Work on Mainframes apart from what Organization requires?

anshuljain26 · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 2:20 am

I work on IBM Mainframes and i love to do so. But my main concern is, I have a limitataion that i can only do the activities that my project work, my client requires. Work only on those technologies and in the style they want me to work.

I don't have path to explore the other possibilities in the granda technology.

Please suggest how can i explore, work and contribute to the Technology-mainframes and keep learning.Please pass if any communities, portals, schools, univeristities, courses, people exist.

Robert Sample · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:59 am

One way to learn is to pick up a free copy of Hercules 390 and install it on a personal computer for your own use. This is a mainframe emulator that runs on a PC and allows you to use mainframe operating system, JCL, and utilties -- perfect for learning.

However, if you do go this route be aware that IBM licenses their software and using any operating system later than MVS (also avaiable for free as it was not copyrighted) from about 25 years ago may be illegal.

You need to do some research, as well, since "mainframe" incorporates operations, production support, applicaitons programming (usually broken into batch and online), database support, systems support, and so forth. A growing area is interfacing mainframe systems with the Web via Java / CICS / Websphere / MQ Series (among others). Advice for someone wanting to get into applications programming, for example, would be very different than advice for someone wanting to get into database support.

anshuljain26 · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:08 am

Thanks Robert.

By hitherto, i have worked on Channels & Containers, Webservices, MQ's, CICS, JCL, DB2,Stored Procedures production support. I have worked on the concepts of URIMPAS, XML's, Trigger a Queue, End a Transaction, Delete/write/read a Container and various other aspects.

Therefore, i want to explore the areas, in different directiosn apart from what my organization demands from me.

Please suggest.

anshuljain26 · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:55 pm

No good Suggestions:-(

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:05 am

With the little you provided, what did you expect? You did not provide any clues about what you are wanting -- as the most basic of unanswered questions, do you want to specialize in operations, systems support, or applications? In the applications area, for example, the type of application can be important -- financial applications use very different systems than manufacturing applications. The quality of answers you get on a forum such as this is invariably directly correlated to the quality of the question(s) posed.

Nobody is going to come along and tell you that by learning XYZ technology all of your problems will be solved. Look at the skill sets that are desired for people with your experience level (or slightly more), and that should tell you the types of skills you should be working to possess. And be prepared to change since skill set demands vary over time as well as location -- what skills are important in Europe may not be the same as in India.

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:13 am

Hello,

The way i answer this is that YOU need to determine what you want to do/be next.

Then you need to find someone in your organization (or somewhere else) that will help you move in that direction.

As i have told many people who have reported to me or worked in a group i supported (contractors don't have so many reportees, but do have some influence<g>) - if you tell me where you want to go, i may be able to help you get there. If you just want "something else", i can't be much help.

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:43 pm

anshuljain26 · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 12:29 am

Apologies Robert Sample, Dick Scherrer, and Enrico-Sorichetti.

The expression that was posted in my last post was simply because there were no responses to the post.

Secondly, I was happy that Robert replied to my Post and I even thank him for that.

Thirdly, talking about paid consultant, I believe even a paid consultant can't answer better, than what I can get here.

Fourthly, In countries where we work and the companies we work for, you don't have justified space to move out and work in the space, and technology you desire off.

The query was posted out of sheer frustration, where I can see the learning graph dipping. One can only work when they won't, otherwise its all Theory.

Apologies, once again, as You all found my expressions excruciatingly demeaning but being a learned human, they weren't a inch so.

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 12:47 am

for example You can start on Your zOS knowledge here
www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg246366.html?Open

and then continue with the series ABCs of zOS system programming
publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/searchdomain?SearchView&query=%5Bsubjects%5D=S390+and+ABCs&SearchOrder=1&category=systemz

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:22 am

Hello,

The frustration is surely understandable, but i believe your direction must be in your hands.