SPARTA News March 2008

March 2008

SPARTA President’s Corner

by Brad Carson

March is here and basketball fever is in the air, also so much needed rain too! Spring is right around the corner and I'm still getting used to the moved up start of daylight saving time. Earlier this month we were treated to a SHARE road report from Ken Barkhau, Duane Reaugh and Ed Webb. There was a great deal of information for us and IBM announcing the z10's made for a wonderful SHARE.

We had an interesting problem here at LabCorp on the 13th. We received calls stating that our CMCK lpar looked hung up in Burlington and nobody was able to use INFOMAN via the web. We tried to logon to TSO and got hung, so we looked into it from our DEVL lpar and found an ENQ on the primary RACF database being held by the web server! Once we canceled the web sever things took off again. But before we restarted the web server I noticed some IEC070I messages from the INFOMAN task. Found out that the INFOMAN SDDS file was blowing the 4 Gig limit for VSAM. So after a quick reorg (it hadn't been done in over 2 years) we were back on the air with INFOMAN web and the help desk folks were happy again. Now we will have to setup and schedule a regular reorg for that data set.

Our DB2 V8 migration is progressing. We've converted three of the six subsystems on QAAD so far. There also has been good progress on the “SQL with reserved words as column names” front. The number of plans with problems is now down under 60, and most of these are using a common subroutine with the problem. The updated code is in development and will be moving up to QA after we place the next release of our billing code into production (Easter Weekend). So the June 30th date isn't so frightening to us for now.

My little trip to Poughkeepsie had to be postponed due to our VP having to take care of some issues at another site last week. Right now we are tentatively scheduled to go again in April. So we'll see how this works out.

This month we will have our second annual "SPARTA Night" at the RBC Center in Raleigh. We will be going to see the Carolina Hurricanes play the Capitals on the 25th. I look forward to seeing you there.


Future Speakers
(subject to change)


Mar. 25 Hurricanes Ice Hockey game at the RBC in Raleigh
April 29 Bus-Tech

We need ideas and volunteers for future speakers. Presentations don’t have to be fancy, just informative and interesting. Even a 5 or 10 minute talk can start an interesting interaction. Contact Ron Pimblett by phone as noted below.

2007-2008 SPARTA
Board of Directors

Brad Carson - President
LabCorp 336-436-8294
3060 S. Church St.
Burlington, NC 27215

Ron Pimblett - Vice President
Dignus, LLC 919-676-0847
8354 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27615

Mike Lockey - Secretary
Guilford Co. Information Services 336-641-6235
201 N. Eugene St.
Greensboro, NC 27401

Tommy Thomas - Treasurer
LabCorp 336-436-4178
231 Maple Ave, Koury Ctr 3rd Fl. 919-361-7267
Burlington, NC 27215

Ed Webb - Communications Director
SAS Institute 919-531-4162
SAS Campus Drive
Cary, NC 27513

Meetings

Meetings are scheduled for the last Tuesday evening of each month (except no meeting in December), with optional dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.

These monthly meetings usually are held at LabCorp’s Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology (CMBP) near the Research Triangle Park (see last page). Take I-40 to Miami Boulevard and go north. Turn right onto Alexander Drive. Go about a mile or so. Then turn right into LabCorp complex and turn Left to the CMBP Building. In the lobby, sign in as a visitor to see Tommy Thomas. Tommy will escort you to the conference room.

Call for Articles

If you have any ideas for speakers, presentations, newsletter articles, or are interested in taking part in a presentation, PLEASE contact one of the Board of Directors with your suggestions.

Newsletter e-Mailings

The SPARTA policy is to e-mail a monthly notice to our SPARTA-L Group. The newsletter is posted to the website about five (5) days before each meeting so you can prepare. The SPARTA-L Group is maintained by Mike Lockey at (336) 641-6235; if you have corrections or problems receiving your meeting notice, contact Mike.

February 2006 CBT Tape Online

The directory and files from the latest CBT tape V471 (dated February 28, 2006) are available from www.cbttape.org.

If you need help obtaining one or more files, contact Brad Carson at LabCorp or Ed Webb at SAS (see Board of Director’s list for contact info).

Minutes of the March 4, 2008 Meeting

•Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Brad Carson, the Chapter President.

•Sixteen (16) people were present; fourteen (14) were members.

•Everyone in the room introduced themselves, told where they worked, and briefly described their job function and recent happenings at work.

•The minutes of January 2008 meeting were accepted as published in the February 2008 newsletter.

•Tommy Thomas, the Chapter Treasurer, gave the Treasurer's report. As of February, 2008, the balance is $995.69. Motion was made and approved to accept the Treasurer's Report as published in the February 2008 newsletter. It was noted that this balance is decreasing year over year.

OLD BUSINESS

•Articles are needed for this newsletter. If you would like to write an article for this newsletter, please contact Ed Webb. Keep in mind that you don't really need to write the article; it can be an article that you read that you would like to share with the membership.

•The SPARTA Web site is available. To access the SPARTA Web site, point your Web browser to this URL: http://www.spartanc.org. Please send any comments or suggestions about the Web site to Mike Lockey. Be sure to check the site every once in a while to see any new or changed information.

•Brad Carson reminded everyone to keep the conference room clean.


NEW BUSINESS

•Future Speakers and Topics:
(subject to change)

March 2008 - Ice Hockey at the RBC
April 2008 - eJES from Phoenix Software
May 2008 - Omegamon updates
June 2008 - Bus-Tech
July 2008 - IM - Software Diversified Services

If you have suggestions about speakers and topics, contact Ron Pimblett.

•The March SPARTA meeting will be held at the RBC Center off Wade Avenue in Raleigh to watch the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL play.

•Food for the March meeting will be whatever you choose at the RBC.

•Thanks to Tommy Thomas for hosting the meeting.

•Nomination committee needs to be setup. Contact Brad to be on the committee.

•Need new members to increase the treasury balance.

•The business portion of the meeting ended at 7:45 p.m.

•Share Speakers: Duane Reaugh (DTS), Ken Barkhau (Duke), and Ed Webb (SAS):

Duane: Attendance and Disk Related topics

SHARE in Orlando was a complete success, but not very attendee friendly; 1,167 Full Week attendees - 2,010 actual attendees; made money; z10 announcements during the week and a new z10 processor displayed at SHARE; see session 2832 for an overview; Duane's handout had many z10 related session numbers; SHARE sessions are currently available to the general public; if you want zOS (MVS) 1.10, you must wait until this September.

Ken: Miscellaneous sessions

Ken's presentation listed all the sessions that he attended and some miscellaneous highlights, he reminded all that the SHARE URL ( www.share.org ) has all the sessions available currently; except for the Cheryl Walker session, it is only on her web site at ( www.watsonwalker.com); reviewed the ZPCR tool that is provided by IBM/WSC to review usage before choosing to upgrade your z server.

Ed: MVS and JES2.

Ed’s handout reviewed 5 pages of notes that he took on the sessions that he attended. As always, Ed finds many new and interesting changes and things to avoid.; many patches, APARs, productivity tools, redbooks, zOS hints, JES2 updates, PSP bucket options, and of course, the Bit Bucket updates were reviewed.

•Thanks to all 3 presenters.

•The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Treasurer’s Report for March 2008

contributed by Tommy Thomas

The balance in the account is $ 918.85 as of March 19, 2008.

Financial Report
3/01/2007 through 03/19/2008

Items of Interest

SPARTA Schedule and Menu for 2008

contributed by Tommy Thomas and Chris Blackshire

Mar 25 - RBC Hockey
Apr 29 - BarBQ
May 20 - Pizza (May 27 = Memorial week)
June 24 - Chicken
July 29 - Subs
Aug. 26 - BarBQ
Sept. 30 - Pizza
Oct. 28 - Chicken
Nov. 18 - Subs (Nov. 25 = Thanksgiving week)


Catch Up on SHARE

contributed by Ed Webb

Many of the presentations that were given at SHARE in Orlando during the week of Feb. 24-29, 2008, are now online. Check out this webpage at share.org: http://shareew.prod.web.sba.com/proceedingmod/index.cfm?conference_id=17 . Of course, my favorite page at SHARE is the JES2 Project’s page at http://www.share.org/Volunteer_Center/programs/jes2_project.cfm. I’m the project’s webmaster.

Monitor 64-bit Storage Allocations

contributed by Ed Webb

Mark Zelden has provided several handy utilities for z/OS over the years. Here’s his latest along with a great explanation of 64-bit memory use in z/OS: http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/mainframe/enewsletterexclusive/19864p1.aspx


A First Look at z/OS System Rexx

contributed by Ed Webb

Here’s a quick look at System Rexx and how to start using it.

1. For now in z/OS V1R9 (and for V1R8 when System Rexx download is applied), put these two members into SYS1.SAXREXEC which should be on your SYSRES.

Member TSOCMD:

/* TSOCMD REXX */
parse ARG tsocmd
x = OUTTRAP(line.)
address tso tsocmd
x = OUTTRAP('OFF')
do i = 1 to line.0
data = STRIP(line.i)
say data
end
/* From Ed Jaffe, Phoenix Software, SHARE Bit Bucket x'23' Feb. 2008 */

Member SHUTMSG:

/* REXX */
/* Obtain the current VM name. */
lpar_name = MVSVAR('SYMDEF',SYSNAME)
/* Inform the operator that SHUTDOWN is running */
call axrwto 'DWN001I System shut down procedure running on lpar',
lpar_name'.'

Unless you have specified an alternate Command Prefix for System Rexx, issue either of these commands from a z/OS console session:

REXXyy SHUTMSG

or REXXyy TSOCMD TIME

(where yy is your SYSCLONE variable - that is, the last two characters of your SYSNAME system symbolic).

Voila! You just used System Rexx (the TSO form).

Notice the use of “call axrwto”. There are three System Rexx functions to be aware of: axrwto, axrmlwto, and axrcmd: write console message, write multiline console message, and issue a command, respectively.

Give System Rexx a try. It’s easy!


Humor


The Haircut

contributed by Chris Blackshire

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming More Successful.

Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Congress.

Vote carefully this year.


Mental Hospital Phone Menu

contributed by Chris Blackshire

Hello and thank you for calling The State Mental Hospital. Please select from the following options menu:

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want, stay on the line so we can trace your call.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.

If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, nothing will make you happy anyway.

If you are dyslexic, press 9696969696969696.

If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep or before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.

If you have low self-esteem, please hang up our operators are too busy to talk with you.

If you are menopausal, put the gun down, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry. You won't be crazy forever.

If you are blonde, don't press any buttons, you'll just mess it up.

This coming week is National Mental Health Care week. You can do your part by remembering to contact at least one unstable person to show you care.

(Well, my job is done. Your turn)

Membership Information

Don’t Forget the Next SPARTA Meeting

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
7 p.m.

Special Location: RBC Center in Raleigh

Take I-40 to Edwards Mill Road exit and go south. Follow the signs to parking (fee).

Fee Food: Whatever You Can Afford

Program:

Ice Hockey in the Carolinas

Speaker:

Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL

SPARTA News
P.O. Box 13194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3194



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