Introduction to the New Mainframe: z/VM Basics

This textbook provides students with the background knowledge and skills necessary to begin using the basic functions and features of z/VM Version 5, Release 3. It is part of a series of textbooks designed to introduce students to mainframe concepts and help prepare them for a career in large systems computing. For optimal learning, students are assumed to be literate in personal computing and have some computer science or information systems background. Others who will benefit from this textbook include z/OS professionals who would like to expand their knowledge of other aspects of the mainframe computing environment. This course can be used as a prerequisite to understanding Linux on System z. After reading this textbook and working through the exercises, the student will have received a basic understanding of the following topics:The Series z Hardware concept and the history of the mainframeVirtualization technology in general and how it is exploited by z/VMOperating systems that can run as guest systems under z/VMz/VM componentsThe z/VM control program and commandsThe interactive environment under z/VM, CMS and its commandsz/VM planning and administrationImplementing the networking capabilities of z/VMTools to monitor the performance of z/VM systems and guest operating systemsThe REXX programming language and CMS pipelinesSecurity issues when running z/VM