Education Offerings

COMING SOON!!

Velocity Software Education

Training. You need it. We have it.

For years, Velocity Software has been focused on delivering high-performance solutions and helping set the standard in the Z environment. Now we are bringing that same experience and practical knowledge into Z environment education. In working with people who need this kind of training, likely the challenge has been seen: there simply aren't many places to get education at this level. The need is there, but the options have been limited. Our customized training is built by the same team that has spent years developing real-world tools and solving real problems. Our approach has always been guided by a the principle: keep things simple and elegant. We bring that same philosophy to our training, focusing on practical methods, teaching the details, then simplifying the processes. The goal is straightforward: provide education that is practical, relevant and genuinely useful - from a basic overview of the Z environment to comprehensive details of system administration.

Our Instructor-led Training Catalog:

 

Introduction to System Z

  

Overview: Basic, high-level information on the Z hardware and fundamentals of the z/VM Operating System

Audience: Anyone new to Z or z/VM, that either just want to know a little more about the platform or will be moving into more advanced support or development roles

Includes:

  • Intro to System Z
    • History and current machines
    • Hardware Components
    • Software (all OSes that run in Z)
    • Virtualization Concepts - LPAR vs OS
  • General 3270 concepts for OS access
 

Introduction to z/VM

  

Overview: Learn the tools and z/VM components to utilize the system to be productive and know how to navigate the basics of the CP/CMS environments

Audience: Anyone new to Z or z/VM that are planning to use the system for end-user, advanced support or development roles

Includes:

  • 3270 concepts
  • Logging on / IPL process
    • How virtual machine is built
    • What are devices for (CON/RDR/PRT/PUN/MDISKs)
  • General CP commands
  • Getting around CMS, commands and utilities
    • Files, disks, directories
  • Intro to XEDIT
  • Where to find help (other than CMS HELP)
    • VM Community; conferences, online resources, peer-networking
 

Intermediate z/VM

  

Overview: Includes the REXX Language and CMS Pipelines for building scripts and programs for managing tasks, enhancing your z/VM environment and coding tools and applications. Shared File System usage

Audience: Anyone wanting to build scripts, system administrators and developers

Includes:

  • REXX Language & Coding
  • CMS Pipelines
  • Using XEDIT - Advanced topics
  • Shared File Systems: file pools, directories, space management
 

z/VM System Administration

  

Overview: A curriculum of topics for understanding and managing a z/VM system

Audience: System administrators

Includes:

  • z/VM Architecture
    • LPAR (single system), SSI Clusters
  • z/VM IPL process
  • Installation / 2nd level
    • Start with 7.3; update-in-place to 7.4; apply service
  • IOCP
  • SYSTEM CONFIG
    • Contents and constructs
  • CP Directory and Disk Mapping
    • DIRMAINT overview / pain-points
  • z/VM Security
    • General security / best practices
    • RACF
      • Directory Management connection
      • Rule scope
      • Adding/Changing/Deleting rules
      • Reporting / Auditing
      • DB backup / restore procedure
      • Avoiding DB clutter
  • System Allocation Space
    • Paging space
    • Spool Subsystem
    • DCSS / NSS spool files
    • Directory
    • (Temp space)
  • Networking
    • TCPIP stack and servers/clients
    • VSWITCHes / Guest LANs
    • Connecting systems (ISFC, RSCS, IPGate)
  • Shared File Systems
    • Creating, managing, backing-up, restoring
  • Utilities
    • ICKDSF, DDR, etc
  • VMSES: Installation and Service processes
    • git-style updates (full-part replacements) vs XEDIT update files
  • Problem prevention, detection, and diagnostics
    • CP Dump, SNAPDUMP, Stand Alone Dump
    • HMC access
  • Performance Management/Monitoring
 

Running Guest Operating Systems

  

Overview: Concepts for building CP Directory entries to run guest operating systems, including Linux, z/VM, z/VSE and z/OS

Audience: System administrators

Includes:

  • CP Directory specifics for guest system requirements
  • Building and installing procedures for each system
  • Considerations for each type of system
    • IPLing, interacting with, impacts to other guests
  • Administration of each system
  • Adding resources (mem, cpu, disk)
 

Application/Product Development

  

Overview: Compiled language coding and development

Audience: Vendors and those looking to build high-performing tools/applications

Includes:

  • Using XEDIT for updates
    • Serializing base code file; SIDCODEs, AUX files
  • HLASM (High-Level Assembler)
  • PL/I