SPARTA News October 2013

October 2013

SPARTA President’s Corner

contributed by Ron Pimblett

IBM’s Andre Clark and Edward Addison will present this month about CICS Transaction Server for z/OS. And we’ll have some Chicken as well at our meeting on October 29 at LabCorp in RTP. See you there.


Future Speakers
(subject to change)


Oct. 29 CICS 4.2 and 5.1 for z/OS by Andre Clark and Edward Addison of IBM
Nov. 19 TBA

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.

2012-2013 SPARTA
Board of Directors

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

Ron Pimblett - Vice President
MDIDS 919-833-8426

Raleigh, NC 27609

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

Tommy Thomas - Treasurer
LabCorp 336-436-4178
3060 S. Church St.
Burlington, NC 27215

Ed Webb - Communications Director
SAS Institute Inc. 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-RTP Group. The newsletter is posted to the website about five (5) days before each meeting so you can prepare. The SPARTA-RTP Group is maintained by Chris Blackshire; if you have corrections or problems receiving your meeting notice, contact Chris at chrisbl@nc.rr.com.

April 2013 “CBT Tape” Shareware Online

The directory and files from the latest CBT tape V486 (dated April 2, 2013) are available from www.cbttape.org.

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

Minutes of the September 24, 2013 Meeting

•Meeting was called to order at 6:58 PM by Ron Pimblett, the Chapter Vice President.
•The meeting was held at LabCorp in RTP, N.C.
•Eleven (11) people were present of which ten (10) were members.
•Everyone in the room introduced themselves, told where they worked, and briefly described their job functions or their job hunting challenges.
•The minutes of the July 30, 2013 meeting were approved as published in the September 2013 newsletter. (There was no August newsletter for the DBAP baseball game outing.)
•Tommy Thomas, the Chapter Treasurer, gave the Treasurer's Report. As of September 13, 2013, the balance is $868.18. Motion was made and approved to accept the Treasurer's Report as published in the September 2013 newsletter.

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

•Ron Pimblett reminded everyone to leave the LabCorp conference room clean.

•Future Speakers and Topics (subject to change based on internal politics, budget, the weather):

If you have suggestions about speakers and topics, contact Ron Pimblett (919-833-8426).

•The next SPARTA monthly meeting will be October 29 at LabCorp in RTP.

•Food for the October 29 meeting will be chicken.

•The 2013 dues are due ($30). Please see Tommy Thomas.

NEW BUSINESS

•Thanks to LabCorp (Tommy Thomas) for hosting the September meeting.

•Chris Blackshire continues to set up the SPARTA-RTP e-mailing list. From the 51 names on the SPARTA-L list that were sent e-mails to join the new SPARTA-RTP list, 39 people requested to be added to the SPARTA-RTP list. Currently, 31 people have responded to the join invite Emil and have been added to the new list, with 8 join invitations outstanding. Chris and Ron will be contacting these 8 people to get them on the list. There seems to be some confusion on the Yahoo join page in that you do not have to setup a Yahoo account to join the list. Just click on "join the mailing list instead" option.

•Send any e-mail address changes to Chris Blackshire so he can update the SPARTA-RTP Listserv (or send you an invitation to Join).

•Per Tommy, the bank was now charging $3 per month to copy any checks we would write and we are not writing any. The bank will drop this charging process. We will not be moving to another institution for the SPARTA checking account.

•Per Tommy, we need an alternate meeting room for meetings that Tommy can’t attend (Brad was the alternate). IBM suggested meeting at an IBM site when Tommy/LabCorp is not available.

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

PRESENTATION

•Presentation given by Ed Webb of the SAS Institute on the SHARE August 2013 Conference Report.

• Agenda for SHARE August 2013, August 11-16, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts
- Highlights
- Why Go to SHARE?
- Quotes of Interest and Odds and Ends
- Best Sessions
- z/OS 2-Year Release Cycle
- z/OSMF 2.1 and z/OS 2.1 Summary
- Migrating to z/OS 2.1
- From the Bit Bucket

• Highlights
- SHARE Attendance Up from A Year Ago
- 638 SHARE 121 August 2013 in Boston - Full Week Paid Attendees (1,337 Total Onsite)
- 579 SHARE 120 March 2013 in San Francisco
- 527 SHARE 119 August 2012 in Anaheim
- 612 SHARE 118 March 2012 in Atlanta
- 600+ SHARE 117 August 2011 in Orlando
- 673 SHARE 116 March 2011 in Anaheim
- ??? SHARE 115 August 2010 in Boston
- 516 SHARE 114 March 2010 in Seattle
- 622 SHARE 113 August 2009 in Denver
- 650 SHARE 112 March 2009 in Austin
- 850 SHARE 111 August 2008 in San Jose
- SHARE Live! recorded several sessions in Boston
- SHARE 122 is March 9-14, 2014 in Anaheim at the Marriott
- SHARE 123 is August 3-8, 2014 in Pittsburgh at the Convention Center
- Highlights
- SHARE Proceedings No Longer Require Membership But Need SHARE Userid (free)
- Go to www.share.org
- z/OS Now on 2 Year Release Cycle – next z/OS is V2R1 in Sept. 2013
- z/OS & z/OSMF 1.13 Available in Sept. 2011
- Submit Your Proposal to Speak at SHARE in Anaheim by September 27, 2013

• Why Go to SHARE?
- z/OS V2R1 Implements about one-third of the MVS Program’s Top 39 Requirements
- IBM Has Asked for a Review of Remaining Requirements including New Ones for a new Top Requirements List
- 2014 is the 50th Anniversary of System 360 and OS/360

• Quotes of Interest
- “Shadow IT is Cloud-based Data and Apps”
- Odds and Ends
- IBM has postponed plans to remove support for unsecured FTP connections used for z/OS software and service delivery October 1, 2013
- See February 2013 SPARTA Newsletter for info & tips
- August 2013 Hot Topics magazine is a Great Reference for z/OS V2R1 Topics
- http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/os/zos/library/hot-topics/hot-topics.html
- SMP/E V3R6 in V2R1 and Separately Orderable
- Report Cross-Global Zones
- Support for z/OSMF R13 and V2R1 Software Manager
- REXX Support in BCPii was an Accepted SHARE Requirement in Jan. 2011
- Available in z/OS V2R1
- RACF Exits Can Use System REXX
- See ICHPWX11 in RACEXITS in SAMPLIB
- IEASYMUP in SAMPLIB (Obsolete in V2R1)
- Requires RACF Profile to Use
- Only documented in Redbook SG24-7328 z/OS Outage Avoidance
- z/OS Information Changes Coming
- No BOOKs (in Bookmanager-format) in z/OS V2R1
- PDFs and InfoCenter Only in z/OS V2R1
- No Physical Media (DVD)
- Download DVD images
- z/OS Data Area Books Are Only Available Online
- IBM Advanced Linguistic Search for PDFs
- BookManager Search for PDFs
- Plugin downloadable from IBM

• Best Sessions That I Attended
- What’s New in z/OS 2.1 – Beantown Edition
- John Eells of IBM
- 13571/2 ISPF Hidden Treasures: Parts 1 and 2
- Peter Van Dyck of IBM
- 13839 Behind The Scenes
- Ed Jaffe of Phoenix Software
- nnnnn z/OS 2.1 User Experience
- Anuja D. of IBM
- 14142 z/OSMF Made Easy

• z/OS 2-Year Release Cycle
- 2-Year Cycle Became Effective in March 2012
- Official Announcement in April 2012
- Support Extensions for R12 and R13
- No Change for R11 (free support ended Sept. 2012)
- Justifications
- 5% of shops migrating to every annual release
- 60% migrate every other release
- Not enough time for exploitation of new function
- Strain on testing resources
- Reduce incremental delivery of function (EAV took 4 releases)
- Do Not Expect Twice as Much Change
- Depends but may be 10-50% more
- Issues
- FIN APARs
- Re-Open if you need a fix before 2H2013
- Slower delivery of New or Enhanced Function

• z/OSMF V2R1
- Software Management
- Added by APAR PM74502 and others in 4Q2012
- See January 2013 SPARTA Newsletter
- See S.F. SHARE Software Manager sessions
- See IBM WSC Flash 10794 for more info
- Software Deployment Manager
- ServerPac-like
- Manual JOB submission and tracking (for this release)
- SMP/E Impact (V3.6 Required)
- Classic Interface (up to 4 TSO-lite Windows)
- WebSphere V8.5 Liberty profile replaces WASOEM
- Significant Reductions in Resource Requirements
- New Configuration Workflow Application
- First Exploiter is z/OSMF Itself
- Optional Async Notification of JOB Completion
- See John Eells’ What’s New in z/OS 2.1 SHARE Session 13581
- z/OS V2R1
- zAAP workloads can run on a zIIP even if a zAAP is present
- Update the values of system symbols dynamically using SETLOAD command
- Two new FTP subcommands, MVSPut and MVSGet, to simplify transfer of sequential, PDS and PDSE data sets between z/OS systems
- New zFS file system version designed to significantly improve performance for file systems with large directories
- z/OS V2R1
- GRS allows programs to synchronously change an exclusive enqueue to a shared enqueue
- Comments now allowed in many PARMLIB members (thanks to Peter Relson of IBM) in response to SHARE Top 39 Requirements
- New BPXPRMxx parameter that allows a user to be logged off the system after a period of inactivity at the user's terminal
- HMC Integrated 3270 Console on System z and zEnterprise servers can be a z/OS console during and after IPL 
- z/OS V2R1
- New PARMDD DD statement passes parameter lists up to 32,760 bytes to a program from JCL
- Not Available for TSO CALL
- SYSREXX, using REXX under TSO/E, supports the CONSOLE host command environment
- Issue system and subsystem commands and monitor message traffic with an extended MCS console session in a SYSREXX exec
- Can use to provide system automation functions
- z/OS V2R1
- REXX enhancements to EXECIO, LISTDSI, and STORAGE, and to provide a new variable to indicate the level of the operating system
- SMP/E dialog supports with multiple ISPF logical screens when different SMP/E zones are in use (added via set of PTFs)
- ISPF editor HILITE command flags the invalid use of lowercase characters in JCL
- ISPF editor allows regular expressions to be specified as arguments to FIND and CHANGE
- z/OS V2R1
- ISPF directory list display for z/OS UNIX supports SRCHFOR and FILTER commands
- UNIX Directory List Utility allows entry of line commands in blocks (//cmd and //)
- New Generic Tracking Facility (GTZ) replaces the Tracking Facility (Console ID Tracker and the EAV migration assistance tracker)
- z/OS V2.1 is last release to include the IBM HTTP Server Powered by Domino®
- IBM recommends the IBM HTTP Server Powered by Apache, a z/OS Ported Tools Feature
- z/OS V2R1
- New base element includes fonts from the AFP Font Collection for S/390™ (5648-B33) and IBM Infoprint Fonts for z/OS V1.1 (5648-E76), and World Type fonts that were available for other IBM OS platforms, and double-byte Asian fonts
- New large file system required
- RRSF connections over TCP/IP using IPv6
- RMF now offloads some processing to zIIPs
- z/OS V2R1 JES2
- JES2 Must Migrate with z/OS in V2R1
- 8 Character JOBCLASS
- Enhanced symbol processing in JCL in JES2 environments
- JCL and System Symbols Available to JOBs
- Symbols can be used in In-Stream Data
- JES2 Extended Status SSI allows programs without APF authorization to cancel, hold, purge, and release jobs, and to change their job classes
- controlled by new profiles in RACF JESJOBS class
- Migrating to z/OS 2.1
- http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/os/zos/bkserv/v2r1pdf/
- z/OS 2.1 Migration book GA32-0889-00 (one book, multiple migration paths, such as 1.12 to 2.1)
- Updated for September 2013
- See “Migrating to z/OS 2.1” presentations from SHARE Boston

• Migrating to z/OS 2.1
- z/OS 1.6 End of Service was Sept. 30, 2007
- z/OS 1.7 End of Service was Sept. 30, 2008
- z/OS 1.8 End of Service was Sept. 30, 2009
- z/OS 1.9 End of Service was Sept. 30, 2010
- z/OS 1.10 End of Service is Sept. 30, 2011
- Two more years (until Sept. 2013) for a fee
- z/OS 1.11 End of Service is Sept. 30, 2012
- Two more years (until Sept. 2014) for a fee
- z/OS 1.12 End of Service is Sept. 30, 2014
- z/OS 1.13 End of Service is Sept. 30, 2016
- From the Bit Bucket x’2D’ (Session 13568)
- z/OS Explorer V2.1
- Eclipsed-based tool
- z/OS FTP and z/OSMF Connections
- See IBM 213-141 dated April 23, 2013
- www.ibm.com/software/htp/cics/ibmexplforzos

• From the Bit Bucket x’2D’ (Session 13568)
- Zero Address Detect (ZAD)
- Available on z196 and z114 and later processors
- Requires z/OS R13 or later (documented in V2R1 Commands book under SLIP)
- Run Started Task to Initialize Environment and Later Report Results and Reset Environment
- SLIP SET,ZAD,A=AEXIT,AEXIT=IEAVTSZE, ID=ZAD1,PL=50,OK,END

• Contact Information
- Ed Webb - z/OS Systems Programmer - at SAS: 919-531-4162

• The presentation and discussions ended about 8:45 PM.

Treasurer’s Report for October 2013

contributed by Tommy Thomas

The balance in the account is $790.32 as of October 16, 2013.

Financial Report
3/01/2013 through 10/16/2013

Items of Interest


SPARTA Schedule and Menu for 2013

contributed by Tommy Thomas and Chris Blackshire

Oct. 29 - Chicken
Nov. 19 - Subs
Dec. 31 - No Meeting, Happy Holidays


SHARE Registration and Hotel Reservation Can Be Made Now

contributed by Ed Webb

Registration is now open for SHARE in Anaheim, March 9-14, 2014. Join us for over 500 user-focused sessions, networking opportunities and hardware and software product highlights to stay at the forefront of the industry. Register before January 31, 2014 to secure early savings.

Host to all technical sessions, networking events and the SHARE Technology Exchange Expo, the Anaheim Marriott has everything SHARE attendees need under one roof. 

Anaheim Marriott
700 W. Convention Way
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.750.8000
$169/night [includes internet access]
$133/night for government employees (limited number available)


Phishing Scheme - Payroll Direct Deposit

contributed by Chris Blackshire

Chris’s Comment:
Being a college graduate, you may be targeted next: beware of solicitations to the alumni wanting personal information.
 
As always, beware of giving out personal information to people who contact you.


Hi Big10 Audit Directors,
 
I want to let everyone know about a recent phishing scheme targeted at the University of Michigan.  On July 19, a phishing Emil was sent to many faculty and staff.  The Emil looked as if it came from the university and requested verification of usernames and passwords.
 
Unfortunately, a number of people responded with their access credentials.  The stolen access information was then used to log into our employee HR self-service system and confidential information, such as W-2 forms and direct deposit bank account information was accessed. The direct deposit information for nine people was changed to an offshore bank account. In addition, the e-mail notifications sent to the employees to confirm a change to their direct deposit information were deleted.  By chance, not sound controls, the changes to the direct deposit information were detected prior to distribution of the payroll and no funds were diverted.
 
The attacks appear to have originated in Malaysia, and were routed through a VPN at the University of Florida.  We have contacted the University of South Florida and they have provided additional information about the attacks. They are working with the FBI to investigate similar activity that has occurred via their VPN service that has targeted other higher education institutions.
 
I don't mean to throw Tom under the bus, but it looks like Michigan State University may have had a similar attack...
 
http://police.msu.edu/crimealert10202013.asp
 
FYI...It looks like these attackers are targeting higher education institutions


Humor


Fun With English

contributed by Chris Blackshire

For those who love the philosophy of ambiguity, as well as the idiosyncrasies of English, please enjoy and understand the following:
 
1. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
 
2. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
 
3. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
 
4. The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
 
5. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where’s the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
 
6. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
 
7. If a deaf child signs swear words, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
 
8. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
 
9. Is there another word for synonym?
 
10. Where do forest rangers go to “get away from it all?”
 
11. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
 
12. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
 
13. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
 
14. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will break-in and clean them?
 
15. If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
 
16. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
 
17. If the police arrest a mute, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
 
18. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
 
19. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?
 
20. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
 
21. One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people.
 
22. Does the little mermaid wear an algebra?
 
23. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
 
24. How is it possible to have a civil war?
 
25. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?
 
26. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
 
27. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
 
28. Whose cruel idea was it for the word “LISP” to have “S” in it?
 
29. Why are hemorrhoids called “hemorrhoids” instead of “assteroids"?
 
30. Why is it called tourist season if we can’t shoot at them?
 
31. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
 
32. If you spin an oriental man in a circle three times, does he become disoriented?


Some Great School Excuses

contributed by Chris Blackshire

 
These are real notes written by parents in the Memphis school district .
Spellings have been left intact...
 
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
 
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
 
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
 
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
 
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
 
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
 
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
 
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
 
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
 
10. Please excuse ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
 
11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.
 
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
 
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
 
14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
 
15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
 
16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
 
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
 
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
 
19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
 
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
 
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
 
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
 
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.

Membership Information

Don’t Forget the Next SPARTA Meeting

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

7 p.m.

LabCorp in the RTP

Free Food: Chicken, Drink, Dessert

Program:

CICS Transaction Server 4.2 and 5.1 for z/OS

Speaker:

Andre Clark and Edward Addison of IBM

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

First Class Postage

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