Level 1: BCS MTP Technician (Technical Support & Operations)
Below are details of the skills that must be demonstrated in
the examination in order to succeed at this level, and the prerequisite
education and/or experience expected.
Examination
In order to qualify as a Level 1 BCS Mainframe Technology Professional (Technical Support & Operations) the candidate will sit a formal examination, in invigilated test conditions.
The examination is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge and grounding in the mainframe environment at foundation level, testing the knowledge and skills essential for personnel to be able to make a productive contribution in the workplace.
This level is a general mainframe qualification, which will be equally appropriate for most mainframe technical teams. A maximum of three optional topics may be taken in one exam.
The disciplines and knowledge tested will comprise:
- IBM mainframe computing
- z/OS concepts
- Job Control Language (JCL)
- TSO/ISPF
- Basic z/OS security using RACF (optional)
- REXX - practical expertise (optional)
- VSAM (optional)
- basic job scheduling skills (TWS, CA-7 or CONTROL-M) (optional).
A maximum of two optional modules may be attempted. It is recommended that operations personnel attempt the appropriate job scheduling module.
Skills demonstrated
In order to qualify at this stage candidates will be expected to:
demonstrate an understanding of mainframe computing by answering questions on the following topics:
- the hardware components of a mainframe
- the terminology used in describing the hardware components of a mainframe
- the mainframe hardware components required to carry out an I/O
- the differences between channel types
- the mainframe disk technology (RAID)
- the mainframe tape technology
- the mainframe terminal types
- the mainframe printers
- the concept of multiprogramming
- the concept of JES Spooling
- Access Methods such as VSAM, QSAM and BPAM
- Compilers and Interpreters
- networking on the mainframe
- the various roles within the IT department (e.g. Operators, Operations Analysts, Systems Programmers etc.)
- z/OS base products and other important components
- the functions of SMF
- the functions of JES, SMS, HSM and DSS
- the functions of CICS and DB2
demonstrate an understanding of basic z/OS concepts by answering questions on the following topics:
- what comprises a mainframe
- how to access a mainframe
- operating systems supported
- software that can run under MVS
- MVS and mainframe hardware components
- Interactive and Batch program characteristics
- MVS terminology
- MVS interaction with the mainframe hardware
- system architectures
- MVS releases
- IBM mainframe machines
- mainframe features
- the concept of Sysplex
- sysplex hardware
- mainframe I/O
- channel technology
- disk and tape technology
- MVS I/O configuration
- hardware functions such as interrupts
- dispatching work
- JES Spool and Checkpoint datasets
- JES functions
- MVS System Address Spaces
- Started Tasks
- Batch jobs and Initiators
- Supervisor services
- MVS managers
- Access Methods
- sysplex software
- mandatory MVS software
- TCP/IP
- MVS compilers
- TSO
- UNIX System Services
- SMS, Catalogs and VTOCs
- functions of SMP/E.
demonstrate an ability to use z/OS JCL by answering questions on:
- jobcard parameters
- Exec parameters
- STEPNAME syntax
- use of COND
- in-stream data
- DD statements
- DCB attributes
- DISPOSITION
- STEPLIB
- using SYSOUT
- OUTDISP
- procedures & symbolics
- INCLUDE & JCLLIB
- GDGs
demonstrate an ability to use TSO/ISPF by:
- using basic TSO commands and using and customising ISPF panel structures
- browsing and editing data sets
- customising ISPF edit profiles
- editing using COPY, MOVE, REPEAT, DELETE, OVERLAY etc.
- using the ISPF utilities such as copy and MOVE, using SEARCH and COMPARE utilities
- navigating the ISPF panels
(optional) demonstrate an understanding of basic z/OS (MVS) Security in RACF by answering questions on the following topics:
- identification and authorisation of users
- the need for security administration
- the need for RACF
- the RACF database
- RACF’s use of SMF
- RACF resources
- RACF Users and Groups
- RACF group structure
- connecting Users to Groups
- RACF profiles
- discrete and generic profiles
- Access authorities
- Connect authorities
- non-security segments such as OMVS
- IBM defined resource classes.
(optional) demonstrate an ability to write REXX programs by answering questions on:
- What REXX is
- how to execute REXX
- REXX syntax
- continuation
- clauses
- label usage
- STRING token
- variables
- logical operators
- arithmetic operators
- debugging
- REXX instructions
- IF - THEN - ELSE
- SELECT - WHEN
- DO loop
- internal/external subroutines
- built in functions
(optional) demonstrate an ability to use VSAM by answering questions on:
- KSDS structure
- ESDS structure
- RRDS structure
- RDFs & CIDFs
- Control Area & Control Interval
- Linear datasets
- invoking IDCAMS
- IF - THEN - ELSE
- SET
- SHAREOPTIONS
- VSAM & SMS
- REPRO
- EXPORT
- alternate indexes
- BUFND/BUFNI
(optional) demonstrate an understanding of Job Scheduling by:
- showing an understanding of Job Scheduling software (TWS, CA-7 or CONTROL-M)
- scheduling work
- managing work using dialog panels
- correcting & re-running failed jobs
- coding Automatic Recovery statements
- using Restart & Cleanup functions.
Note: Candidates select the appropriate form of this module to attempt based on the job scheduling package they use.
Prerequisite knowledge/experience
Candidates for the Level 1 BCS Mainframe Technology Professional (Technical Support and Operations) examination will be expected to have between twelve and twenty-four months experience in a support or operations role in a mainframe-based data centre. In this period the candidate will have attended a number of foundation level training courses or have gained equivalent experience and expertise in the workplace.
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