A Mainframe Computing Reader

by Joseph Gulla PhD

Overview

This “ Mainframe Reader” contains 24 articles on z/Architecture, z/OS, and its many “ friends,” including security hardware and software, networking and management utilities, and major software products like the Customer Information Control System (CICS), Information Management System (IMS) and Databases like Db2 (part of a family of data management products developed by IBM). Many z/OS built-in elements, optional features, and program products are explored and explained in the context of disciplines or categories like security, infrastructure and application support.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798988840657
Publisher:	Alazar Press
Publication date:	06/26/2026
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Joseph Gulla has had a long career in computing beginning as a COBOL programmer in the late 1970s on IBM mainframe computers. Later, he was a systems programmer with a focus on installation and support of CICS and related products. He also has CICS application development experience writing applications in COBOL and Assembler. While working for IBM, Joseph developed NetView products for automation of CICS, IMS and OPC. Joseph also has teaching experience with CICS Command Level coding, MVS JCL, NetView and SMP/E.

Since leaving IBM in 2013, Joseph has written technology articles for the IBM Systems Magazines, deliver mainframe services for a software vendor (PathPoint Software, Inc.) and develop technical documents for OpenLegacy Software, working directly with the team in Israel. He is currently developing content for StreamFoundry, an IT services company.

Joseph has been an adjunct instructor at Nova Southeastern University where he taught in the Ph.D. program and at La Salle University where he taught in the BA and MBA programs.

Here is a summary of Joseph’ s education:

2002: Ph.D. Computer Information Systems, Nova Southeastern University
Dissertation Report: Design and Implementation of a Prototype Toolset for Full Life-Cycle Management of Web-Based Applications.
2000: Master's Certificate in Project Management, George Washington University
1983: M.B.A. Management Information Systems, La Salle University
1976: B.A. Liberal Arts, La Salle College

Here is a list of Joseph’ s recent published articles:

TechChannel Contributor – “ z/OS and Friends” Series
Regular contributor to TechChannel, focusing on IBM mainframe technologies. Notable articles include:

• "z/OS UNIX: A Solid Foundation for an Enterprise-Grade DBMS", Published: July 7, 2025
Explores how z/OS UNIX supports enterprise-grade database systems.
• "The Unique Benefits of z/OS-Native Database Systems", Published: June 16, 2025
Discusses the advantages of using native DBMS on z/OS platforms.
• "IMS Transaction Manager: From Its Moonshot Roots to More Recent Product Enhancements", Published: June 2, 2025
A historical and technical look at IMS Transaction Manager.
• "IMS Transaction Manager and Database Manager Support Tens of Thousands of Transactions a Second", Published: May 12, 2025
• "Rich Functionality Is What CICS Is All About— Then and Now", Published: April 28, 2025
• "CICS Changing With the Times While Serving Longstanding Applications", Published: April 7, 2025
• "What Is the JES Programming Dimension and Why Is It Important?", Published: March 24, 2025
• "JES— One of the Most Important Base Elements of z/OS", Published: March 10, 2025
• "Optional Features Complete a Compelling and Function-Rich Legacy OS", Published: February 24, 2025

Table of Contents

This is a sample of the first articles based on a few articles

Mainframe Architecture Makes All the Difference 14
My Introduction to Virtualization 14
From COBOL Confidence to Practical Understanding 14
My, How Things Have Changed 15
Multitasking Put Into Practice 15
How hardware makes virtual storage possible 15
How hardware makes interrupts possible 16
What about the scheduling algorithm and SMT— how does that work? 16
Pausing to Appreciate How IBM z/Architecture Has Evolved to Address Client Needs 17
Application Compatibility Over the Decades 17
Motivation for Increases in Address Size 18
z16: the Latest System Z 18
Varying Areas of Interest 19
Timely and Robust 19
z/OS Has a Rich Heritage of Built-in Functions, From Nucleus to Networking 20
Mainframe Systems Programming Is a Diverse Profession 20
Everything Starts with the Base Control Program 20
Many Other Base Elements are Part of This Dynamic z/OS 22
1. Language Support 22
2. Web 23
3. AI 24
4. Middleware 24
5. Device Support 24
6. Security 25
7. SW Install 25
8. Management 25
9. Networking 26
10. UNIX 27
11. Access Methods 27
Mapping z/OS Development 27
z/OS Optional Features Complete a Compelling and Function-Rich Legacy OS 28
Let Me Quickly Recap 28
Details About the Optional Features in Context 29
1. Language Support 29
2. Device Support 30
3. Security 30
4. Systems Management 31
5. Data Management 32
We Now Have a Fuller Picture 33
JES is One of the Most Important Base Elements of z/OS 35
Two Things about JES 35
Many Parts in an Operational and Programming Framework 35
Operational Dimension of JES2 36
1. Started Task 36
2. Initialization Parms 37
3. Operator Commands 37
4. SDSF 37
5. Resources 38
What is Next? 38
What Is the JES Programming Dimension and Why Is it Important? 39
Programming Aspect of JES2 39
1. Phases of Job Processing 40
2. Job Control Language (JCL) 40
3. Other Inputs 41
JES2 and JES3 Have Differences 41
1. In a Mainframe Installation That has Only One Processor 42
2. In an Installation With a Multiprocessor Configuration 42
3. In Cases Where Multiple z/OS Systems are Clustered (sysplex) 42
What is Next? 42

Contents Continued (Just topic areas) …
Customer Information Control System
Information Management System
Databases, Db2 and Open Source on Z
Security, Hardware and Software
Networking in 2 articles from BSC to TCP/IP
Messaging and Queuing
Web Servers
WebSphere Application Server
Survey of Programming Language Support
Compendium of widely used interfaces of z/OS