You need to read up on MW :-) W is not a "fallback" mode, as there is no first
attempt to get it M. Instead, MW says, in effect, bypass the check for simple
read or write links, only fail if the disk is already linked Stable or
Exclusive by a user.
One possible answer to the question you pose at the end is, "Because the people
who have experience in the field are old enough that they will soon either
retire or die. That will leave gaping holes. I will become valuable when I am
the most experienced one around. It is the fastest path to stardom."
Regards,
Richard Schuh
________________________________
From: The IBM z/VM Operating System [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Colin Allinson
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:55 AM
To: IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Ten Questions to ask a Prospective z/VM Systems Programmer
Howard Rifkind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote :-
> If you were hiring a new z/VM systems programmer what would be the
5-10 most important questions you would ask the applicant?
Howard,
I guess it really depends what you want to find out. If you accept that
the person is already a z/VM systems programmer and is telling the truth then,
I suspect, you will want to find the depth of knowledge. That, really, has to
be related to the product set and applications that are important to you.
If you are wanting to verify the applicant does have the basic
knowledge that they say they have then I would suggest that you angle these to
avoiding 'C**K-ups'. I have listed a few questions below but, beware, I went to
an interview once where the guy (from an MVS background) felt he needed to ask
me technical questions. To each one I had to reply 'The answer you are looking
for is .... but, really, this is the answer..... '.
Here are a few basic questions :-
q: How do you safely update a program or static file on a running
system without causing problems to applications using it?
a: You rename the program or file just before putting the new one in
place. Applications will continue to use the old file until they reaccess the
disk it is on.
q: What is the difference between linking a disk with mode W and mode
M?
a: Using mode W will link the disk if no-one else has it linked for
READ. Using mode M will link the disk if no-one else has it linked for WRITE.
q. How does linking a disk with mode MW function & what is the result -
assuming you have authority to do the link?
a: If someone else has the disk linked for WRITE then the M link will
fail so the fallback mode (W) will be used and a write link will be established
anyway. This should only be used on rare occasions where you know what you are
doing (and almost never on a CMS formatted minidisk).
q: With no special tools and only basic VM commands, what is the
easiest way to see if another user is active?
a: Give two CP IND USER commands a few seconds apart and compare the
differences.
I am sure there are a whole load more than that if I thought about it
for a while but, really, any z/VM sysprog will know all these so it is really a
question of deciding if you believe them.
Far more telling might be issues like 'Why do you want to work in
Dinosaur technology with little, or no, career path' - unless the candidate is
already in their 60's, in which case it is obvious.
Colin Allinson
Amadeus Data Processing GmbH
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