Detailed usage information on a broad range of commonly-used z/OS software. Some is specific to ASU's academic mainframe.

Both links and original material covering common programming problems in the z/OS environment. By Canadian Bill Lalonde.

Documentation for z/OS programmers using VSAM in a CICS environment. Includes a small amount of installation-dependent information from Florida's educational Northwest Regional Data Center.

Detailed step-by-step information on using mainframe utilities and other commonly-used software, including SAS.

IBM home page for Database 2 Universal Database (DB2 UDB). Information on associated products and links to features and benefits, system requirements, library, success stories, news, downloads, events, education, services and support. DB2 is a relational database management system (DBMS).

Xephon's monthly technical journal covering DB2, predominantly in z/OS, but also other platforms. Older issues, including published code, are available for free download.

The storage management components of z/OS, including DFSMSdfp, DFSMSdss, DFSMShsm and DFSMSrmm.

Originally the Hierarchical Storage Manager (hsm), now "a functional component of DFSMS that provides facilities for managing storage devices" (IBM).

IBM home page for Data Facility Sort (DFSORT). Includes links to product details, publications, support and downloads. DFSORT is sort/merge software with utility capabilities such as data analysis, conversion and reporting.

Instruction manuals, Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) and News for students and other users of the mostly-mainframe University of Florida (UF)Computing and Networking Services (CNS).

Includes step-by-step instructions to create and compile COBOL and FORTRAN programs on the z/OS mainframe.

A BMC comparison of VSAM and its non-IBM competitor IAM running in an z/OS environment. From the September 2000 issue of tech NEWS.

The next IBM z/OS and OS/390 annual technical conference. Focusing first and foremost on performance issues, 4.5 days.

Integrated testing of an older Program Update Tape (PUT) level with hipers and PE's from a more recent PUT level for specified operating system, database and teleprocessing monitor versions.

IBM home page for Information Management System (IMS). Information on the family of software with links to a library, success stories, news, events, education, services and support. IMS is a transaction processing system (IMS/TM), a hierarchical database (IMS/DB), data management tools and connectors.

Common technical terminology used to describe concepts within IMS/TM and IMS/DB. From IBM.

Leonard Woren's favourite z/OS software and links.

The IBM common run-time environment for popular programming languages.

Favourite links of a man with a passion for MVS (now z/OS), including many to original material on his own OS/390-MVS Cyber Mall site.

Help Boards provide question and answer discussion threads on z/OS application programming, databases, utilities, JCL, Middleware including CICS, IMS, TSO, ISPF, data management and problem determination. There are also links to IBM manuals.

As well as a description of the MVS Project, under which all z/OS activities of the SHARE user group are organized, there are also useful Web links.

Focused mainly on the 1993 book by David Elder-Vass, an abridged version of which is featured on the site.

Xephon's monthly technical journal covering z/OS, OS/390 and MVS. Older issues, including published code, are available for free download.

On-line access to manuals covering all components of MVS/ESA. Requires no special reader, though it does simulate IBM BookManager.

Help Boards and Interview Q&A provide moderated technical questions and answers in forums divided along subject lines.

The NCSU Administrative Computing Services mainframe overview, with detailed ISPF, IOF and ftp usage instructions.

Access to mainframe and other user documentation for Florida's educational Data Center, both generic and site-specific, including DFSMShsm, CICS/VSAM, DB2, tn3270 and ftp. Non-IBM software manuals require ID and password.

On August 9, 1972, D.A. Jardine wrote this humorous obituary for Operating System/360 (OS/360), the original ancestor of z/OS.

On-line access to manuals covering all components of OS/390. Needs no special reader, though it does simulate IBM BookManager.

A 2000 IBM presentation in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, explaining why Overflow Sequential Access Method (OSAM), not VSAM, is now the access method of choice for use internally by IMS databases. By Alan Cooper.

A Web site that looks at operating systems, takes a look at MVS, now officially known as z/OS.

Performance tips for PeopleSoft running on z/OS DB2. From consulting firm DataBase Consulting Services (DBCS).

IBM home page for Resource Access Control Facility (RACF) security software. Introduction with links to a technical overview, news, downloads, user groups, past and future presentations, migration, library, FAQs and education.

Books, education, technical reports, freeware and links of interest to those who support z/OS.

IBM's performance measurement and management software.

Introductory information on using SDSF and ISPF, showing the actual screens you will see. In Adobe Acrobat .pdf format from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System/Federal Version (SDWIS/FED).

IBM software to view and control the JES2 queues, running batch jobs, started tasks, and on-line TSO users.

Provides z/OS-based mainframe application concepts, techniques and examples, with special emphasis on integration with the Internet. Hosted by a California consulting firm.

The software used to install and maintain z/OS software from IBM and many other software companies.

StorageTek's policy statement detailing their products' support for IBM mainframes and their operating systems.

An IBM Systems Journal article describing how the z/OS development team tested the operating system. Discusses verification methodologies, and test technologies and techniques.

On-line newsletter of technical articles related to TSO and ISPF, with lots of REXX-related information. Includes some articles on the company's (Chicago-Soft) mainframe software products.

Detailed usage information for z/OS JCL, TSO, ISPF and z/OS Abend codes.

IBM resources for the full UNIX implementation built into z/OS.

Details on how to write a program for operating systems other than z/OS that will read a z/OS Partitioned DataSet (PDS, also known as a Library) that been sent with TSO's TRANSMIT (XMIT) command.

Annual security conference intended for organizations using RACF, but covering non-mainframe-specific topics, such as smart cards and digital certificates.

Explains how to use VSAM in TSO, ISPF and REXX. Part of Gilbert Saint-Flour's mainframe Web site.

Cheryl Watson specializes in z/OS tuning. This site offers access to some of her free reports and details on how to acquire her chargeable materials, including her Tuning Newsletter, CPU chart, classes on video, and BoxScore and GoalTender software.

Student guides for TSO (ISPF), CICS, MVS QuickRef, AbendAid, local JCL standards and a small glossary.

Short article with many embedded links describing Operating System/360 (OS/360), the original ancestor of z/OS that was written as the operating system for high-end System/360 computers in the early 1960s.

IBM home page for zSeries/Operating System (z/OS). Information on the latest version with links to an overview, recent announcements, software, migration and installation, news, support, downloads, education, library and ease of use issues. z/OS replaced OS/390 (which replaced MVS) when IBM eserver zSeries 900 (z900) replaced System/390 enterprise servers (mainframes).

A list of, and links to information on, the Base Elements included in the latest release of the z/OS operating system, and the optional Features.

Published twice annually by IBM for z/OS Systems Programmers, with one to five page technical articles. Available on-line in PDF format.

On-line access to manuals covering all components of z/OS. Requires no special reader, though it does simulate IBM BookManager.

Web-based wizards for infrequent z/OS Systems Programming tasks.

IBM security features with and products for z/OS.

Announcement, general availability, marketing withdrawal and end of support dates and program numbers for z/OS, OS/390 and MVS/ESA.

Dorkie's favourite Web links for those using z/OS, as well as a few pages of his own. Mostly in English, with a few available in French.

A specially priced offering of z/OS providing select z/OS function for the zSeries 800.