Home Courses MF-VSAM
🖥 Mainframe 💾 VSAM ✔ 3 Levels Available

Mainframe VSAM
Full Programme

A comprehensive three-level curriculum covering Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) from storage architecture, IDCAMS utilities, dataset types (KSDS, ESDS, RRDS, LDS), and Alternate Indexing (AIX) through COBOL program integration, performance tuning (CI/CA splits, buffering, LSR/NSR), VSAM RLS, and advanced catalog administration for enterprise z/OS environments.

🎯
Format
Theory + Lab/Assignments
🏆
Certificate
Arich Certified
Enrol Now →
Course Code
MF-VSAM
Click a Level to View its Syllabus
L1
MF-VSAM · Beginner
6 Modules · Concepts, IDCAMS & Utilities
›
L2
MF-VSAM · Intermediate
2 Modules · AIX & COBOL Integration
›
L3
MF-VSAM · Advanced
2 Modules · Tuning, RLS & Catalogs
›
📄 MF-VSAM — Beginner Level (MF-VSAM-PL1)
L1
MF-VSAM-PL1
Introduction to VSAM & File Management Utilities
01
Introduction to Mainframe Storage & VSAM Concepts
▼
Overview of Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) and Sequential Datasets (PS/PDS)
Direct Access Storage Devices (DASD) and Disk Architecture
Control Intervals (CI) and Control Areas (CA)
VSAM Dataset Types (KSDS, ESDS, RRDS, LDS)
Catalog Concepts (Master Catalog, User Catalog, Data & Index Components)
02
IDCAMS Basics & File Management Utilities
▼
Introduction to IDCAMS / Access Method Services (AMS)
DEFINE CLUSTER command syntax and parameters
REPRO utility for loading and backing up data
PRINT utility (HEX, CHARACTER, DUMP)
DELETE command with PURGE/ERASE options
VERIFY utility for fixing damaged datasets
03
Alternate Indexing (AIX) & Path Management
▼
Alternate Index (AIX) concepts and business use cases
Unique vs Non-Unique Alternate Keys
DEFINE ALTERNATEINDEX command syntax
BLDINDEX utility for generating index entries
DEFINE PATH for establishing access paths
UPGRADE / NOUPGRADE options for automated synchronization
Troubleshooting Alternate Index build and maintenance failures
04
COBOL - VSAM Program Integration & File Status Handling
▼
COBOL SELECT...ASSIGN statement and file control entries
ORGANIZATION IS INDEXED, SEQUENTIAL, and RELATIVE
ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL, RANDOM, and DYNAMIC
COBOL VSAM I/O Statements: OPEN, READ, WRITE, REWRITE, DELETE, START
Decoding COBOL File Status Codes (00, 02, 10, 22, 23, 35, 90/92/97)
Processing Base Clusters and Alternate Index Paths in batch programs
05
VSAM Performance Tuning, CI/CA Splits & Buffering
▼
Control Interval (CI) Splits and Control Area (CA) Splits mechanics
FREESPACE tuning (CI Free %, CA Free %)
LISTCAT analysis (EXCPs, Splits, High Allocated RBA, High Used RBA)
Buffer Management (BUFND & BUFNI parameter optimization)
LSR (Local Shared Resources) vs NSR (Non-Shared Resources) Buffering
SHAREOPTIONS (1,2 / 2,2 / 3,3 / 4,4) for multi-user integrity
Extended Addressability (EA) for datasets exceeding 4 GB
06
VSAM RLS, Catalog Architecture & Advanced Storage Administration
▼
VSAM Record Level Sharing (RLS) across Parallel Sysplex & CICS
SMS (Storage Management Subsystem) Data Classes, Storage Classes, and Management Classes
Coupling Facility (CF) structures and SMSVSAM address space
Catalog Architecture: Basic Catalog Structure (BCS) & VSAM Volume Data Set (VVDS)
Catalog Recovery and Maintenance (EXPORT, IMPORT, VERIFY, DIAGNOSE)
Advanced Assembler VSAM Macros (ACB, RPL, GET, PUT, MODCB, SHOWCB)
📄 MF-VSAM — Intermediate Level (MF-VSAM-PL2)
L2
MF-VSAM-PL2
Alternate Indexing & COBOL Program Integration
01
Alternate Indexing (AIX) & Path Management
▼
Need for Alternate Indexing in enterprise business applications
Non-unique vs Unique keys in Alternate Indexes
Creating AIX architecture: DEFINE ALTERNATEINDEX command
Building index entries using BLDINDEX utility
Linking AIX to Base Cluster using DEFINE PATH
Upgrading AIX automatically using UPGRADE / NOUPGRADE options
Maintenance & Troubleshooting of AIX build failures
02
COBOL - VSAM Program Integration & File Status Handling
▼
SELECT...ASSIGN TO clause in COBOL Environment Division
ORGANIZATION IS INDEXED / SEQUENTIAL / RELATIVE
ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL, RANDOM, or DYNAMIC
COBOL I/O Statements: OPEN, READ, READ NEXT, WRITE, REWRITE, DELETE, START
Decoding COBOL File Status Codes: 00 (Success), 02 (Duplicate Key AIX), 10 (EOD), 22 (Duplicate Key), 23 (Record Not Found), 35 (File Not Found), 90/92/97 (Logic/VSAM Error)
Processing Base Clusters vs. Alternate Index PATHs in COBOL
📄 MF-VSAM — Advanced Level (MF-VSAM-PL3)
L3
MF-VSAM-PL3
Performance Tuning, RLS & Advanced Storage Administration
01
VSAM Performance Tuning, CI/CA Splits & Buffering
▼
Understanding Control Interval (CI) Splits and Control Area (CA) Splits
Tuning FREESPACE parameters (CI Free %, CA Free %)
Analyzing LISTCAT output (EXCPs, Splits, High Allocated RBA, High Used RBA)
Buffer Management Optimization: DATA Buffers (BUFND) vs INDEX Buffers (BUFNI)
Local Shared Resources (LSR) vs Non-Shared Resources (NSR)
Impact of SHAREOPTIONS (1,2 / 2,2 / 3,3 / 4,4) on data integrity & concurrence
Extended Addressability (EA) for datasets exceeding 4 GB
02
VSAM RLS, Catalog Architecture & Advanced Storage Admin
▼
VSAM Record Level Sharing (RLS) in Sysplex / CICS environments
SMS (Storage Management Subsystem) Data Classes, Storage Classes, and Management Classes
Coupling Facility (CF) structures & SMSVSAM address space
Catalog Management: Basic Catalog Structure (BCS) & VSAM Volume Data Set (VVDS)
Catalog recovery techniques (EXPORT / IMPORT / DIAGNOSE / VERIFY)
Advanced Assembler VSAM Macros: ACB (Access Method Control Block), RPL (Request Parameter List), EXLST, GET, PUT, MODCB, SHOWCB