This course should be considered the technical "foundation stone" for anyone who needs to know how the parallel sysplex actually works. It provides a detailed examination of the fundamental mechanics of IBM's parallel sysplex architecture. It will provide the student with a full and comprehensive understanding of all those functions that make the sysplex what it is today, an environment that can provide continuous availability for a huge variety of workloads

This class examines the issues involved in implementing the parallel sysplex environment. It examines the two main types of parallel sysplex implementation, the "PSLC sysplex" and the continuous availability sysplex. The benefits and implications of both approaches are discussed, along with the planning and preparation issues. The class then teaches how to set up the sysplex, with particular emphasis on the continuous availability environment. It covers hardware configuration issues, setting up the cloned z/OS environment, setting up the sysplex software environment, setting up sysplex data sharing and the system logger.

The course describes in detail the three sets of services involved:

• The XCF services, comprising the basic signalling services, group and monitoring services, and restart and recovery services

• XCF's Extension Services, which manage the coupling facility data sharing environment. This is where you can see how all the structure types are managed and data integrity issues addressed

• The Workload Manager services, which are constantly being enhanced over the various z/OS releases to provide an ever more automated environment for workload management. This section includes such features as enclave management, Application Environments and Sysplex Routing Services as well as those services designed for the traditional transaction managers like CICS and IMS.

At the end of this class, students will be able to:

• Identify the different stages of parallel sysplex implementation, and understand the benefits and implications of implementing each of these stages

• Plan and implement an appropriate hardware configuration for their intended sysplex, including the coupling facility, CTC and sysplex timer environments

• Set up a cloned, multi-system, shared SYSRES environment with appropriate SYS1.PARMLIB parameters (and a suitable backup SYSRES!)

• Set up and maintain the controls for the basic sysplex environment, including the couple datasets, signalling environment, sysplex timer, GRS and parmlib member controls

• Set up and maintain the CFRM environment

• Set up and maintain the system logger environment

• Interpret the various RMF reports associated with the sysplex environment

This course is designed for z/OS System Programmers and support staff who need to gain knowledge of the parallel sysplex environment.

The participant should have basic knowledge of z/OS fundamentals.

This class is taught by lecture and hands-on workshops.