Mainframe utilities and tools are important for planning and implementing systems, coding the JCL to run the procedures and execute jobs and programs, and for maintaining the operating system and data. A comprehensive knowledge of the architecture and design of mainframe utilities and tools is fundamental to maintaining a stable and problem free production system. The original SYS-ED course design and lesson plans for Compuware and Computer Associates mainframe utilities and tools software were done in the early 1980’s in conjunction with the development of the CICS and VSAM curriculum. For On-line Software InterTest and Applied Data Research Panvalet, the SYS-ED training service predated Computer Associates acquisition of the software. At that time, the code and internal architecture of certain IBM system software was available; it no longer is. Robert Blumfeld, the founder of SYS-ED and elite first generation CETi Technology Partners, were experienced with IBM PL/S: Programming Language/Systems, they wrote the case studies and exercises in the SYS-ED mainframe development tools and utilities courses. ¹  The initial courses were presented to the consultancy services divisions of the Big 8 accounting firms as extensions to integrated CICS, IMS, and VSAM training programs.

We have maintained, updated, expanded and continued to teach the specialized 1-, 2-, and 3-day courses for Fortune 1000 companies, government municipalities, and healthcare providers in a distance-learning delivery medium and at client locations. Our staff of system consultant instructors average 30 years experience in data processing and information technology and are experts not only on the vendor specific utilities, but the underlying programming languages and systems software. We specialize in providing client-specific tailored mainframe utilities and development tools courses.

Few consulting or software companies have been providing mainframe training services, educational consultancy, and integrated mainframe training programs longer or better than SYS-ED.

z/OS Entry Level Mainframe	z/OS Operations and System Programming	CICS Transaction Server
Assembler Language	COBOL Language	PL/1 Language

Operational and Application Maintenance

IBM includes utility programs with its mainframe operating systems; they are invoked within a JCL jobstream to perform frequently used mainframe batch functions. The utilities generate test data, measure application performance, and debug application systems. Third party vendors provide replacement utilities which provide an expanded featureset, enhanced interface, and more efficient generation of control cards for existing utilities. The utilities provide dataset manipulation, report generation, and improved access to databases and VSAM datasets.

SYS-ED staff and CETi Technology Partners demonstrate and teach the utilities with mainframe legacy applications in order to deliver additional services and improve performance by:

Streamlining the the costs associated with test data creation and test execution runtimes.	Reducing application downtime for modernizing and repurposing functionality.
Improving the fault-resolution process.	Improving application reliability and performance.

Case in Point: Why SYS-ED

Professional Distance-learning Service

Courseware for Teaching

Mainframe Utilities and
Development Tools Schedule

VSAM Schedule

Mainframe Schedule