Z/VM programming any different?

fredrick andrews · New User Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 52 Location: chennai

Hi experts,

I'm into a new project now and they are using Z/VM Mainframe. There is no ISPF here and I'm just getting started. I just got the chance to see one sample COBOL program. It looks like the usual mainframe.

We use X to view the file rather than using V.

So, can you please suggest me what exactly I should be looking at and where to get a basic idea of this mainframe navigation et all.

What's special about Z/VM mainframe. Enlighten me please!

PeterHolland · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:13 pm

www.vm.ibm.com/

Bill Woodger · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:48 pm

z/VM is an Operating System. z/OS is an Operating System which you are presubably used to.

z/VM (Virtual Machine) can run other Operating Systems as "Guests", including z/OS and z/VSE (another Operating System). CMS, which is probably what you are using for development, and I don't know/haven't checked whether it is z/CMS, is a "single user" Operating System. Your colleague sitting next to you will be using an entirely different "Virtual Machine" than you. You won't be able to see their "A" disk unless they allow you to.

The editor you use is probably XEDIT (X is a common synonym for it). It is a very full editor (press F1). I first saw rexx on CMS, so it'll be there. rexx along with VM and CP (Control Program) commands plus xedit commands give you a very powerful set of functions for any little "things" you do in your own time to make your development environment better.

Are you developing to run on VM or developing to run on z/OS or z/VSE (or, I guess, any other applicable "guest")?

Either way, the subject is too vast to be covered in a forum. I assume you have colleagues? Although you may have to approach it carefully, you can find out from them how to do things as long as you don't make them sick with "on z/OS we used to do it this way..."