Jim Marshall wrote:
I have read many discussions here on the topic of management is not
exploiting the z/OS to it utmost. It maybe has been relegated to doing its
1990 work and the web is passing it by. I have quite a few theories why that
is true but I also have some strategies for showing its worth. These have
been applied here and did show results. I do believe it when management does
not want new projects pointed the way of the mainframe which do Web
Serving, Web Application Servers, JAVA, etc. But one can do some things
which are entirely proper.
I understand I am my own best customer so I started exploiting the zFS file
system to store by z/OS documentation. One can argue it is on the Web but
my focus is Disaster Recovery; what happens if the Internet is not available
yet. OK, I could use CDROMs or DVDs. But then I have internal documents. So
I have created a Web Site of our internal documentation; PDFs, WORD, XCel,
Visio Diagrams, Text files, ZIP Files, etc. We get the HTTP server for free, so
use it. Putting up just static links to documents and showing it around will
amaze non-IT folks. I have heard, “Gee, you can store ASCII files, WORD,
spreadsheets, etc, on the mainframe – amazing…..”. To us techies, this might
not seem a great feat. One customer of mine created her own documentation
website called SPIDERWEB with the idea that is a disaster happens, their
documentation gets recovered too by the mainframe DR Plan; and it does.
What comes free with z/OS is the IBM tools called IBM Ported Tools for z/OS:
PHP for z/OS feature (PHP for z/OS)
http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/zos/unix/php/index.html
Once we had this all available, then when I would visit a customer area and
got asked a question, would borrow their PC or have type in our URL and up
would pop a list of documentation. Then I would make the point that the
mainframe “Server” was hosting all this and besides it was recovered in the
event of disaster; just as all their applications are or could be.
So in the end, there is some things which can be done or maybe only for you
to do. Even if it does not impress the bosses, it will give you good experience
on how to do it and keep your skills current. So in the end, did I tell
management of my plans; no. This was just me managing my own system for
my own use. Was it meant to impress others? Never. But if it did impress
poeple, then I was amazed.
Jim
<ad>
Jim,
You can use any version of z/OS (and even some versions
of OS/390) to host a webserver without paying for
WebSphere or whatever the BEA product is called. I've
been harping on that for years, but find little interest
by IT executives or managers in actually doing it. For the
price of a few days of training we can turn your classic
z/OS applications developers into web-on-z/OS applications
developers.
Using the free (well, included-in-the-price) z/OS UNIX
System Services, HTTP server, and the language of your
choice. For example:
"Introduction to z/OS UNIX" - 3 days
in just 3 days, the students can get around in
the z/OS UNIX world comfortably, including each
student creating their own [small] website hosted
on the z/OS system; optional section on telnet
"Shell Script Programming in z/OS UNIX" - 3 days
this course extends the above course with more
UNIX commands, how to create and run scripts,
and other useful UNIX skills such as the sed
editor; optional sections on vi
"You and z/OS and the World Wide Web" - 5 days
this course is an intensive, standards-based
(open source) coverage of skills to create
and maintain sophisticated websites hosted on
you mainframe, without the need to license
WebSphere; lightweight (does not drag down the
system performance) and inexpensive (the HTTP
server comes included with z/OS for no extra
charge)
"Devloping Applications on z/OS UNIX" - 3 days **
this course integrates coding programs in the
classic languages, compiling under z/OS UNIX,
and running under a UNIX shell; multi-lingual
(Assembler, COBOL, PL/I, C)
Related: a series of courses on how to code and use
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) programs to complement
your z/OS-hosted website; multi-lingual; considering
new courses in Apache, Tomcat, php, ruby, SOA, Web
Services, Ajax, Wikis, and more, as demand / interest
dictate.
Start here and follow the links:
http://www.trainersfriend.com/UNIX_and_Web_courses/unixcurric.htm
</ad>
Kind regards,
-Steve Comstock
The Trainer's Friend, Inc.
303-393-8716
http://www.trainersfriend.com
z/OS Application development made easier
* Our classes include
+ How things work
+ Programming examples with realistic applications
+ Starter / skeleton code
+ Complete working programs
+ Useful utilities and subroutines
+ Tips and techniques
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