This part of the z/OS® basic skills information center is intended to provide information systems personnel with the background knowledge and skills necessary to begin using the basic communications facilities of a mainframe-based system. It provides a broad understanding of networking principles and the hardware and software components necessary to allow the mainframe to participate in a high volume data communications network.

While many of the networking concepts covered are operating system-independent, the main emphasis is on the z/OS operating system. You are assumed to have experience in computer system concepts, including computer organization and architecture, operating systems, data management and data communications, and systems design and analysis.

A basic understanding of z/OS job control, library structure, and system libraries is assumed. It is strongly recommended that you have already completed an introductory course on z/OS, such as one that uses Introduction to the New Mainframe: z/OS Basics or a comparable text.

This information does not comprehensively cover all aspects of data communications, nor is it a reference that discusses every feature and option of the zSeries® communications facilities.

Those who will benefit from this information include data processing professionals who have experience on non-mainframe-based platforms, or who are familiar with some aspects of the mainframe environment or applications, but want to learn about the networking facilities of the mainframe environment.