IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi ,

I am new to this mainframe field and i have started learning Mainframe in an institute....I want to know ..
1) Which tools are used to Debug programs?
2) How do we interact with mainframe in real time environment(Is it by Hummingbird or by some other means)?
3)How the source code is brought from Production to Development environment and how do we update changes made to source code in Development environment to Production Environment?
4)What are Configuration Management Tools and why do we use them?

These questions may be very easy to answer ....but i really need to know the answers of these questions as i will be going for the interviews very soon....i hope senior members will not be too harsh towards me for asking these questions....Thanks a lot for your replies.....

1. IBM DEBUG TOOL, Compuware ABEND AID are two of the tools used for debugging -- dump reading is also common. There are other tools available.

2. A 3270 emulator is typically used to interact with the mainframe -- whether it be Hummingbird, Reflection, PC COMM, or some other emulator.

3. This entirely depends upon the site and its software -- procedures would depend upon which change management package is used (or at all), how the site set up the package, and how the site set up procedures. There is no generic way to move software from Production to Development; it all depends upon the site.

4. Google is your friend. Googling configuration management tools returns 9,480,000 hits -- several of which on the very first page talk about your issues.

Thanks a lot Robert for your help.....

Hello,

i hope senior members will not be too harsh towards me for asking these questions....

Well, this forum is primarily for students and other beginners, so we try to make allowances

but i really need to know the answers of these questions as i will be going for the interviews very soon....

The interviewer (if they are competent) will be able to tell if there is actual knowledge or not. . . I've always been willing to hire people who want to learn, but have bypassed people who wanted to act like they were qualified but had no real knowledge. fwiw.

thanks a lot for your help......