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VSAM Courses
from SYS-ED®

VSAM
Expertise

Better than IBM!

Value Added Mainframe Training

VSAM Schedule

Cost Analysis

Become a VSAM Expert	VSAM Usage Guidelines	VSAM Database Comparison
CICS and VSAM	New York State Department of Education Standards	Learning Paths
Courseware for Teaching	Portfolio of VSAM Clients	Why SYS-ED for VSAM Training
Mainframe Catalog	VSAM Training in New York	Technology Exchange Websites
Technology Driven IT Training	Delivery Medium	Web-based Training Services

Become a VSAM Expert
SYS-ED's VSAM curriculum has been designed and developed for hard working IT professionals who are serious about learning not only how VSAM works, but how to make VSAM work well and what to do if things go wrong. Even if you're already using VSAM, SYS-ED's VSAM training will provide a better understanding of its capabilities and flexibility… like how to select among the options VSAM offers for configuring data sets, both batch and on-line. And offer unbiased guidelines derived from our consultancy assignments.

SYS-ED instructors average 30 years experience in evolutionary information technology. We teach industry standard content and provide insights on VSAM as utilized in legacy programming languages and in relation to IBM's longstanding mainframe system software: CICS, IMS, and DB2. Our standard operating procedure is to work with the client and tailor the performance objectives, examples, sample programs, exercises, and assessments. This information will be provided to the client in writing. Equally as important, SYS-ED recognizes and differentiates between industry standard content and educational consulting. The course workbooks and training aids provided are an integral part of the VSAM training service that we provide. They reflect far more than simply the vendor documentation. The content and diagrams reflect a careful examination of the architecture, program logic, and include sample programs which have been validated on consulting projects.

We apply the full complement of training medium to help IT professionals master the VSAM subject matter. In our VSAM courses, students learn by doing; one-third of their class time will be coding programs on our z/OS system. After a course is over, clients are welcome to ask the inevitable VSAM questions which come up back on the job.

VSAM Usage Guidelines

Use alternate indexes sparingly	There is a price with alternate access. AIX data is structured around alternate keys and accordingly are difficult to tune. Performance can degrade due to CI: control interval and CA: control area splits.
Keep string number low for ESDS	Many applications use an ESDS: Entry Sequenced Data Set as a processing log. On very active systems this means a high number of transactions per second will be vying for access to the file.
Use Local Shared Resource	LSR mode allows VSAM to maintain dataset buffer pools to reduce I/O wherever possible through lookaside processing.
Size is important	The CI size selected for the data component of the cluster is a balancing act between space and performance. A purposeful calculation of both the number of records in one block along with free space will be required.
Avoid larger CI sizes	It will take more processing resources to move around larger chunks of data, VSAM systems locks at the CI level. Therefore, a large CI containing many records is more likely to cause waits.

VSAM Training Services

State of the Market

Consultancy Experience

VSAM Database Comparison

Attribute	VSAM	DB2	IMS
Organization	Flat	Relational	Hierarchical
Controlled Redundancy	None	Medium	High
Learning Curve	Low	Medium	High
Data Independence	No	Yes	Yes
Record Locking	No	No	Yes
Field/Record Security	No	Yes	Yes
Ad Hoc Reporting	No	Yes	No
Relationship Between Items	No	Yes	Yes
Development Speed	High	Medium to High	Low
Communication Software	None	None	IMS/DC
Data Manipulation Language	None	SQL	DL/1
Data Dictionary	No	No	Yes
DBA Required	No	Yes	Yes
Logging Features	No	Yes	Yes

Classic Principles of Adult Education
Applied to VSAM Training

CICS and VSAM
CICS has options for taking advantage of LSR, and if the virtual storage is above the 16M line the buffer ratio can be increased up to 90%. CICS allows for eight separate buffer pools. Normally one is sufficient, but a very active dataset can be moved into its own pool to prevent its records from crowding out others. Buffers can be specified for index and data control intervals. This provides the opportunity to create an index- only buffer pool large enough to contain all of index CI's which will serve to make keyed access significantly faster.

Each of our courses - VSAM for Programmers, VSAM Structure and Strategies, VSAM Performance and Tuning, VSAM Optimization Techniques, and Transactional VSAM utilize a combination of case studies and hands-on workshops. A third of class time is spent coding and testing programs and using Access Method Services on our z/OS mainframe system. SYS-ED's VSAM training supports the full complement of programming languages: COBOL, Assembler, FORTRAN, and PL/1. Our staff also is also experienced with VSAM in a z/VSE operating environment. Vanderbilt Medical Center (z/OS) and University of Northern Alabama (z/VSE) have had us provide educational consultancy on how to optimize VSAM datasets. Students are encouraged to bring programming and debugging assignments to class for analysis and discussion. After the course, students are welcome to submit questions which come up back on the job.

Learning Paths
CICS	COBOL
DB2	IMS
VSAM	Mainframe

To review and print course topics, prices, and dates, invoke the search button.

Courseware for Teaching

SYS-ED's courseware library consists of student hand-outs, training aids, documented walkthroughs, and industry-specific exercises. The Computer Education Techniques, Inc. knowledge base is a service for answering questions, inclusive of the research and validation of the accuracy of information in the public domain. Citation of source documentation and examples are used to provide answers to the questions. This information becomes part of our knowledge base and courseware library. Content is selectively added to our course hand-outs and training aids. Our long-term strategy is to have our courseware approved and recognized as a NRV: Nationally Recognized Vendor.

VSAM Introduction	VSAM for Programmers	VSAM Performance and Tuning
Table of Contents	Table of Contents	Table of Contents
Copyright Acknowledgement	Copyright Acknowledgement	Copyright Acknowledgement
Performance Objectives	Performance Objectives	Performance Objectives
Chapter 1	Chapter 1	Chapter 1
Chapter 2	Chapter 2	Chapter 2
Index	Index	Index

Yes, We Still Offer VSAM Training!

Portfolio: Mainframe Training Services

Over the past year, we have had a number of inquiries regarding whether SYS-ED still offered VSAM training for IT professionals.

The typical comments were:

1.	That it is extremely to find VSAM training for specific development and maintenance tasks.
2.	That there is a scarcity of fast-track VSAM for Programmers and VSAM Performance and Optimization courses, 3 days or fewer in duration, geared to different operating systems and legacy programming languages.
3.	That a high percentage of VSAM courses are cancelled.
4.	That travel costs and living expenses in a majority of situations are a significant constraint when it comes to attending a VSAM course.
5.	That it is important to have a resource for asking VSAM questions once the programming language course is complete.

In response to these questions:
	Yes, SYS-ED offers multiple levels of VSAM training: z/OS and z/VSE.
	Yes, since 1980, SYS-ED has taught standalone VSAM courses and as part of mainframe training programs.
	We have the flexibility and resources to conduct personalized training upon request.
	VSAM courses are available in multiple formats: classroom, distance-learning and blended web-based delivery.
	Upon completion of a SYS-ED course, our staff is available to answer VSAM questions.

Why SYS-ED for VSAM Training?

Get on the Fast Track .......

	Hands-on training	Web-based Training Services
	Superb courseware and training aids
	VSAM New York Schedule
	Resources to accommodate small groups
	Tailored private courses - North America and Europe
	Warranty of Service
	Satisfied customers and industry testimonials
	Qualified training consultant for needs analysis and skills inventory
	Distance- and e-learning

Mainframe Catalog

VSAM Training in New York

VSAM Courses in New York
SYS-ED's VSAM courses are tough, but they're worth it. Our challenging "hands-on" VSAM training provides a foundation and framework for Fortune 1000 companies, government municipalities, healthcare providers, software houses, and consulting companies to meet their VSAM staffing requirements and acquire specialized VSAM skillsets.¹

Courseware
SYS-ED's VSAM and mainframe courseware is highly respected in the IT field. We draw upon our extensive library of courseware, sample programs, and case studies to explain, demonstrate, and teach the real-world VSAM. Our VSAM curriculum include industry standard and consultancy derived content. We have the capability to provide tailored workshops and integrated training programs for either on z/OS or z/VSE.

Teaching is Our Business
Most computer training companies are divisions of large software companies or consulting companies. Not SYS-ED. Our only goal is to provide world class VSAM training for motivated IT professionals - no more and no less. Because we're independent, we're free to concentrate on teaching - and since 1980 we have been doing it very well.

Our Teachers Know How to Teach
SYS-ED instructors combine teaching skills with broad practical experience as consultants. Our instructors average 30 years of experience with VSAM in the mainframe environment - operating systems, programming languages, 3rd party utilities/development aids, and system software. And they know how to teach it. We teach not only "how to", but "why", building a solid foundation in fundamentals and insights into advanced materials. After a course, they are available to answer questions.

Enrollment - SYS-ED VSAM Courses are NOT for Everyone
No one is allowed to enroll in a SYS-ED mainframe course, without a consultation with our Director of Education. We review the operational objectives and project specifications for the organization evaluating whether to send its employee for the training. The employee is only allowed to register if they have the appropriate background corresponding to the appropriate learning path.

Mainframe Training in New York, at Your Office, or via the Web
SYS-ED's VSAM courses are held at our modern, fully equipped training center in mid town Manhattan and in conjunction with technology partners in North America and Europe. If you prefer, we'll arrange tailored mainframe training on-site at your organization’s facilities inclusive of mobile computer classroom set-up. On-site mainframe courses can include the identical workshops, case studies, and hands-on approach as the mainframe training we offer in New York.

For additional information including outlines, availability of private courses, references, and course customization, contact David Shapiro at our New York office at 212-564-9147 or register online.

Technology Exchange Websites
SYS-ED's technology exchange websites compile, organize, and present software specific and established operational categorizations of information technology. They provide a framework for assessing knowledge transfer in a variety of delivery formats: web-based training, classroom instruction, technology updates, courseware, training aids, learning paths, and validation assessment.
http://www.vsamtrainingbysysed.us/commquests.htm
www.programmingbysysed.us	www.coboltrainingbysysed.us	www.rexxtrainingbysysed.us
www.mfutilitiesandtoolsbysysed.us	www.sastrainingbysysed.us	www.vsamtrainingbysysed.us
www.cicstrainingbysysed.us	www.imstrainingbysysed.us	www.db2trainingbysysed.us
www.mainframetrainingbysysed.us	www.xmltrainingbysysed.us	www.mqseriestrainingbysysed.us

Footnote 1:

SYS-ED’s core mainframe curriculum have been submitted to the New York State Department of Education - Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision for technical review and licensing.