Mainframe technology

Use Cases

Examples of mainframe computer usage: Bank ATMs, Payroll

Acronyms and Terminology

• 100 / 101 way numbers of processors (?)
• CICS Customer Information Control System is a transaction server that runs primarily on IBM mainframe systems under z/OS and z/VSE. CICS is middleware designed to support rapid, high-volume online transaction processing. A CICS transaction is a unit of processing initiated by a single request that may affect one or more objects. This processing is usually interactive (screen-oriented), but background transactions are possible.
• DASD direct access storage device: in mainframe computers and some minicomputers, DASD is any secondary storage device which has relatively low access time relative to its capacity.
• FICON Fibre Connection is the IBM proprietary name for the ANSI FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fibre Channel (FC) protocol
• HiperSockets = an IBM technology for high-speed communications between partitions on a server with a hypervisor. The term is most commonly associated with zSeries, System z9 and System z10 mainframes which can provide in-memory TCP/IP connections between and among LPARs running several different operating systems, including z/OS, z/VM, and Linux on zSeries.
• HASP = Houston Automatic Spooling Priority Program is an extension of the IBM OS/360 operating system and its successors providing extended support for “job management, data management, task management, and remote job entry.”
• IPS and MIPS = Instructions per second (IPS) is a measure of a computer’s processor speed. Many reported IPS values have represented “peak” execution rates on artificial instruction sequences with few branches, whereas realistic workloads typically lead to significantly lower IPS values.
• ISPF = Interactive System Productivity Facility: aids TSO users to manage data sets and submit jobs
• IBM mainframe utility programs = carry out tasks related to datasets: contain common JCL utilities and like input/output and data management programs
• IMS = IBM Information Management System = joint hierarchical database and information management system with extensive transaction processing capabilities
• IFL = Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) is an IBM mainframe processor dedicated to running the Linux operating system, with or without z/VM. IFLs are one of three types of IBM mainframe processors expressly designed to reduce software costs. (The other types are zAAP for Java code and zIIP for DB2
• JCL = job control language: control & execution of jobs (e.g. system commands to printing reports)
• MES = Acronym used by IBM which stands for Miscellaneous Equipment Specification. Any server hardware change, which can be an addition, improvement, removal, or any combination of these. The serial number of the server does not change. Specific types include the following: Customer-installable feature (CIF) miscellaneous equipment specification (MES); Install-by-IBM(R) (IBI) MES; Return-Parts MES (RPMES) is a special MES that is an IBI MES and requires the return of selected parts to IBM on completion of the MES.
• MVT = Multiprogramming with a Variable number of Tasks
• OSMF = IBM® z/OS Management Facility is a management product for z/OS that provides support for a modern, Web-browser based console for z/OS. With IBM z/OS Management Facility (z/OSMF), you manage solutions rather than specific IBM products, which helps you more easily manage the day-to-day operations and administration of your mainframe z/OS systems.
• PTF = IBM does not use the term “patch” in z/OS. Instead they use the term PTF which stands for “Product Temporary Fix” or “Program Temporary Fix”, depending on the date. Note that a PTF may include replacements and updates for multiple elements.
• QMF = Query Management Facility tool used to issue SQL Queries against the IBM DB2 Database System. It is not merely a Data-extraction tool, the data-results can be formatted and presented as Reports, Charts etc. thus offering valuable insight. QMF also has Wizards that can help you to extract data, without even having to write SQL Statements.
• SDSF = System Display and Search Facility: Batch job output, status of running Unix processes, system information, workload scheduling, and log files can be accessed through SDSF
• TSO = time sharing option: like Unix login
• TSO Ready = User command prompt in TSO sessions
• VTAM = Virtual Telecommunications Access Method is the IBM subsystem that implements Systems Network Architecture (SNA) for mainframe environments. VTAM provides an API for communications applications, and controls communications equipment such as communications adapters and communications controllers. In modern terminology, VTAM provides a communications stack and device drivers.

Info Library

• IBM z/OS Documentation
• MVS 3.8j Tur(n)key 4- System - source, manuals
• Emulation basics with Hercules from jaymoseley.com

Cookbook formerly from Volker Bandke

• Find OS commands under Operation > OS Commands cheat sheet
• Use RPF: Rob’s Programming Facility to substitute for ISPF functions
• “Easy” installation and MVS general info

Hercules Mainframe Installation Notes

Option 1 Docker (Recommended)

Last reviewed on 2025-02-15

Option 1: Turn key Docker container RattyDAVE/docker-ubuntu-hercules-mvs (github.com) MVS 3.8j

See repository for instructions on running and logging in

Option 2 Manual install

• Install Hercules: http://www.hercules-../390.org/ , The Hercules System/370, ESA/390, and z/Architecture Emulator (hercules-390.github.io)

  1. Can use prebuilt Windows (without Cygwin) version
  2. Ignore update to hercules.cnf file for now

• Install HERC GUI (Fish GUI and related files) at http://www.softdevlabs.com/Hercules/hercgui-index.html including Fish LIB.

  1. Use trial version install which installs everything

• Modification to your system settings.

  1. add FishLib’s ‘bin’ directory to your Windows search “PATH” environment variable (recommended).”

  2. add Hercules directory containing the program binaries (i.e. exes) to your Windows “PATH” environment variable

  3. Install Microsoft MFC and VC Runtime dlls if needed (now not required thanks to HERCGUI trail)

• Get the MVS Turnkey System from Volker Bandke’s site. You can download the CD image (ISO) of the system or order a CD.

• Follow instructions provided by Volker on how to setup and use the system in the MVS Turnkey cookbook. Install at cygdrive directory (e.g. /cygdrive/c/ccview/Programs/np/Mainframe/mvs38j)

set up -ast C:\\ccview\\usr\\PortableApps.com\\PortableApps\\Mainframe\\Iter2\\mvs38j

• Get TN3270 emulator - x3270 is an IBM 3270 terminal emulator for the X Window System and Windows is free.

• Follow further cookbook instructions for starting of the system, initial project load (IPL), etc.

• Read Hercules tutorials and guides (e.g. TSO tutorial) and MVS FAQ from Jay Moseley and JCL basics from Volker.

Standard IPL Process on MVS Turnkey

Source: http://www.bsp-gmbh.com/turnkey/cookbook/opmvs.html

9. Turn on system in Fish GUI (HercGUI) using MVS turnkey 3 configuration file (i.e. turnkey3_mvs.conf) in conf directory of MVS distribution. OR type startmvs is MVS Turnkey install directory

   1. Make a change to the HTTPPORT line to read: HTTPPORT 8081 NOAUTH

10. Attach at least three 3270 sessions to the Hercules engine, and one standard telnet session on port 3270.

11. On HercGUI, execute: Command ==> ipl 148

12. Switch for first TN3270 console (010) and execute other start up commands if this IPL is the first time. Execute on 010: r 00,clpa

13. To read further messages as they scroll or delete them in roll-delete mode:

    1. The same screen clear may be done by pressing F1 for each line to deleted/moved  it up following SYSLOG usage directions.

    2. Press F11 on 010 and wait for mainframe to fully start. May take a 1-3 minutes.

14. When you press PF12 or execute these commands below, the following JES2 commands will be issued:

    1. $SPRINTER1

    2. $SPRINTER2

    3. $SPUNCH1

15. JES2, TSO, VTAM (NET) should be started. To check active jobs and users , on 010 with command D A,L

and see

IEE102I 16.01.35 12.265 ACTIVITY FRAME LAST F E 1A
00006 JOBS 00006 INITIATORS
CMD1 CMD1 CMD1 V=V
JES2 JES2 IEFPROC V=V
BSPPILOT BSPPILOT IEFPROC V=V S
MF1 MF1 IEFPROC V=V S
NET NET IEFPROC V=V
TSO TSO STEP1 V=V S
00000 TIME SHARING USERS
00000 ACTIVE 00008 MAX VTAM TSO USERS
#+end_example

16. [@16] Log on to TSO if desired - e.g. HERC01 (no password, system programmer id)

17. Once up to shut MVS down in 010 console, *shutdown*

    1. MVS on 010: f bsppilot,shutnow

    2. JES2 on 010: $pjes2 and $du,all (if needed)

Test Your New System by Adding a TSO User

1. Follow cookbook instructions on HOW TO … Create a new TSO User.

2. Use EDIT command on JCL location SYS2.JCLLIB(ADDUSER).

3. Use Submit command to submit job for execution.

4. ST command to monitor job status.

5. OUTPUT on job to obtain any output.

6. After ST displays the job is finished. LOGON <new username> with the new user

Other Notes

Step #4
+=============================================================================+
\| \|
\| Important Message \|
\| ================= \|
\| \|
\| The master catalog is password protected. The password is \|
\| \|
\| SECRET \|
\| \|
\| You can change the password any time by running the job MVS0390 \|
\| from either the JCL subdirectory or from dataset SYS1.SETUP.CNTL(MVS0390) \|
\| \|
+=============================================================================+

Old Installation instructions from jaymoseley.com

Follow Guide http://www.conmicro.com/hercos360/ with these exceptions in structions. Or this guide: http://herculesmainframeemulator.weebly.com/index.html

1. Add Hercules to Windows PATH
2. Open Cygwin and run commands

/cygdrive/f/sfw/Mainframe/Hercules 3.07 (64 Bit)/os360mvt

$ ./makedasd

What is the path to your OS/360 distribution? /cygdrive/f/sfw/Mainframe/os360mvt-distribution-libraries/

1. Delete dasd/sysres.150 Pasted from <http://www.conmicro.com/hercos360/blddrv.html> from os360mvt directory and run dasdload -z …
2. Add TN3270 console to default gen.cnf provided as device: 001F 3270