: transaction processing and database management
  6. Systems programming: customizing the system, change control, system
    initialization
  7. Additional topics: Security overview (RACF, integrity),
    Networking (TCP/IP, SNA, VTAM), Logical Partitioning, device sharing,
    clustering, Parallel Sysplex and continuous availability
Methods of Teaching/Learning
Weekly four hour workshops which combine theoretical discussion, systems demonstrations and systems development
Selected Texts/Journals

Introduction: mainframe architecture, real-world usage

z/OS overview: hardware, virtual storage, workload management,
interactive usage

Data sets (DFSMS, allocation, VSAM, catalogs)

Batch processing: JES, JCL, SDSF, utilities

Application programming: design, development process, programming
language overview

Online workloads: transaction processing and database management

Systems programming: customizing the system, change control, system
initialization

Additional topics: Security overview (RACF, integrity),
Networking (TCP/IP, SNA, VTAM), Logical Partitioning, device sharing,
clustering, Parallel Sysplex and continuous availability

Last Updated
27 November 2006