Parallel Sysplex Concepts & Facilities

Objectives
On successful completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

• explain the reasons for the introduction of the parallel sysplex concept
• explain the business implications of the parallel sysplex
• describe the XCF function for connecting the systems
• explain how data sharing works
• describe the management of a sysplex
• explain how to exploit the benefits of the parallel sysplex.

Who Should Attend
The course is appropriate for all those whose work brings them into contact with parallel sysplex, including managers, systems programmers, operations personnel and all support staff.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with z/OS structure, concepts operation and workload.
Duration
2 days

Course Code
PSX1
Contents
Sysplex Introduction
What is sysplex?; Not a new concept; So what's new?; 'Before' and 'after' sysplex; XCF sysplex requirements; Components of the XCF sysplex; Server Time Protocol; Clock synchronization techniques; XCF Sysplex definitions; XCF Sysplex services; The Parallel Sysplex; The Parallel Sysplex concept; Signalling and Status Monitoring services; Group services; Couple Data Sets; XES availability with SFM; Review questions.


Data Sharing
The Coupling Facility (CF); What Parallel Sysplex adds to the picture; Cross-system Extended Services (XES); Different types of multi-system data sharing; Parallel Sysplex data sharing; The PLEXCFG parameter; Program-to-Program Communication with sysplex.


Sysplex Installation & IPL
Sysplex installation planning; Determine system names; Examples of setting system names; Determine overall sysplex configuration; The sysplex name; Couple Data Sets; The Sysplex Couple Data Set; The Parallel Sysplex Couple Data Sets; Sysplex Couple Data Set considerations; Example of the formatting utility; Output from the formatting utility; Alternate Couple Data Sets; Sysplex Couple Data Set considerations; Determine detection intervals; Determine transport classes; Transport class attributes; Determine signalling paths; LOCAL sysplex messages; Sysplex group names and members; The CFRM policy; CFRM policy definition; Planning CFRM - identification and structure size; Selecting a CF for a structure; Updating CFRM; The SFM policy; The PLEXCFG parameter; XCFPOLxx for PR/SM; 3.27 CLOCKxx; Summary; Review questions.


Sysplex Components & Services
XCF Sysplex services; Signalling and Status Monitoring services; Group services; Member attributes; Member and Group Names; Member Token; Member State; User state; Permanent status recording; Member association; User routines; XCF signalling - how it works; Receiving with IXCMSGI; Cross-system Extended Services (XES); The Parallel Sysplex configuration; Configuring sysplex functions - policies; The Couple Data Sets in XES; The Coupling Facility; XES Structure Services; XES Assembler macros; Signalling Services via CF; Review questions.


Exploiting Sysplex
Exploiting the Parallel Sysplex; Parallel Sysplex exploiters; Old functions, new techniques - system software; Old functions, new techniques - database systems; The 'real' parallel sysplex...?; Workload distribution - not a new concept; Workload distribution - exploiters; WLM and dynamic networking; VSAM Record Level Sharing (RLS); RACF and Sysplex; Sysplex wide DAE; MVS System Console Processing (MCS); Automatic Tape Switching (ATS); Global Resource Serialization (GRS); GRS Fully Connected Complex and Sysplex; GRS Star; GRS Star setup definitions; Star configuration RNL management; Sysplex related JES features; The JESXCF facility; Communication via JESXCF; VTAM exploitation; Generic Resources requirements; CICS exploitation; TSO generic resources; Batch in a Parallel Sysplex with WLM; The solution - WLM managed batch; What WMB does not do...; What WMB manages; DB2 exploitation; IMS exploitation; TSO/E and SYS1.BRODCAST; Review questions.