Re: Resume cover letters.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Brazee
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 9:20 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Resume cover letters.


So what would *you* name a bank?


Nobody Cares, Nobody Bothers (NCNB, now BofA)

Or

The Dewey Screwem and Howe Bank and Trust (or was that a law firm?)

Or

Fleecers' Bank

I can see that this one will go WAY off topic.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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REFR -- Real Intent v. Actual Use?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

I thought I'd get away from the original topic title.

 

REFR as an attribute, does this also imply that the code is
self-relocating so that if the code is reloaded at a different place, it
is still able to continue execution (of the task in flight)? So PRE DAT
days, this would be an overlay type program, right?

 

But in DAT days where everything is V=V, just what is the purpose of
REFR? What does it really accomplish over RENT

 

I ask this because in reading the various postings, and IBM's stuff, I'm
getting a little lost.

 

Later,

Steve Thompson


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Re: Why would Rexx Date/Time be different from ASCBEWST Date/Time?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Lindy Mayfield
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 9:47 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Why would Rexx Date/Time be different from ASCBEWST Date/Time?

Would anyone have an idea as to what would cause these times to be
different?

When I run the following Rexx exec, I get this:

Time Zone.:  -4.00
Rexx Date/Time: 10/25/06 10:38:31 
Current EWST..: 10/25/2006 14:38:31.339265

But when someone in Australia runs it, he gets this:

Time Zone.:  10.00 
Rexx Date/Time: 10/25/06 08:50:16  
Current EWST..: 10/24/2006 22:50:37.305285 

The EWST time for the other computer is off by 21 seconds.  Is there
perhaps a problem in the exec or could there be some other cause for
this?


You need to pickup the CVT Leap Seconds Offset (CVTLSO). When an ETR is
used, with GPS timing, there are leap seconds applied. If you do not use
this adjustment, your timings will be off by the number of leap seconds
(if I remember correctly, the current number of leap seconds is 22)
compared to "system time stamped" messages.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Why would Rexx Date/Time be different from ASCBEWST Date/Time?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Lindy Mayfield
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:53 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Why would Rexx Date/Time be different from ASCBEWST
Date/Time?

Very good point, Paul, thanks.  That happened to creep in because I
copied the code from an ISPF application...

I've never heard of leap seconds!  Leap years, but not leap seconds.  Is
this something with time zones in Australia?  

Lindy


The earth's rate of spin is not constant and has slowed since 1900 (for
our purposes). This results in leap seconds to allow for computing the
precise location of orbital items that are not affected by the change in
the spin speed of the earth.

So, if you have an External Time Reference that is based on GPS timing,
you have to have leap seconds to normalize UTC to GMT. Otherwise, your
computer system will be 21 or 22 seconds (I've forgotten the current
number) different from the rest of the world.

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: SHARE in Tampa Florida, February 11-16, 2007

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Pommier, Rex R.
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:33 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: SHARE in Tampa Florida, February 11-16, 2007



Daniel McLaughlin of the IBM Mainframe Discussion List
 wrote on 10/26/2006 12:16:20 PM:

> Z/OS 1.9 sounds like an innocent error. We should not be quick to zap 
> if someone makes a faux pas.
>


Agreed.  It seems like everybody is a bit edgy over the Shmuel/Phil
flap.  OK, everybody, slowly back away from your keyboards and take a
deep breath!  Remember, these are only jobs.



OK, nobody uses the BPO in any coding for the rest of the day.

(Backspace and then Punch Operator).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: SMF JWT

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of NAIDOO Raleigh (AXA-Tech-AU)
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 4:25 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: SMF JWT

1. The SMF JWT parm specifies the maximum amount of time that a job or
TSO/E user address space is allowed to wait continuously specification .
Does this include started tasks? If not what determines the S522 abend
condition  for started tasks.  

2. We are considering changing the JWT from 10 minutes to 2 hours and I
am  interested in any experiences  I should be aware of.



Experience info: First off, depending on TSO usage (number of logons in
a day), you will recover some portion of your system because users won't
have to keep logging on, or running keep-alive code (CLIST or REXX).
This will tend to increase productivity.  All of this assumes that you
do not already have an exit that recognizes a TSO session and resets the
time-out just for TSO users (or the beloved group).

Next, you may have to increase the USERMAX for TSO, as you may find that
you now have more TSO users on at a time than you have allowed for.
There may be a need for an equivalent adjustment in PARMLIB(IEASYSxx)
MAXUSER (and associated parms).

Lastly, it will take longer for things to time-out that are waiting for
some event to occur (such as tape mounts).

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Comparison of TN3270 Clients

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:33 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Comparison of TN3270 Clients

(By the way, does anybody else find Microsoft's use of the word "Vista"
confusingly similar to Tom's product name?)

Actually a certain judge in the North West USofA was ready to keel-haul
Micro$**t over Windows. It was found that Windows is a GENERIC name and
so it can't be perfected for a trademark.

A certain company, Lindows, got shoved into an out of court settlement
(in my opinion because of M/S filing nusance suits in the Netherlands
and other places) so that M/S would not be seen to not own Windows after
all.

 So a problem with Vista? Nah, that could never be the case as
M/S has all those lawyers to make sure that they don't infringe...


Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: CA CEO in the slammer

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Phil Payne
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 12:58 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: CA CEO in the slammer

Well, not yet.  Many a slip twixt cup and lip:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/02/news/newsmakers/kumar.reut/

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Sanjay Kumar, the former chief executive of CA,
was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison Thursday for his role in a
$2.2 billion accounting fraud at the computer software company.


"His attorneys described him as one of the "great minds" of the software
industry who turned Computer Associates into a thriving enterprise."

Between he and Charlie, you would have been just as well off if you had
taken your money and put it into CDs as to have invested it in CA. Words
to that effect were used in at least two class actions suits (current
ones) against CA for defrauding investors and employees (who took part
in the different investment plans at CA).

Too bad AP didn't do a bit more homework.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: The PSI Letter V4

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Nigel Hadfield
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:47 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: The PSI Letter V4



ISTR there was a perception at that time that IBM could not legally
refuse
to license its software on whatever machine the customer wanted to use.
("You could license it on a washing machine if you wanted to."). I guess
this was related to the anti-trust nonsense. I don't suppose IBM always
liked to admit quite how powerful Amdahl and Itel/NAS machines were, so
PCM
customers probably got a fair deal. But if that was the case, when and
why
did it change? 


Forgive me for rambling a bit (its Monday, and my interruptions are
being interrupted), but some things I will mention might trigger some
thoughts for/from some others specific to this subject. 

As I recall, AMDAHL had something called TIDA (Tech Info Disclosure
Agreement) with or from IBM. And there was an "EU" issue where IBM had
to disclose the interfaces to its machines at some office in Europe
somewhere (I used to work for Amdahl, and I honestly don't know the
particulars of this).

In 1997 when IBM disclosed to certain parties that what we now know as
z/ARCHITECTURE was coming, apparently AMDAHL and HDS realized that they
were going to have a problem because the period of time that IBM had to
do the disclosures in Europe was coming to an end.

Well, Amdahl imploded. I don't know what happened to HDS or any of the
other PCMs. But Amdahl had known, because of patent filings, the
probable direction IBM was going to take in many cases (at least up
through 1993). One example was ESA (which we referred to as "Eat S**T
Amdahl"), where Amdahl guessed fairly correctly how IBM would implement
it. But because Amdahl's management lost the vision of what Amdahl was
and did...

So, here you are (H/W MFG co), knowing IEF (SIE) and RMF plus a few
other things that are not in the PoO or the related manuals (which names
I've forgotten) that were issued "publicly" to disclose how this assist
or that worked. And you see the disclosure windows closing. What do you
do? As I said, Amdahl imploded (between 1989 and 1997 with all the
layoffs, I don't know how many of the Macrocode developers were
left...).

As for the new machines (emulation based) that are out, I would assume
that if they had some way of setting the CPU ID on the Motherboard, or
via some special CE/FE only utility, then IBM might be interesting in
talking.

One of the other things being discussed has to do with who you gonna
call when you have a problem? Well, IBM knew that the Amdahl systems
were quite correct in the area of architecture (at least when I was
there). If we found some inconsistency, we had to recreate it on an IBM
box. If we could, and it seemed to not match the PoO (or equivalent
manual), we got to write a letter, detailing a test (without disclosing
what we were doing -- I really enjoyed writing "hand loops" that had to
be entered through the console) and then ask what result we should have
expected if what we got was incorrect. I can't tell you how many ECs
(micro-code/firmware updates) from IBM resulted from Amdahl testing. As
a result we got the idea that we were IBM's West Coast Beta Test Center.

So, should any of these new companies doing emulation have access to the
old Amdahl Architectural Testing Programs (e.g., DIRT, 8E7, Alpha), they
would be able to prove rather quickly that they were compliant with
S/390 Architecture. Now as for z/ARCHITECTURE...

This would mean that the finger-pointing would get rather limited. If
you can define the problem and IBM can recreate it on their platforms,
then the problem is not "your hardware is not compliant."

[So what problems we did have had to do with proving that an interrupt
(of a particular type) had been properly presented, or an I/O request
had been properly handled, or that the service processor had provided
the correct response to your "B2xx" instruction (or similar).]

If the emulation machines get to this level then I think things would be
at the level they were when there were several PCMs making "IBM" type
mainframes.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Assembler question

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Richard Tsujimoto
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 9:15 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Assembler question

Is *discontinuity in assembler design* a nice way of saying, it's a bad 
design?  I would think a length of 1 and 0 are different,
and MVC should perform accordingly, e.g. if length=0, do nothing.



Since the length for MVC is 8 bits, L=0 means to move 1 byte (aka
Machine length). Should you take that number negative, you would get FF
which is 256 bytes (since byte 0 must be counted). 

And you can't not generate the D2llBDDDBDDD, because you are allowed to
come back and modify the storage used by the MVC. You may also EXecute
this instruction...

Just remember, this is a LOW LEVEL language, not a mid/hi level
language.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Assembler question

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Clark Morris
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 4:47 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Assembler question

On 7 Nov 2006 10:34:33 -0800, in bit.listserv.ibm-main you wrote:


Back in the 1980's or early 1990's, with the help of John Ehrman I
submitted a number of requirements at SHARE, on of which was for
optional flagging of all operand mismatches including length matches,
LH of a fullword, etc.  Even though they were all rejected at the
time, many of them later made it into what became HLASM.  Maybe it is
my COBOL background but the idea that the operation and the data
definition should match in most cases is one that the assembler should
encourage.  In regard to another thread, the awkwardness of coding
reentrant code and the mediocre support for it means that for main
programs, I don't bother.  I do for exits and subroutines.  


I think what you are (or were) suggesting is strong typing for ALC (OK,
I can hear it coming now, that's why we always did it in UPPER CASE and
the like) and enforcement thereof. However, some of us have written code
that makes use of nuances that would cease to (1) assemble correctly,
and more importantly (2) not execute correctly. These nuances are not
wrong or illegal, but made use of generation capability of the assembler
and/or documented "side effects" of instructions.

As an example, the idea of a LH against a fullword may be done because
in some case it is known that only the high order nibbles of a fullword
are valid for certain operations (logical or arithmetic). While you and
I might say that this should have been done with ICM, or the fullword
should have a secondary definition (using ORG perhaps), the code works
correctly using LH (perhaps it even required the high-order bit
propagation for negativity).

If you were to add strong typing to the assembler with enforcement of
typing, then that code will not assemble, or the assembler will presume
that a Load was meant -- look-out! 

We could continue this with various instructions. And yes, I've made the
rookie error of L instead of LA (and vice versa), MVC instead of MVI,
etc. But you learn and you think in ALC -- COBOL code that I have
written at times looked like someone trying to strangle the compiler to
get what they wanted.

But as I said in a prior posting, ALC is a low level language. So
perhaps those of us that have programmed in it for years just think
quite differently (I started on S/360 machines). Don't get me wrong, I
am not interested in GATE/TEST coding -- Macrocode at Amdahl was close
enough to the bare metal.

Later,
Steve Thompson 

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Re: link to a real, working IBMLINK ?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Daniel A. McLaughlin
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:48 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: link to a real, working IBMLINK ?

I've been in and out of the manuals area several times today and have
had 
0 problems with the PDF stuff. Are you being limited at your site by the

network settings?



Not that I know of. However, I have reported to our help desk various
problems having to do with connection issues. It was determined that I
have insufficient memory (512MB) and so I was issued a new machine
(1GB). I am not having connectivity issues with internal stuff now, just
external things. Trust me, Rod Serling is alive and well in this
building somewhere, or Allen Funt, or both.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: link to a real, working IBMLINK ?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Robert Justice
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:27 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: link to a real, working IBMLINK ?

Okay, so does anyone have a link to IBMLINK that is actually working
this 
morning. 


https://www-304.ibm.com/usrsrvc/account/userservices/jsp/login.jsp?persi
stPage=true

Gets me immediately to a login page.

My problem is, I can't seem to download manuals from Boulder (well, I
couldn't yesterday when I shutdown). Seems they would get to maybe 50%
and stall (PDF types, don't even suggest Book-Trashed versions -- I have
a longer attention span than most managers, probably because at my age
it takes longer to read the paragraphs).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

Suppose that for every time one needs to open an ETR, and IBMLINK is
down, that you were to call the 800 number and make your problem a SEV1.
Now further suppose that all IBM customers were to do this.

How long would it take before the "pain" would be felt high enough that
this would get fixed - permanently?

This is only an idea for discussion, not to actually implement (at least
at this time).

Regards,
Steve Thompson 

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Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Alan Altmark
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 11:41 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management



As a discussion point, I'm not sure how reporting your Sev3, say,
problem 
as Sev1 would do anything to get IBMLink up and running.  The developers

who get out of bed to deal with your Sev1 have no control or awareness
of 
IBMLink, and the Support Center will handle the calls as usual.

If you can open a PMR against IBMLink when it is down, do so (I have no 
idea if you can), or, if you think you are aren't getting sufficient
value 
from the service because of downtime, then use the Feedback (when it 
finally comes back up). 



Alan Altmark
z/VM Development
IBM Endicott



Ok, here is the theory (from when I was contracted to IBM). Problems are
tracked on the basis of severity. Departments are somewhat graded on how
fast they manage [handle] problems, and the severity of the problems
they get (COBOL shouldn't ever get a true SEV1, should it?). 

So, should the queues for COBOL, VTAM, CPCS or JESx (etc.) get skewed
greatly, managers are going to take notice. Visibility of the issue will
have happened, and instant "survey" results will have been gotten.

But if the customer base waits for a survey to fill it out, how long
will it be before the management of the web pages gets told to get their
act together?

In my opinion opening tickets at SEV2 does not solve the problem. But
SEV1 gets that call back within 2 hours and the reduction in severity to
where it should be (perhaps to SEV3?). IBM departmental managers might
get unhappy, want to talk with your management, and when they [IBM] gets
told, we are paying for support, and the support system is broken more
than it is up...

So, now you [personally] are in VM DEV. What would happen if such
postings to IBM-MAIN (about IBMLINK not being functional) were sanitized
and presented to your manager? Same for other IBMers that are lurking. I
remember in the Branch days that there would have been a chat with some
people about customer satisfaction and how every IBMer is a sales
person.

But this is just discussion. 

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Daniel A. McLaughlin
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 1:52 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management

Nope, not the man behind the curtain. Think Exodus.


Then it is a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day.

Later,
Steve Thompson (wondering for 40 years now)

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Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Patrick O'Keefe
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 3:12 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBMLINK Failures -- Attention of IBM Management



I see 2 problems with this.  

You may get what you asked for rather than what you need.

Pat O'Keefe


Actually, we may have already gotten the attention needed. A few IBMers
probably copying this thread and sending it to certain people w/in IBM.
Those managers, hopefully, will see that the companies that PAY lotsa
money for hardware, software and support are getting unhappy and their
people [customers'] starting to discuss how to cause the pain to be on
IBM's side.

Well, at least I can hope that the message gets to where it needs to go.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Inflating Severity

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Matt Simpson
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 7:38 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Inflating Severity


In one recent memorable case, the local rep actually called the support 
center on a 3-way call with me and asked for a duty manager.  Support 
center said we couldn't talk to a duty manager unless the problem was 
Sev 1 and had no response for 2 hours.  I said that was absolutely 
ridiculous;  it wasn't a Sev 1 problem, but I wanted to talk to somebody

about why there had been no action for months.  Local rep said "Fine, 
escalate it to Sev 1 and have a duty manager call us".  Then it turned 
into a critsit and I was getting lots of calls from all kinds of folks 
about a problem that really wasn't that critical, but just needed a 
little more attention than it had been getting.  (And I was told that 
the alleged "policy" about not being able to talk to a duty manager  
unless the problem was Sev 1 was BS and I should never have been told 
that).



The question that needs to be asked/answered is: "Did IBM's personnel
recognize the root cause of this escalation which then resulted in a
critsit and so do something to prevent it from happening again?"

One would hope that a positive result was obtained beyond just the
immediate problem that you had which was being ignored.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Bill Seubert
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 11:36 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?


Take a look here:

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/university/scholars/products/zseries/un
iversities.html


IBM is rejecting this, this AM with an error code of 400.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Daniel A. McLaughlin
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 1:35 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?

Would my 17 year old child, who works on mainframes be a Minor in
Mainframes?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Steve Arnett
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 3:29 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Where can you get a Minor in Mainframe?

What ever happened to the Virtual Universe Operating System that was 
announced back in the late 70s?  Or did IBM keep that one for
themselves?


IEHPROPHET retired. IBM couldn't find a cheap replacement.

Later,
Steve Thompson

Ps. I was just waiting for good Ole OS/VR or OS/VU to get mentioned.
Still looking for a copy of those old announcements.

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Re: [SPAM] DFDSS - DISASTER RECOVERY (RESTORE) QUESTION.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of John Dawes
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 8:46 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: [SPAM] DFDSS - DISASTER RECOVERY (RESTORE) QUESTION.


   
  Is there anything else I should include?
   


If your customer is using GDGs, they will need the crystal ball option.
[However they must gen the current system with that feature, and it must
be in use PRIOR to the D/R situation or test.] This is the only way you
can get A.B.C(0) to correctly resolve at the D/R site with the current
generation as of the time they want to restore (using incremental
backup/restore).

BTDT, and I had to walk all the analysts and managers through the
problem before I got them to see the secondary disaster they were headed
for.

If you are NOT using GDGs, then this does not necessarily apply to you.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: [SPAM] DFDSS - DISASTER RECOVERY (RESTORE) QUESTION.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of O'Brien, David W. (NIH/CIT) [C]
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 12:08 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: [SPAM] DFDSS - DISASTER RECOVERY (RESTORE) QUESTION.

Crystal ball option?  Steve, could you expand on that statement?  =
Perhaps provide a URL or Vendor name?



I believe it was IBM with the OS/VR product they were working on. This
had the ability, via a quantum something or other to tell you in
advance...

Ah yes, virtual reality...

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBMLink Internet access out to lunch again?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Bruce Black
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:50 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBMLink Internet access out to lunch again?

I called the IBMLINK 800 number and got put thru to some wonk who was 
obviously working from a script.
He asked me to start checking Internet Explorer option settings, 
although I clearly told him at the start that I use Mozilla Firefox.
After a few minutes of this, I asked if he had logged on to IBMLINK to 
verify that it was a system problem, not a problem with my PC.   
Apparently this had not occurred to him!!
He finally agreed that IBMLINK was down for everyone and gave me a 
problem number.  Frustrating!



Welcome to best practices.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: News : IBM and outsourcing in Texas

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Steve Comstock
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 3:03 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: News : IBM and outsourcing in Texas


Wow! Definitely not in the mainframe mindset.



You obviously don't work for government. I've done work for four
different states (local, county and state levels) and the mentality is
the same. And they will do this with mainframes, or workstations!

In one case, by some legislative edict, they had 3 different mainframe
machines (each stand-alone). All three systems could have been combined
on one machine and would have had plenty of room to grow. But because of
POLITICS... Today, they would not be able to justify a mainframe
environment, but combined they could easily justify it (based on
economics).

At any rate, all of that county's IT would have run quite nicely under
VM, with each "political" division having its own GUEST, and would have
cut their costs by 60% for environmentals, operations, software
licenses, etc.

And to add insult to injury, if you had to have connections with a
different department/system, you also had to have a dedicated
workstation to talk with it.

Tax dollars at work. No one said that government was logical.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Chase, John
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:54 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: ISPF PF Key Mapping

Hi, All,

Having a bit of a problem getting SWAP PREV mapped to PF18.  I've
previously mapped SWAP NEXT to PF21 and SWAP LIST to PF24 and they both
work, but PF18 only returns "Command Not Active" error message.  I've
updated both the non-keylist and "active keylist" settings and the
updates show in every logical "window", but PF18 doesn't SWAP PREV even
though I've exited/re-entered ISPF and logged off/logged on to TSO.
This is on z/OS 1.5.

What am I missing?


While pondering this, could someone tell me, where in the Fine ISPF
Manuals, I can find how to control scrolling in a help panel. I grow
rather tired of the PF10/11 being jammed down my throat instead of PF7/8
that the regular panels are using (ISPF based application).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Stocker, Herman
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:30 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

The keylist that controls HELP are ISPHELP, ISPHLP2 & ISPKYLST.  If you
change them it should correct your problem, or disable keylist.




ISPHELP and ISPHLP2 show PF7 = UP PF8 = DOWN
ISPKYLST apparently is not defined.

However, from the application panel if I hit PF1 [HELP] the panel that
is displayed is only scrollable by PF10/11! I just can't seem to figure
out how that is happening. And since there is no command line in the
help panel, I can't display the PFKeys being used (and I tried to put
one in it).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Brazee
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 11:14 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

Does someone have a list of various places that we need to go to to
change a key setting everyplace?

RTP with a persuader to think TSO and not CMS.

But then, ISPF was originally SPF which as we all know originated on VM.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Brazee
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 11:27 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

On 30 Nov 2006 08:51:58 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Thompson, Steve  , SCI TW) wrote:

>However, from the application panel if I hit PF1 [HELP] the panel that
>is displayed is only scrollable by PF10/11! I just can't seem to figure
>out how that is happening. And since there is no command line in the
>help panel, I can't display the PFKeys being used (and I tried to put
>one in it).

I have an option line displayed from within HELP, where I can enter
KEYS and change F7 & F8 to LEFT & RIGHT (which is what you want).


The problem is, this in house application is based on a program (not
REXX or CLIST) and drives panels. The PF1 help invokes the help panel
specified in the panel (standard operations). This help panel for some
reason will not take a command line (I tried to put one in it).

The program does not establish PFkeys. So I am baffled as to why the KEY
list that works for all the other panels for this application, does not
apply to the help panels provided by the application. None of the help
panels specify a keylist that I can see.

So this is why I asked about the manuals. This behavior has to be
explained there somewhere, and so far I'm batting 0 at finding it.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Imbriale, Donald (Exchange)
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 12:04 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

What if you go into Dialog Test, set breakpoints (DISPLAY, SELECT, VGET,
anything just to get it to stop), run the app, then use the dialog test
functions to see what's going on?

Don Imbriale


Actually, this is where I started. I went to =7 (dialog test) and put in
the panel name that I was attempting to test. First thing in, once the
panel displayed, I did  because I had changed the help panel to be
scrollable as it now has more info than will fit on a MOD2. That's when
I found that PF10/11 were UP/DOWN not PF7/8.

So driving the panel from the application and hitting , the help
panel came up and sure enough, PF10/11 were the scroll keys, NOT PF7/8.

And the backing program does not set PFKeys, it leaves that entirely to
the user.

So I'm lost. I can't seem to figure out what is changing the scroll keys
to PF10/11 just for the help panels (pick any of our scrollable help
panels, you get the same results).

We are on z/OS 1.7. I also have 1.8 and 1.6 available, but I haven't
gone there to see if we get the same effect. I'm taking the word of
another guy here who has battled this same behavior when he had to make
help panel changes back under 1.4.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Steve Comstock
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 1:37 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ISPF PF Key Mapping


Under help / tutorial the function key assignments are
generally these:

  F1  / F13  HELP - to get help on how to use tutorial.
  F3  / F15  END  - to end the tutorial.
  F3  / F15  EXIT - to end the tutorial.
  F7  / F19  UP or
 BACKWARD - to display a higher level list of topics.
  F8  / F20  DOWN or
 FORWARD  - to go on to the next topic (skip).
  F10 / F22  LEFT - to display the previous page (back).
  F11 / F23  RIGHT- to display the next page, which is the same as
pressing ENTER.

In this mysterious application, are there keylists
defined for the application's own applid? Keylists
can be created outside a panel and then tied to
one or more panels using the "keylist" operand of
the panel definition, so setting keys would not be
visible in the code that drives the displays. Can
you check the panel definition to see if it has a
)PANEL line that includes a KEYLIST(...) entry?

Kind regards,

-Steve Comstock


Yeah, and I can't find any such. As far as I know, this application does
not set keylists, define them, specify them, etc. What ever is currently
in use is the one used.

What I'm afraid of, is having to go into the backing ALC program and see
if it somehow does this. In all the internal doc I've read, I don't see
it.

But, once a keylist has been defined, I should be able to see it when I
display all the keylists, right? It can't magically disappear from the
list (I even used split screen while in the new appl), can it?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ted MacNEIL
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 5:15 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

>SAY 'THE NUMBER OF TRACKS IS' TRK

UGH!
Where's your grammar?
Home. Baking cookies (or dropping them onto your PC).


I can accept 'The number of tracks are'! Even for 1.

I cannot accept 'IS'!

I actually check for that exception when I SAY something.

When in doubt.
PANIC!!  


Is the subject "number" or "tracks"? 

Let's see, if we drop all but the subject...

The number is 200. H. "Number" is single, "is" matches, so "is" is
the correct verb.

However, if the subject is "of tracks"...

The of tracks are 1.  H. The "of" causes a problem. Guess that means
that "of tracks" is not the actual subject, but a prepositional phrase.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Vernooy, C.P. - SPLXM
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 9:35 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: MB to Cyl Conversion


Well, now you hit a topic on the head, that I, as non-English, never was
able to understand, not get a feel for: 
why you say: the police *are* i.s.o. the police *is*... as we do and
lots of other languages. Also: the firebrigade *are*? Why not then: the
population are?

And even more strange is Elvis Costello's text:
Oliver's army *are* on their way, Oliver's army *is* here to stay.
(Unless this is incorrect Enghlish of course).



Englisch tickt nicht Rechtig.

Sorry, I don't know how to put that in Dutch (and I had to use Babel
Fish to get close to the correct spelling).

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Cancelling a job/tso user in a 100% CPU situation.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of McKown, John
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:50 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Cancelling a job/tso user in a 100% CPU situation.

This has come up here. We are in month-end. Our CPU resource is 100%
pretty much constantly. And, even worse, with a CPU Queue Depth of over
20. We end up having problems cancelling TSO users and test batch jobs.
The CANCEL is accepted, but the address space cannot get any CPU to
actually terminate.



What a co-inky-dink. I was just giving this situation some thought this
morning. I used to have a utility routine that would do a CALLRTM and
terminate a JOB/TASK with the Sxxx I desired. Seems that this is how
RESOLVE did it back when I was at Droole & Babble (as I recall it forced
a S222).

But, this then comes back to the question, under WLM, will the target
JOB/Task get CPU to be terminated? I would think it does because the MVS
CANCEL command handles this a bit differently if I remember correctly.

Perhaps you could write the same and get it blessed?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Vernooy, C.P. - SPLXM
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 2:12 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

"Thompson, Steve  , SCI TW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
message
news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> -Original Message-

> 
> 
> Englisch tickt nicht Rechtig.
> 
> Sorry, I don't know how to put that in Dutch (and I had to use Babel
> Fish to get close to the correct spelling).
> 
> Regards,
> Steve Thompson

Steve,
I read it over and over, but can't make anything from it. It is not
Dutch, it looks like German but isn't either, maybe it is South African
which, I don't know.

What would it be in English?

Kees.

-
English (the language) ticks not rightly.

It is a German idiom normally ascribed to an individual or group. Such
as "He ticks not rightly" or "They tick not rightly".

My point was, English is a crazy language. 

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBMLink and EOS for z/OS 1.4

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Rifkind
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 2:20 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: IBMLink and EOS for z/OS 1.4


Would anyone know if IBMLink will answer and ETR if it
isn't version/release dependent?


I have always gotten response to ETRs as long as what I was asking about
was still in support. For instance, an SA/390 problem, not related to
the O/S -- I would get answers to issues.

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Nigel Hadfield
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 12:57 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

It's difficult to see why they are suing, especially when they never
sued
PCMs in previous generations. Surely they could simply refuse to licence
z/OS on the PSI machines. That would put PSI out of business just as
quickly.

Nigel



The PCMs from a prior life all had to license patents from IBM and
others. AMDAHL actually has/had patents that IBM had to as I recall.
Then, I think, there were patents owned by NS (National Semi-Conductor),
among others.

However, when the last consent decree expired, and the EU requirement to
divulge the interfaces expired, notice that AMDAHL & HDS got out of the
mainframe biz (funny how that all coincided with "64 bit" based
architecture).

Now, the question is, is IBM using this to hold on to the mainframe
market? If they are, then the argument of anti-trust may be considered
by the courts.

But being that I did not stay in whatever that hotel was, that I don't
play a shark on TV or radio (or was that attorney?)... You get my drift.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Patrick O'Keefe
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 2:31 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

On Tue, 5 Dec 2006 21:06:53 -0600, Phil Sidler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

wrote:


I was just wondering, who owns/owned the patent that covered AMDAHL's
FAM (Fast Assist Mode)? It was a quasi hardware/software system that
allowed the Hypervisor (MDF) to recognize a PIC 1 at the DOMAIN (LPAR to
IBM types) and pass that immediately to the "emulated" OPCODE table
(which was a 2 level look up for the double byte op codes).

But WAIT, isn't that how VM/370 handled things (PRE IEF/SIE)? So any
patent there would have to have expired.

And the idea of MACROs being used -- well, on the S/360-20 we had BAL
and BALR macros that generated BAS and BASR (16 bit registers, no where
to save the "LINK" data). That was done BEFORE software patents were
allowed.

It would be very interesting indeed to know what the patent(s) are IBM
is claiming infringement on. And it will be VERY interesting to see what
the US Supreme Court does with this patent challenge they are going to
"hear". Should they change the definition of "obviousness"...

Later,
Steve Thompson 

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Re: [OT] Merry xmas & Chanukah

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Elardus Engelbrecht
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 5:39 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: [OT] Merry xmas & Chanukah

Galambos, Robert wrote:

You forgot one language! 'Sign Language' ... Hmmm, don't know how you 
would sign on a discussion list, but ... :D



"Sign Language" is not just one language (and you don't know how much I
wished it was!). 

When I was helping some one with their sign language class while working
in OH, their teacher asked where they got their California accent (I
learned ASL, Pidgen, and Signed English all in California). It is
difficult to discuss things with deaf from the British Isles because
their signs are, well different.

I know it existed, don't know if it still does, but Indians in the North
American continent had their own sign language.

My 1/2 cent's worth while having my first mug of coffee.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Alan Altmark
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 10:39 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones


Companies threaten each other all the time.  That's how progress is
made. 
:-)  But anti-trust is a far cry from intellectual property protection. 
IMO, a company has every right to protect its patents, doesn't it?

"Anti-trust" implies an *unfair* control of the market.  It isn't clear
to 
me that preventing patent infringement would be unfair.  If that were
the 
case, there would be no incentive to have patents in the first place. 
Licenses to them are bargaining chips in B2B relationships, whether 
exchanged for licenses to others' patents or for cash.

The licensing of patents is part of IBM's business model.  This is 
discussed in good detail in the 2005 Annual Report (
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/annualreport/2005/2005_ibm_annual.pdf).  As
an 
IBM stockholder, I really do hope they don't allow someone else to 
duplicate or use patented technology for their financial benefit without

compensation.  If they derive a benefit, then so, too, should IBM.  I 
expect the same of every company I invest in; *I* expect them to protect

*my* investment.  And if licensing the technology to someone else would 
hurt more than it would help, then I see no compelling reason to license

it.


I think the problem here is an understanding by some (right or wrong)
that IBM is NOT licensing patents that apply to z/ARCHITECTURE. This is
where an idea would come from of anti-trust or monopolizing the market.

Some entities have felt that IBM is running away from the low end
market, and could see where they could get business in that area that
would possibly grow. Now if those customers grew in size (or in "MIPS"
demand), those small processor providers could grow in MIPS supplied. 

In my view, it is IBM preventing this from happening is where the
concern is. 

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Get around Double tape marks?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Andy White
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 11:18 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Get around Double tape marks?

I tried BLP didn't make a difference with Ditto it still honored the
double
tape marks.
Andy
Internet: Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]



DITTO, as I recall, does its OWN I/O to the device. So it won't care
about what you specified in the JCL (other than to get to the device).

Meanwhile, if you use IEBGENER, and BLP, you can peal the data set off.

Gone are the days when we updated tape files in place... I would have
suggested that you write 8 bytes (or less) immediately after the tape
mark (which would have been treated as a noise block upon read).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: D U command for DASD

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Rifkind
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 10:41 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: D U command for DASD

Hello,

Can anyone help me out with the command syntax for
what I think is a D U command to display the details
of DASD volumes including the control unit type.

I have checked the z/OS commands manual and tied a
number of thing but can't seem to hit on the proper
syntax.

Thanks.


Would you actually be needing the IODF data via HCD?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: OUTLIM aborts

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Brazee
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 10:55 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: OUTLIM aborts

I have a proc where I wish to override an output:

=20

//TEBC#1.REPORT2  DD OUTLIM=3D00500  =20



Try the following with a TYPRUN=SCAN on the JOB card to see if it gives
you what you want:

//TEBC#1.REPORT2  DD OUTLIM=0,SYSOUT=*

The idea here is to prevent the S722 ABEND. It will not handle anything
else. Also, if you are JES3 a new set of limits will be in effect (site
limits as I recall). If you are JES2, then the JOBPARM card's limits
will now control (but for the WHOLE JOB not just this DD).


Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: D U command for DASD

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 11:00 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: D U command for DASD



Would you actually be needing the IODF data via HCD?

Later,
Steve Thompson


WOW! What a delay in posting. That was sent almost 3 hours ago!

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: How recover from unrecoverable DCB ABEND?

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Charles Mills
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 4:38 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: How recover from unrecoverable DCB ABEND?

Yes.

Charles



Off the top of my head, you may have to use your DCB ABEND exit to set a
flag or two. The return and allow the code to ABEND.

Meanwhile, you will need to have an ESTAE that will recognize the ABEND
and RETRY at the address you decide on. You can then cleanly shutdown
anything you need to, including doing CLOSE processing.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of McKown, John
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:48 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones




I think trying to argue that IBM is a monopoly by looking at the zSeries
market would very likely fail miserably. The market for zSeries is
relatively small in the overall market, at least compared to Intel. I
don't know how zSeries compares to Wintel or Lintel in terms of revenue
(or profit), but in absolute numbers, it is teeny-tiny.



I think that their successfully arguing this (monopoly in mainframes)
will largely depend on WHY AMDAHL decided to stop making mainframes as
well as HDS.

If the PCMs were forced out of the industry by actions taken by IBM,
then the counter claim by PSI may prevail in a very big way.
Particularly with a Democratically controlled White House in the USofA.

And should this get argued in the EU, they may stand a chance of getting
the old rules re-instated.

But, I did not stay in the prerequisite lodging establishment last night
and I am not a lawyer. 

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Tom Marchant
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 8:29 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:55:44 -0500, Thompson, Steve (SCI TW) wrote:

>
>If the PCMs were forced out of the industry by actions taken by IBM,
>then the counter claim by PSI may prevail in a very big way.
>Particularly with a Democratically controlled White House in the USofA.
>

ITYM congress, but what does that have to do with a civil suit?


I was referring to PSI asserting anti-trust. It is not that this would
trump IBM's patent claims, but might mitigate them if IBM were making it
too difficult to license. It would also cause IBM problems if they were
to license the patents but IBM then refuses to allow z/OS (or z/VM or
z/VSE) to run on other than IBM hardware.

And then there is the history of having its hand slapped [IBM] for this
behavior in the past. IBM would have an uphill battle in proving the
anti-trust claim is invalid because of past problems in light of two new
PCM wannabes that get stopped from expanding, after all the other
competition to IBM's mainframe systems went away.

But again, I am not a lawyer. I am only looking at this from a
historical viewpoint.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Tom Moulder
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 11:47 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones


Nor am I a lawyer, but it would appear to me that PSI lawyers could also
attack the patent itself as being justified.  After all, how many ways
can
there be to round a number to the nearest integer?  Could you properly
require every hardware manufacturer to come up with a new means for
rounding?  And, why hasn't IBM gone after HP or SUN or anyone that uses
a
computer to round?  How about my TI calculator?  Does it round also?



It is time for me to bow out. I've already been an expert witness
against a software patent holder (who got a patent on Automated
Operations via a second computer after IBM, Boole & Babbage, Candle,
etc. were already doing it). To say that I'm appalled with what drivel
will get you a software patent doesn't begin to describe my indignation
at this means of using law to beat up someone else.

Let's just say that the patent holder is presumed to be righteous, and
the "defendant" (or plaintiff if challenging) has the ENTIRE burden. And
unless they can demonstrate (or are willing to do so) that the patent
filer committed fraud to get their patent, just winning the suit and
having the patent trashed is the best outcome. The worst is having to
pay the other side's attorney fees, etc. plus lost "revenue" 

Like I said, time for me to walk away. [Deep breath, exhale slowly,
repeat].

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Jeffrey D. Smith
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 3:46 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

Trade secrets are exactly what the name says. It's a secret, so it's
not published anywhere. Patents, OTOH, are by definition published to
provide constructive notice to the world. A patent applies to a
implementation of a *process*, not to an idea. I believe that software
is a written representation of an idea and not a process. It is the
computer device that actually performs the process as directed by the
software. I think extending the concept of "implementation" beyond
physical hardware to the software was a mistake.


And here we have the crux of the matter.

If I write a set of programs that allows a call center operator to key
in 3 pieces of information and then hit the enter key (1 click), and
billing data, shipping, etc. is all put together and with no further
human intervention the charge is made (if any), the address for delivery
is printed on a label (or whatever), etc. and the item now arrives at
your home, then haven't I done what Amazon (or whoever) claimed for a
patent for one click?

BUT, what I did was covered by TRADE SECRET in the mid-80s for a news
paper company. It can't be pulled up and cited by the PTO as "its
already been done, patent denied".

How about LLA? It was implemented on at least 1 S/370-158 that I know of
in the LA basin under OS/MVS. Is it the next thing to be patented?

Then there is the idea of putting multiple small files into a larger
file to save disk space. So you get a patent for this. Anyone hear of
PDS, PDS/E, or VSAM (which does this kind of thing with DOS), how about
WINZIP? How about the software written for NASA to do this on UNIVAC
systems under EXEC-8 (I wrote one). But M/S filed for such a patent.

Patents for software have become WRONG. The longer I'm in this
profession, the stronger this professional opinion is (not as a lawyer,
but as a software developer).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Bob Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 5:05 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

>How about LLA? It was implemented on at least 1 S/370-158 that I know
of in >the LA basin under OS/MVS. Is it the next thing to be patented?

I can't speak to LLA, but VLF has been patented. I didn't think LLA
existed in any form until MVS/XA.



We had Linklist Look Aside at an employer's site in Pasadena CA before
MVS/SE(1). The concepts for many of these things existed, or were
already in use before IBM took the O/S OCO. 

We also had the ability to dynamically replace some LPA members,
including SVCs (types 3 & 4) LONG before SVCUPDTE (again, MVS/370, pre
MVS/SE).

Another interesting thing: We had what today is called smart batch. We
had a program called "Driver" and a few "smart" I/O routines. They were
plugged together so that 90% of our I/O was buffer passing between
programs running under the control of Driver. The S/370-158 we had
generally glowed RED, ran at close to 100% all day long and provided our
terminal users (we had our own terminal control system) with < 2 Sec
response times.

So the new kids on the block think they are inventing stuff -- things
that the mainframe crowd in some cases discarded.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Decimal FP (was: vendor JCL)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ted MacNEIL
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 3:26 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Decimal FP (was: vendor JCL)

>>Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On Line.

>I know that's what IBM says it meant.
>I don't believe them, I think SPOOL always meant spool.

I don't know about that.
The first time I heard it was in the mid-1970's (in University) and I
was told, then, that was what it stood for.

If it were to be coined today, it would be SPOO, since Online is now one
word.


If I remember correctly, that was what it was called on a Burroughs
B-series system.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: S0C1 with ILC 6

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Gibney, Dave
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:15 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: S0C1 with ILC 6


You can get a S0C1 (PIC 1) with ILC 6 if the prior instruction that
executed successfully was a 6 byte instruction.

If you EXecute an instruction (6 byte) and then the next instruction is
not valid, you will get the ILC 6.

So, you need to look at the PSW location again. Then backup 6 bytes and
see if that is a valid instruction. If not, you have your culprit.

However, if it is, I think it is time to provide what you have to both
the ISV and IBM.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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IPCS & ASID

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

I'm working on a little problem. I have an SVCDUMP that contains more
than one address space. I have a LARGE exec library for diagnosing
various things.

 

The problem is, I just can't seem to establish the ASID to be used for
addresses, C/Bs, etc.

 

Would anyone have a quick hint on how to convince a CLIST or REXX which
address space I am trying to process? I have tried to set (from the
defaults panel) the asid I want, but that doesn't seem to cut it. And so
far, trying to specify ASID on commands hasn't worked too well.

 

I am trying to RTFM and look at IBM's supplied REXX/CLIST for IPCS, but
obviously I'm missing something.

 

If I don't respond for about a day, its because I've finally crashed
from exhaustion (end of year stuff that has to be done so QA will bless
a product release).

 

Later,

Steve Thompson


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Re: MB to Cyl Conversion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Rick Fochtman
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 10:13 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: MB to Cyl Conversion


Since we're talking about DASD space, shouldn't those factors be 1000, 
as opposed to 1024 ??


H. DASD operating on a radix of 10 instead of 2. 

I hope M/S doesn't patent that concept.

[It's Monday, I've dealt with too many PC oriented people over the
weekend.]

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alan 
Altmark
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 10:49 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:52:45 -0500, Shmuel Metz (Seymour J.)  wrote:

>However, refusing to license patents on reasonable terms, or using
>invalid patents to restrict competition, could well be.

Of course, but it is a different issue and does not prevent a company, a 
priori, from enforcing its patent rights.

People have talked about several things:
- The validity of patents
- Patents vs. Copyrights
- The requirement to license a patent
- The terms of a patent license
- Software licenses, terms and conditions

All are reasonably debated and interrelated, but a ruling against one is 
not a ruling against all.  And while someone may not like IBM's actions in 
all of the above areas, or may even disagree with the laws that govern 
them, it seems encumbent on us to support IBM's *right* to take action 
under existing law.

It's kinda like that old saw in the US about free speech: I may not agree 
with what you say, but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it.

If anyone wants to read about it, Title 35 of the United States Code is 
filled with fun and interesting facts about patents.  Copyrights can be 
found in Title 17.



Your arguments, vis-à-vis arguing about patents, violates my pending patent on 
"The business reasons for generating arguments about patents (software) and 
thereby causing competitor's employees to not be working at full efficiency."



Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Plurals and language confusion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Chase, John
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 2:39 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Plurals and language confusion

> -Original Message-
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List On Behalf Of Patrick O'Keefe
> 
> Words change over time.  There used to be a legume called the 
> "pease" in English.  But that sounded plural so people 
> started using as such.  And a word means what people think it 
> means, so that legume is now the "pea".
> That was long before acronyms were common (if they existed at 
> all).  I suspect "PIN" is well on it's way to becoming "pin" 
> with a definition something like "A password consisting of digits".

So eventually we might not need to remind folks to enter their Personal
Identificati
on Number number when they visit an Automated Teller Machine
machine?



Would that be why the drive up access only ATM machines have Braille on
them to assist the hearing impaired? And all this time I thought those
other drivers got their DLs the department of Cracker Jacks (name owned
by its owner, who else?).

Can this world get any more dumbed down and screwy?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Plurals and language confusion

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Clark Morris
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 5:15 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Plurals and language confusion



Many blind people are in a passenger seat or walk around the car to
use the ATM.  The Colorado Drivers Manual may be on audio tape for the
functionally illiterate or for the same reason people with good
eyesight buy talking books.  Similarly, we need to make sure our
computer systems are accessible to users who may have various
limitations.  If you are in the United States make certain that your
web-site developers are aware of the disability regulations (section
506 0r 508 as I recall).  I have found them via search engine.  


Maybe because I am a bit dyslexic (and suffering with sleep
deprivation), I have a hard time with this. Meanwhile, I have, so far,
been unable to find a flat screen monitor that will put up the dots so
it can be read via Braille [OK, yes I do know that there are Braille
readers, I have known people that need/use them].

But it has been a long month for me. A little slap-happy humor (while a
bit OT for the subject) without you being able to see the tip of my
tongue laying on the floor...

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IPCS & ASID

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 4:25 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: IPCS & ASID

I'm working on a little problem. I have an SVCDUMP that contains more
than one address space. I have a LARGE exec library for diagnosing
various things.

=20

The problem is, I just can't seem to establish the ASID to be used for
addresses, C/Bs, etc.


The problem is with FIND inside our REXX code. If we use SETDEF
ASID(x'0043') (or some such), the FIND returns RC=4. If we put the ASID
on the FIND it returns RC=4.

If we do an =1; ; and set to the ASID we want with address "00." and
then issue FIND for the same data, it finds what we are looking for.

The RC=4 just doesn't tell us enough about what is wrong with the FIND
in this case. It would appear that it is not a syntax problem because
the FIND in question works just fine when the dump contains a single
address space (via DUMP, SLIP or SYSMDUMP).

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: HCD EDT's Generics

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Howard Rifkind
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 4:37 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: HCD EDT's Generics

Hello,

I've create a new EDT 01 from the 00 menber.

I have the following listed for generics:

/,Generic Name  ,Preference Value  ,VIO
_,SCTC, ,  8300,   ,No
_,3211, ,  1900,   ,No
_,3277-2  , ,  3800,   ,No
_,3390, ,   280,   ,No
_,3480, ,  1100,   ,No
_,3590-1  , ,   950,   ,No
_,3791L   , ,  7700,   ,No
_,4245, ,  1890,   ,No

I would like to break out the 3390 generic into 2
groups; 3390-3 and 3390-9.


Since I no longer work on HCD/IODF, I can only make a suggestion that
you define ESOTERICs for them. And I am only suggesting this because of
how few of us are at our respective desks at this point in the year.

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Mark H. Young
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 8:55 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

Haven't their lawyers heard of "Stare Decicis" ?


Decide differently regardless of what is written? (Loses a lot in
translation).

How about Res judicata? Let it rest, it has already been adjudicated.

[Obviously I'm not a lawyer, I've just had too much fun dealing with
court systems.]

Again, the problem is, all the consent decrees have expired (US and EU).
So it would have to be argued again in the courts. And I guess that is
exactly where IBM wants it, because now they can argue that they are not
in control of a large share of the computer market.

 That's assuming you call the tinker toys computers <\bigot>  ;-)

Later,
Steve Thompson

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REXX Question - Variable Control & Passing (IPCS/ISPF)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

I have a problem where I would like to pass some number of variables
between different REXX sources (in this case >200).

 

I have placed the variables into a single REXX source. And I know that
this can't be called and then have those variables available in the
calling REXX exec (if I can, that would be wonderful). I can't find a
"copy" statement that would allow me to copy the one source (similar to
ALC or COBOL to copy a common record description) so that each EXEC that
uses the common variables can get them. 

 

Also, putting these variables into each EXEC that needs them makes this
a maint nightmare because one would have to know every place they
exist...

 

My options at this point seem to be IPCS EQUATE for each variable or
ISPF VGET/VPUT. Since we do handle multi-address space dumps, the IPCS
EQUATE seems to be headed toward heartburn. The ISPF VGET/VPUT brings up
its own set of heartburn in that if you change from one dump to another,
you have to re-establish the variables.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Regards,

Steve Thompson


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Re: REXX Question - Variable Control & Passing (IPCS/ISPF)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Arthur T.
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 9:55 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: REXX Question - Variable Control & Passing (IPCS/ISPF)


  Create a single string with all of the assignment 
statements separated by some character (e.g. ';').  Use 
that as the return string from a function call.  Parse the 
return and interpret each assignment.  Trivial (but tested) 
example follows:


Duh! 

What you described is effectively the REXX version of COPY. 

I guess I just got too close to the problem to see a simple solution.

(Meanwhile, I was taking the original list of variables being assigned
their values and was processing with a MACRO and PUNCH...  I've been
doing too many conversions).

Thanx,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Question about SVC 109

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Lindy Mayfield
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 3:07 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Question about SVC 109

So type-3 or type-4 is the same nowdays?



As I recall, TYPE 3 are single page SVCs, while TYPE 4 may be larger
than 4096 in size.

But for all intents and purposes, they are the same now. But as a
purist, and to prevent some weird and hard to diagnose error, I honor
the difference.

Regard,
Steve Thompson

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Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ray Mullins
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 4:42 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: IBM sues maker of Intel-based Mainframe clones

You make the presumption (sorry) that this doctrine applies to all court
cases.  It only constitutionally applies to criminal courts.  In civil
court, the burden of proof is on the defendant - always has been, even
in
English common law.  That's why OJ owes the Goldman family a bazillion
dollars or something like that.

In a similar vein, that "free speech" "right" applies only to "Congress
shall pass no law...".  In a private corporation, there is no such
thing, so
if you say the CEO is a cheatin' lowlife who steals from the company,
you
can be fired, and he can sue you for libel, which is in a civil court,
so it
is up to you to prove that he is a cheatin' lowlife who is stealing from
the
company.  (Of course, you might get lucky and have proof, in which case
you
should have contacted your local district attorney first and presented
the
information.)


Later,
Ray


Ray:

Methinks you have a few things confused. In a CIVIL case, the burden is
upon the Plaintif, but one only needs a preponderance of evidence, not
beyond reasonable doubt.

Your CEO item is slander, not libel (unless you "published" your
opinion). However, you are still entitled to Free Speech. It is just
that your freedom is somewhat controllable by one's employer (e.g.,
dissemination of trade secret or confidential info, things that damage
morale of fellow employees, cause customers problems, etc.).

Now, if you are a public individual, slander and libel become more
difficult (wait until The Donald attempts his threatened lawsuit against
Rosy). Which is why "news" entities aren't out of business.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: REXX Question - Variable Control & Passing (IPCS/ISPF)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Hunkeler Peter (KIUK 3)
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 9:35 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: REXX Question - Variable Control & Passing (IPCS/ISPF)

Assuming you want to stick to REXX and the variables are in
a separate member, something like this should work:


That works when you know where the member is that holds what you are
after.

However, by taking the member and having it issue a MAKEBUF and then
QUEUEing the variables into there, the calling EXEC can then issue PULL
var_name followed by INTERPRET var_name.

That is as close to a COPY member as I can get with REXX.

And it worked on the third try (too much chocolate stuff stuck to
fingers makes for finger checks and messy kegtops.

See what I mean?

Thanks for the ideas to all. The MAKEBUF/QUEUE/PULL/INTERPRET wokrs
exactly like I need.

Regards,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Max Allocation w/ Space= DD

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Dean Montevago
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 11:12 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Max Allocation w/ Space= DD

Hi,
What's the max number of cyl's you can specify for primary/secondary
allocations ? I have mod-9's in an SMS pool and tried
SPACE=3D(CYL,(4000,4000),RLSE) and received an E37-00 Extend failed
04034379. The 4379 (17273 dec) says, Allocation failed for all volumes
selected for the data set. I searched some of the manuals and can't seem
to locate anything. Then again it was our Holiday Party last night, and
the fog is a bit thick today.
TIA & Happy Holidays to All.
Dean=20



>From my z/OS 1.7 JCL REF:

-

The size of a data set is limited to 65,535 tracks per volume except for
the following types of data sets: 
- Hierarchical File System (HFS) 
- Extended format sequential 
- Partitioned data set extended (PDSE) 
- VSAM - Large format 

-

There is also LBI (Large Block Interface), and if this bit is turned on
(in the Format 1 DSCB?), then it may also exceed the 65,535 (64K) Track
limitation.

Note this is MAX tracks on A VOLUME, period (that's all primary and
secondary extents combined).

Now, with SMS and DSNTYPE=LARGE, etc., the 64K track limitation is
removed (as listed above).

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Max Allocation w/ Space= DD

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Dean Montevago
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 1:52 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Max Allocation w/ Space= DD

Can anybody comment on this: I specify 4000/4000cyl and z/OS allocates
1/4000cyl. The info you guys provided has been very helpful but I don't
understand why I'm getting this


How much space is available on the VOL? How many extents are needed to
meet the 4000 primary request?

If it can't be met, you will fail allocation.

Also, what z/OS are you running?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Data replication at a remote site - elementary doubt

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Mautalen Juan Guillermo
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 7:59 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Data replication at a remote site - elementary doubt

Hi,

Sorry for this very basic question, but i am not a system programmer
(just a RACF administrator).

When you implement synchronuous (or asynchronuous) copy of your DASD
data to a remote site, is it necessary for the remote site to have a
z/OS system active?
Or is the copy performed at a hardware level between both DASD
controllers?

Thanks for your help,



No it is not required. And until you issue commands that stop the
mirroring (depending on how implemented), the remote site can't have
anything but read access to the data, if at all. In the case of a HOT
D/R site, the remote processor(s) may be powered, but not IPL'ed. Upon
the mirroring being stopped (by commands or by the links being broken
for some reason), the "HOT" standby can now IPL.

Simple explanation for NON-Tech or someone not deeply involved in remote
mirroring.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: RACF - Password rules.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Chase, John
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 8:53 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: RACF - Password rules.


Hopefully "password reset" will include a provision for resetting (or
deleting) a forgotten pass phrase.  It would be "unfortunate" to forget
exactly how one spelled something like,
"TwennyfivadollaBiddanowathuttyDollaThuttydollabiddathuttydollanowabidon
emallathirtydollargimmethuttydollanowahulamakeathuttydollabid".  :-)


SOLD! To the man with the JES3 button.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Craddock, Chris
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 12:29 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

> > I bought an external 500GB USB2 backup disk for a home system
> > yesterday for a couple of hundred bucks.

> You are not doing an apples-to-apples comparison.

Yes I do know the difference and I know it's not an apples to apples
comparison. The point is that the drives for these cheap and cheerful PC
wing-dings are the same and you can actually buy out of the box RAID
solutions for not a lot of dough. There is some uniqueness in the mf
solution, but the raw hardware cost doesn't go close to explaining the
price customers pay. Can you say gouging boys and girls?


Perhaps it is gouging, perhaps not. The RVA in question must meet the
FICON/ESCON protocols. It must also do error correction/detection. It
must also support multi-pathing, controller behavior, etc.

All of those things have some costs. That's why SCSI devices cost more
than [E]IDE (or so the disk vendors tell me).

And going back to the squatty box boys/girls ROFLMAO routine, the next
time you do a D/R test, who actually recovers? And if they do recover,
do they recover at a known point in time (synchronized with the other
platforms so that you don't have a secondary disaster)? Or did they say
something about how they run 24x7 while the mainframe has to have a
batch window? [Which happens to be a design choice, not specifically a
mainframe forced behavior.]

Don't forget to remind management when a squatty box fails in the middle
of the day that the mainframe is STILL running. And if you ever have to
have a power supply replaced on the mainframe (concurrent maint), don't
forget to remind management of that fact -- NO Down Time (what the "Z"
is supposed to refer to is Zero down time if I remember correctly).

And like I used to say when I was still doing systems programming for a
living -- The mainframe's biggest attraction is BOREDOM. It is a tool
that does what it needs to do, all day with very little maintenance.

The biggest attraction for the squatty boxes is their ability to
generate excitement with NO WARNING. Right now, even as I type this, one
of my co-workers is experiencing that excitement. Not only did a boot
drive fail, but the power supply burned up right after swapping drives!
And no, the problem child machine did not have RAID.

So what's worth more to a business, a cheap box that fails with no
warning, or a more expensive box that runs for 3-5 years with PLANNED
down time?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: V2X2 vs. Shark (SnapShot v. FlashCopy)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Pinnacle
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 5:28 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: V2X2 vs. Shark (SnapShot v. FlashCopy)

My current client has a V2X2 and is thinking about replacing it with a 
Shark.  SnapShot is used to snap 600 volumes in about 5-10 minutes.  The

physical tape backups are done from the snaps and take about 8 hours.
This 
DR process is fully tested and works great.  My main concern if we
replace 
the V2X2 with the Shark is the DR process.  Has FlashCopy improved to
the 
point that you can make a point in time backup and physically move it to

tape later?  And can you FlashCopy the entire box in a few minutes?  If
not, 
the DR process for this client is going to get much more complicated.
PPRC 
or XRC are not options due to cost.  Let me know your thoughts.



What you describe is exactly what I did for a client in Columbus OH.
They had a Shark for their mainframe. We flashed as soon as the batch
cycle ended and then did the full volume copies to tape (2 copies) (one
for on site and one for offsite). As I recall, Backups of the flash
copies started between 5a-6a and finished by 9AM.  3390-3s and 3490 with
"oreos". I've forgotten how many 3490 units and how many DASD units.

Oh yeah, and D/R tests worked the first time, every time.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: V2X2 vs. Shark (SnapShot v. FlashCopy)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Pinnacle
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:56 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: V2X2 vs. Shark (SnapShot v. FlashCopy)



Steve,

Over what period of time were the volumes FlashCopy'd?  My understanding
is 
that DFDSS front-ends the FlashCopy function, so you only get the
FlashCopy 
just before DFDSS can do the physical backup to tape.  Can you batch all
the 
FlashCopy's, then copy them to tape later?  It's very important to keep
the 
time window when the volumes are actually copied as small as possible.



It has been about 4 years since I was involved with that process. As I
recall, from the time the flashcopy jobs started to the time they were
all completed was about 10 minutes (we did not flash all the volumes at
once, automation submitted the flash jobs so many seconds/minutes
apart). 

Batch jobs were complete at that point (except for incremental backups).
As soon as the flashcopy jobs completed, on-lines (CICS) could become
active (the files were closed/disabled in CICS terms) and TSO max users
was changed from 0. The jobs were then started to backup the flashed
volumes.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Withdrawal of VM ServiceLink

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ed Finnell
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:11 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Withdrawal of VM ServiceLink

 
In a message dated 1/8/2007 9:51:22 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

"You  can't win.  You can't break even.  You can't even quit the  game."




or 
"You can check out, but you can never leave"
 
It's really silliness. They got to have product listings for themselves.
So  
how you gonna promote the industry? Let the people that need to see it,
see 
it!  They already signed NDA's out the ying-yang what's the big  deal? 


Well, we have determined that the green screen systems can't do
GUI... aren't storage efficient...

[The Peterson Principle is still in effect.]

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ward, Mike S
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 2:11 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

Take a look
here=0D=0A=0D=0A=20=0D=0A=0D=0Ahttp://computerworld.com/action/=
article.do=3Fcommand=3DviewArticleBasic&taxo=0D=0AnomyName=3Dhardware&ar
tic=
leId=3D9006994&taxonomyId=3D12=0D=0A=20=0D=0A=0D=0A=20=0D=0A=0D=0A=20=0D=0A=0D=0A---
--O=
riginal Message




Is this just me, or did anyone else get this scrambled this bad? And if
so, what is the cause, our Exchange/Outlook or the sender's email
client?

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Jon Brock
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 2:28 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Just another example of mainframe costs.

It wasn't that bad for me.  Just so you can get to it, this URL should
work in the short term:

http://tinyurl.com/y6drqb



I read the article finally (someone else sent me the link offline).

All I have to say is, I had a client that spent (my best guess) just
over US$100 Million to prove this. 

First, they had a 3 TB Shark and the master file they needed had to be
flattened (no packed data, no redefined fields). That file and all the
others needed for the data base they had to build took up about 3 TB
alone (the open systems' sharks added up to about 9TB).

Then, they had to have 4 servers for web page service (including the
workload manager). 4 data base servers, 4 application servers, multiple
GiGE adapters (to handle the I/O workload).

Meanwhile the Prez (or his proxy) forbid CICS/TS to do HTML. And the
projected workload handled by the mainframe had been exceeded, the
designed workload could not be met by the open systems.

The ONLY system that migrated off the mainframe was the financial
application, which went to Oracle. I was told that the Oracle database
needed 5 times the disk space they had been using under z/OS.

The other projects were abandoned because they were not going to expand
the data center for the 3rd time to handle the number of boxes needed.

I had another client before this one that effectively pulled off the
same thing, migrating 3 mainframe systems (newly acquired entities) to
an open systems solution. They did not migrate all the mainframe systems
to one stable system first. They built the new system from scratch.
While management declared it a success, the users found it to be a
flaming disaster. They acquired another company that had a working
system, the CIO "retired" and they migrated to the functional system
(betcha can't guess what hardware it was on).

I have only been involved in two migrations from mainframe to
non-mainframe that worked. The financial app mentioned above and another
one to a S/36!

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Withdrawal of VM ServiceLink (apology)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ted MacNEIL
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 3:18 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Withdrawal of VM ServiceLink

>[The Peterson Principle is still in effect.]

If you mean the one where everybody is promoted to their level of
incompetance, it's the "Peter Principle".
Named after (the latey) Professor Lawrence J. Peter.



My apologies to all and in particular, Prof Peter.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Rolled Off GDG's

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Mark Steely
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 2:31 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Rolled Off GDG's

What does it mean when when a GDG status is ROLLED-OFF.


It means that the generation data set (GDS) is no longer part of the
GDG. That means that if you coded the following:

//SYSUT1  DD  DSN=POP.FLGD.FLD100.BYFLT,DISP=SHR

you should get all the generations still in the GDG base, but none of
the ones listed as "Rolled Off".

Now, how is it that you have GDSes that are not in the GDG base?

Well, it can be done by allocating the GDS with an expiration date (this
is what I see most of the time with Tapes). It can also be that the GDS
is allocated specifically (i.e., not with ...(+n)) -- and is behind
where the GDG base currently is on GooVoo numbers.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of mainframe costs.)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Tom Marchant
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:23 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of
mainframe costs.)

On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 23:10:11 -0600, Bill Seubert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

>My pet peeve is the tendancy of some of the unwashed masses to refer to
>Wintel and/or *IX systems as "open systems" versus "mainframes."

And Windows is certainly not open.


Windows are open, M/S implementation of Windows is not [Don't go there,
M/S is still trying to perfect the TM on the generic name of Windows.]

Later,
Steve Thompson

My comments are MY opinion and may or probably do not reflect the
opinion of my employer or the US Government, among others.

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ABEND U999 in ISPF

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

Can anyone give me any reason why a REXX routine would cause ISPF to die
with a U0999 and dump you off to TSO READY?

 

OK, background to this: ISPF IPCS REXX. All the REXX exec does is look
at a dump to find a certain type of control block and list it, note some
comments, and exit.

 

The problem is, for most users the REXX in question works with no
problem. For yours truly (trying to add some new functionality), it
takes ISPF out.

 

I have rebuilt my profile D/S and that didn't do anything except cause
me to lose things other applications needed.

 

Regards,

Steve Thompson


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Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Rob Scott
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 8:44 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

Steve,

>From the ISPF Msgs and Codes book :

Abend code 999 (or X'3E7') This abend is issued for the following
reasons: 


Yes, I know. I have a printed copy of those two pages. It is why I
killed my profile D/S and had it rebuilt.

I have captured the dump from this. I can't find why ISPMAIN decided to
ABEND U0999.

However, in the dump I found several IOS10002I messages. But I seriously
doubt this is the problem, or everyone here using this exec would have
the problem.

But I get it using the original or with my changes.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Rob Scott
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 9:37 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

Have you checked the DCB attributes for the ISPF DD allocations? - if
you have a logon exec/clist it could be including datasets that are not
in other peoples environment.

Does the exec work in batch? If so - what happens?


There is very little difference in the concats. My userid.CLIST has the
REXX being worked on (the one in question) and the typical (for this
shop) local routines for userid specific logon allocations.

The DCB attributes haven't changed. 

The REXX in question works just fine (from the environment's point of
view) when invoked as a subroutine. But when I do it as the top routine,
ISPF falls over with U0999. When any of my coworkers run it, no
problem!!!

The problem first showed up when I was running TRX (which is how all of
us run normally). So I took out TRX and it worked. I left this REXX to
fix something else and then this REXX started falling over when I came
back to it (with TRX out of the system).

OK, now for the batch question.

Ran just fine. And it looks like it will be easier to put the new
functionality in using batch (makes them traces easier to take) -- wish
I'd thought of this earlier.

But I'd like to know why I'm so blessed. This one I can't chalk up to
being ugly and my mother dressing me funny. I don't have to tie my shoes
any more, I get to use Velcro. However, these extra long sleeves do get
in the way from time to time.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Rob Scott
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:33 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: ABEND U999 in ISPF

Steve,

A couple of ideas to help debug :

(1) Run the exec under dialog test and turn on all ISPF function tracing
- take a look at the ISPF LOG and see if anything stands out. 

(2) Issue TSO "ISPVCALL ON" before running the exec and then "TSO
ISPVCALL" again afterwards - maybe something will stand out in the trace
output.  



Ag!!

The discussion that was had recently about stack, stem, etc. was dead on
for this.

The original design was for this REXX to be an external subroutine, not
a standalone routine. It was about 90% set up to also function as a
standalone routine when the person doing it was, well, RIFed.

So here I am some years later fixing various and sundry problems and
stepped on a land mine because I missed the fact that about 12
statements needed to be written to finish protecting the push of a stem
var...

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of mainframe costs.)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Timothy Sipples
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:25 PM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of
mainframe costs.)


It depends on the distribution of course, but the following popular
Linux
drivers are closed source:

NVIDIA (video)
ATI (video)
LSI Logic (storage)
some software-based modems (e.g. Lucent)
some ISDN drivers

There are others as well.  Some distributions (e.g. Debian, Ubuntu)
don't
include these drivers at all, and you have to go fetch them on your own
if
you want/need them.  Others include them as standard Web deliverables,
and
still others (e.g. Linspire) include them in their distributions.  For
NVIDIA and ATI there are open source alternatives, although
functionality
may be more limited with the alternatives.


Just so we are clear here, this can be a catch-22 situation. If you have
a notebook/laptop and it needs one of the aforementioned drivers, just
how do you boot so you can install it?

Being a Linspire (and before that Lindows) user I can tell you that ATI
drivers are a pain in the neck for this very reason. And it is one of
the reasons that I'm going to pure Debian (Linspire wants you to get
married to CnR (Click-n-Run), and so DON'T provide a C/C++ compiler or
kernel source until you CNR it).

Let's put this in a "mainframe" perspective: Imagine that you have
decided on a specific type of graphics display and you have only bought
those, and you must install a specific driver to use them. So you need
to install these during system build, but you can't install a z/OS
servrpac unless you can see what you are doing... 

But these issues aren't addressed when you buy an "open" system. And
they are accepted as just the way it is for the "open" systems. Because
of lack of standards for hardware interface, software behavior, install
of drivers and other software, the hidden cost of ownership/computing
can really bite you.

Later,
Steve Thompson

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Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of mainframe costs.)

[Thompson, Steve (SCI TW)]

-Original Message-
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ed Gould
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 7:57 AM
To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: Mainframe vs. "Server" (Was Just another example of
mainframe costs.)


At SHARE I can remember distinctly the PUBs people swearing up and  
down that they will document *ANY AND ALL* messages and codes. First  
it started with TCP line and then spread to other OE type products  
and now its a standing joke with COBOL. I am sure I left out a  
product or two but the point is IBM has broken many promises and with  
their current regime its only going to get worse.



How about DFP and I/O?

[Boy is this a hot button with me.  must go get analgesic pain
killer.large doseAmber colored   from Scotland]

Later,
Steve Thompson

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