This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides students of information systems technology with the background knowledge and skills necessary to begin using the basic facilities of a mainframe computer. It is the first in a planned series of book designed to introduce students to mainframe concepts and help prepare them for a career in large systems computing.

For optimal learning, students are assumed to have successfully completed an introductory course in computer system concepts, such as computer organization and architecture, operating systems, data management, or data communications. They should also have successfully completed courses in one or more programming languages, and be PC literate.

This book can also be used as a prerequisite for courses in advanced topics or for internships and special studies. It is not intended to be a complete text covering all aspects of mainframe operation or a reference book that discusses every feature and option of the mainframe facilities.

Others who will benefit from this book include experienced data processing professionals who have worked with non-mainframe platforms, or who are familiar with some aspects of the mainframe but want to become knowledgeable with other facilities and benefits of the mainframe environment.

Part 1. Introduction to z/OS and the mainframe environment

Chapter 1. Introduction to the new mainframe

Chapter 2. Mainframe hardware systems and high availability

Chapter 3. z/OS overview

Chapter 4. TSO/E, ISPF, and UNIX: Interactive facilities of z/OS

Chapter 5. Working with data sets

Chapter 6. Using Job Control Language and System Display and Search Facility

Chapter 7. Batch processing and the job entry subsystem

Part 2. Application programming on z/OS

Chapter 8. Designing and developing applications for z/OS

Chapter 9. Using programming languages on z/OS

Chapter 10. Compiling and link-editing a program on z/OS

Part 3. Online workloads for z/OS

Chapter 11. Transaction management systems on z/OS

Chapter 12. Database management systems on z/OS

Chapter 13. z/OS HTTP Server

Chapter 14. IBM WebSphere Application Server on z/OS

Chapter 15. Messaging and queuing

Part 4. System programming on z/OS

Chapter 16. Overview of system programming

Chapter 17. Using System Modification Program/Extended

Chapter 18. Security on z/OS

Chapter 19. Network communications on z/OS

Appendix A. A brief look at IBM mainframe history

Appendix B. DB2 sample tables

Appendix C. Utility programs

Appendix D. EBCDIC - ASCII table

Appendix E. Class programs

Appendix F. Operator commands