As a z/VM sysprog independant contractor for 30+ years, IMHO this is not a question that can be definitively answered.
The term sysprog has an extremely wide set of standards. For example, a sysprog from blue's GS division is typically an installer, customizer, data gatherer, etc. only for zOS and not TCPIP, VTAM, DB2, IMS, CICS, etc. Whereas, as an independent contracting sysprog I learned and managed everything zOS, including communications, security, TP monitors, data bases, etc. Typically, I take about a day to peak at the running system and how it is implemented, then start in on servicing the punch list from the customer. But keep in mind, that I started on MVT and still work all the way thru z/OS 2.5 ( as well as z/VM and z/VSE )... In other words, some sysprogs are trained to be part of a team of people to manage the environment and others are lone wolfs ... each person is unique in their learned abilities and their ability to learn... If the vendor is claiming 6 months ... look elsewhere ... IMHO ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
