DB2 on z/OS Mainframe

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F - 19 Apr 2008 21:07 GMT

I understand at a high level database concepts and have come from SQL Server
and Windows

Is there any good link thats high level that compares Windows to z/os
mainframe terminology ? I hear the mainframe guys talking about control
blocks, DL/I,etc. etc..

Also would love DB2 comparison with SQL Server

BTw, are there differences between DB2 on LUW different from DB2 on z/OS ?

Thanks

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Larry - 19 Apr 2008 22:43 GMT

> I understand at a high level database concepts and have come from SQL
> Server and Windows
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks

You will find some info out there on comparing DB2 with SQL Server.
Here's the main DB2 migration website:

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/db2/migration/

As for z/os concepts and terminology, you are talking about a different
world. There is just no one book or one link or one class. Some of what
you have heard is not really necessary to understand in the z/OS
environment as a DB2 DBA because there are others who's job it is to
manage that environment. There is a macro-level systems world (TSO,
SMP/E, DB2, IMS, z/OS, etc.) a micro-level systems world (control
blocks, storage, virtual memory, etc.) and a world within DB2. Perhaps
there is a z/OS textbook ... but I'm not sure you really need it as a
DB2 DBA.

Larry Edelstein

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F - 19 Apr 2008 22:55 GMT

Thanks Larry.

Btw, what are the roles and responsibilities of a DB2 DBA on Z/OS ? I want
to put out a job description. Any reference that you can suggest that might
be a good fit ?

>> I understand at a high level database concepts and have come from SQL
>> Server and Windows
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Larry Edelstein

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The Boss - 20 Apr 2008 00:15 GMT

> Thanks Larry.
>
> Btw, what are the roles and responsibilities of a DB2 DBA on Z/OS ? I
> want to put out a job description. Any reference that you can suggest
> that might be a good fit ?

Craig Mullins has written quite a few articles and even a book on this very
subject:
http://www.craigsmullins.com/dba_book.htm
(the book is not specific for DB2, but Craig's background is mainly DB2 on
z/OS)
The Table of Contents for the book might give you some ideas:
http://www.craigsmullins.com/dba_toc.htm

HTH.

Signature

Jeroen

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Larry - 20 Apr 2008 00:57 GMT

> Thanks Larry.
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>>
>> Larry Edelstein

Perhaps

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10926_11-6036261.html, or just
google "Roles and Responsibilities" "DB2 DBA" and "z/OS".

Good luck.

Larry Edelstein

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The Boss - 20 Apr 2008 00:00 GMT

> I understand at a high level database concepts and have come from SQL
> Server and Windows
>
> Is there any good link thats high level that compares Windows to z/os
> mainframe terminology ? I hear the mainframe guys talking about
> control blocks, DL/I,etc. etc..

Comparing Windows to z/OS is like comparing a Piper Cup aeroplane to a 747.
You did ask a similar rather broad question on z/OS on March 9th, did you
read my response (from the next day) where I pointed you to the "z/OS Basic
Skills Information Center":
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/zoslnctr/v1r7/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.
zoslnctr.infocenter.doc/lcmain.html
(please read my original response for more detailed info)

> Also would love DB2 comparison with SQL Server

Given you already have knowledge from SQL Server, you would have to read
some documentation on DB2 for that.
Which documentation depends on the type of info you want to compare
(sysadmin/dbadmin/developer) but a good starting point would be the "DB2
Information Center":
- for DB2 on z/OS:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp
- for DB2 on LUW:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/db2luw/v9/index.jsp

> BTw, are there differences between DB2 on LUW different from DB2 on
> z/OS ?

On sysadmin/dbadmin level: very much so, for a developer (i.e. on the SQL
level): not many.

HTH.

Signature

Jeroen

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Mark A - 20 Apr 2008 01:47 GMT

>I understand at a high level database concepts and have come from SQL
>Server and Windows
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks

Control blocks and DL/I refer to database software than runs on z/OS, but
not DB2 database software.

The biggest obstacle for a SQL Server DBA with no mainframe experience is
learning the z/OS operating system, including TSO, JCL, CICS, etc. It also
helps to know something about the programming language being used by the
developers you are supporting, which is usually COBOL.

From a administrative (DBA) point of view, DB2 for z/OS is significantly
different from DB2 for Linux, UNIX, Windows. At the programming level (DML)
they are fairly close to the same.

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