Level 2: BCS MTP Specialist (Data Storage)
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
The examination will be conducted over one day in invigilated test conditions.
The disciplines and knowledge tested will comprise:
- z/OS data storage software
- the ability to write & test ACS routines
- data storage hardware features & management
- UNIX System Services
- the ability to maintain an HSM environment.
Skills demonstrated
In order to qualify at this stage candidates will be expected to:
demonstrate an understanding of z/OS Data Storage software by:
- describing IBM's storage management concept as implemented through SMS
- describing the SMS software products
- describing DCB attributes and their meaning
- describing PDSEs, PDSs, VSAM and QSAM
- describing the purpose and features of Dataclas
- describing the purpose and features of Storclas
- describing the purpose and features of Mgmtclas
- describing the purpose and features of Storgrp
demonstrate an ability to write & test ACS routines by:
- using FILTLISTs
- using SELECT/WHEN
- using DO ... END
- testing ACS routines
demonstrate an understanding of the data storage hardware features & management by:
- describing the hardware features utilised by SMS
- describing the features of 3390 models
- describing RAID technology
- describing the features of ECKD technology
- describing the performance issues with an I/O (IOSQ, Pending, Disconnect and Connect times)
- describing how Caching works
- utilising ESCON and FICON channel technology
- describing DASD technologies used by main vendors (e.g. data replication i.e. PPRC and XRC & Parallel Access Volumes (PAVs))
- describing the tape technologies as used by the main vendors e.g. Virtual Tape concepts.
- initialising volumes with ICKDSF
- understanding the issues relating to VTOCs and IXVTOCs
- understanding the issues relating to Master and User catalogs
- understanding how the BCSs and VVDSs are implemented and used
- describing methods to move individual data sets and whole DASD volumes
- describing how tape management systems work.
(optional) demonstrate an ability to use USS by answering questions on:
- UNIX terminology
- Shells
- Contents of standard UNIX directories
- Users and uids
- Groups and gids
- Permission bits (unmask etc.)
- Shells Commands (is, cat etc.)
- Special Variables (PATH, HOME etc.)
- Foreground/background processes
- File Directory related Shell commands
- USS & TSO commands
- Daemons
- BPX PRMXX
- USS File Systems (HFS & zFS)
- automount
- USS & RACF Security
(optional) demonstrate the ability to maintain an HSM environment by answering questions on:
- HSM and DSS
- HSM and RACF
- ARCCMDXX
- SETSYS, DEFINE and ADDVOL commands
- Primary, ML1 & ML2 Volumes
- SDSP
- Primary and Secondary Space Management
- INTERVALMIGRATION
- Controlling Migration, and Recall
- Common Recall Queue
- Backup versions & Frequency
- Controlling Backups
- Contolling DUMPs
- BACKVOL command
- Recover command
- Cleanup of Backup Versions
- LOGX/LOGY
- Activity LLogs
- MCDS/BCDS/OCDS
Prerequisite knowledge/experience
Candidates for the Level 2 BCS Mainframe Technology Professional (Data Storage) certification will be expected to have at least three years of experience in a mainframe-based data centre and will have Level 1 BCS Mainframe Technology Professional certification, or have the equivalent experience.
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