GDPS Introduction & Overview


This three-day course, presented by a highly experienced z/OS specialist, introduces and explains IBM's Geographical Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) environment.
The course explains the significant issues involved in implementing a GDPSenvironment. It examines the main functions and capabilities of GDPS and provides detailed advice and guidance on the implementation parameters.
Attendees will learn how to operate a GDPS environment.

There a a number of challenging exercises throughout the course, designed to ensure that attendees fully understand all the topics covered.

This course is available for presentation live, over the Internet, both 'on demand' (minimum 2 students) for open-enrolment presentations and for exclusive, one-company presentations.

An extended, four-day version of this course, which includes a number of practical, hands-on exercises, is also available for presentation on-site at customers' locations. For details see RSM's course 'GDPS Installation & Customisation Workshop'.

Virtual Classroom Environment dates - click to book!

UK Start Times

24 November 2025

What is a 'Virtual Classroom Environment'?

 

What do I need?

  • webcam
  • headphones with microphone
  • sufficient bandwidth, at least 1.5 Mb/s in each direction.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • understand how a Parallel Sysplex works in a GDPS environment
  • explain the reasons behind GDPS
  • understand how the DS8000 and the TS770 Hardware are used in a GDPS environment
  • explain Metro Mirror and Global Mirror
  • identify the important aspects of managing a GDPS environment
  • understand Copy Services Manager when using Safeguarded Copy and Flashcopy
  • describe the Site terminology, 2, 3, 4 and 5 site scenarios
  • list what is required to install GDPS in a NetView environment
  • describe the parameters that need to defined to install GDPS PPRC definitions, Domains, Options, Sites and Security
  • understand the terminology for writing a Batch, Takeover and Control script
  • understand the GDPS Operations by looking at GDPS and AOC Panels
  • describe the actions that are taken when performing a Hyperswap, Site Switch and an IPL
  • describe the functions of GDPS monitoring.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for all Systems Programmers, Storage Administrators, Operations Personnel and others who need to understand how GDPS operates.

Prerequisites

Attendees should have solid experience of working in a technical support role in a z/OS mainframe computing environment.

Duration

3 days

Fee (per attendee)

£2100 (ex VAT)

 

This includes free online 24/7 access to course notes.

 

Hard copy course notes are available on request from rsmshop@rsm.co.uk

at £50.00 plus carriage per set.

Course Code

GDPI

Contents

Parallel Sysplex Overview

Introduction; What is a parallel sysplex?; XCF, the Cross-systems Coupling Facility; The SYSPLEX; Multisystem environments; It's not just signalling!; But what about data sharing?; The Coupling Facility; Coupling Facility data - Structures; Using the Coupling Facility; Data sharing services; OK, so WHY parallel sysplex?; A 'single image environment'; A sysplex is just a bigger multiprocessor!; Management of a single image environment; Dispatching work; Recovery and expendability; Continuous availability; The D XCF, D CF and SETXCF commands; DISPLAY XCF.

GDPS Overview

Business IT Resilience; Recovery time objective (RTO); Recovery point objective (RPO): Disaster Recovery: The type of LPARS of GDPS; GDPS offering; GDPS automation; Services; Disk and Tape Technology; Multi-Site Considerations; Active/Active; Active/Warm; Active/Query.

Introduction to System Automation

What is IBM Systems Automation for z/OS?; Components of IBM Systems Automation for z/OS; Configuration of IBM Systems Automation for z/OS; Major NetView Automation components; User Interfaces.

Netview Installation

The SMP/E process; FMIDs; Required USS changes; Update PARMLIB members; Allocate system-unique datasets for: System Automation NetView, I/O Operations, Automation Agent; Allocate sysplex-wide datasets for: Primary & Secondary Automation Managers, Automation Agent; Allocate system-unique datasets for Primary & Secondary Automation Managers; Allocate system-unique GDGs for Primary & secondary Automation Managers; Allocate sysplex-wide datasets for Customisation dialog: Update PROCLIB for the NetView startup procedures: NetView Subsystem Interface startup procedure, NetView System Automation Agent startup procedure, NetView System Automation Manager startup procedure, Other (optional) startup procedures; NetView customisation: Further DSIPARM members, CNMSTYLE customisation; REXX function package; Automation Manager customisatio; HSAPRMxx customisation; System Logger customisation; Security; Minimum requirements for RACF; Component Trace; Allocating the Dialog Libraries; Method 1 - using a TSO Logon procedure; Method 2 - dynamically using the REXX EXEC INGDLG; ISPF dialog setup; Invoking via ISPF panel or REXX EXEC; REXX environments; Confirm the number is at least 400; Defining Userids; VTAM setup; Create NetView and System Automation APPL definitions Create AMODETAB Logon Mode Table; Enabling SA to restart ARM enabled subsystems; Security; NetView based or SAF based; Dynamically starting Systems Automation without an IPL.

The Automation Policy - an Introduction

The Automation Policy; Entry Types and Policy Objects; Types of Entry Types; Entry Type abbreviations.

GDPS Installation Considerations

GDPS started tasks; GEOXHSWP started task setup; GEOXCFST started task setup; Sysplex considerations; CDS considerations; GDPS and NetView start-up; MPFLST customisation and message automation for GDPS; Updating NetView for GDPS; Adding the GDPS datasets; GEODEF; GEOGROUP; GEOSEC; GEOGROUP; GEODEF; GEOPARM; Updating NetView parameters; Message table considerations; Using the System Automation dialogs to create the GDPS policy; SA definitions in detail; Group (2); Applications (6); Processor (10); Auto operators (37); User E-T Pairs (99); Dynamic Site Table refresh.

DS8000/TS7700 Hardware Overview

Introduction to the IBM DS8880; Hardware features; Hardware features for GDPS; Data Protection for GDPS; Remote Mirror and Copy connectivity; TS7700 Virtualization Engine; Terminology; Tape Volume Cache; Virtual Tape Drive; Virtual Volume; Logical Volume; Stacked Volume; Hardware for TS7700; Disk controllers; Large disk drives; Virtual Tape grid network; Disaster Recovery Solutions; Selective write-protect for disaster recovery (DR) testing; Fail-over principles; TS7700 Virtualization Engine Cluster failure; TS7700 cloud tiering; TS7700 interfaces with DS8000 TCT.

Copy Services Manager

What is Copy Services Manager?; Flashcopy; Flashcopy relationship; Steps for a Flashcopy; Flashcopy options; Full volume Flashcopy; FlashCopy for z/OS datasets; Copy option; NoCopy option; Cascaded Flashcopy; Persistent FlashCopy; Incremental FlashCopy; Reversing FlashCopy; Fast reverse restore; Remote (in-band) FlashCopy; Remote Pair Flashcopy; Consistent FlashCopy (FlashCopy consistency group); Logical Corruption Program (Safeguarded Copy); How LCP works; Setting up IBM Copy Services Manager; Scheduled tasks; Session; Copy sets; Restore Production data.

Metro Mirror, Hyperswap and Global Mirror

Metro Mirror; Dependent write logic and Data Consistency; Disk Subsystem Pairs; Metro Mirror data consistency; Device Limits; Multi-Target Metro Mirror (MTMM); Performance of Metro Mirror; Recovery point with Metro Mirror; Protecting data integrity and data availability; GDPS Freeze function for mirroring failures; Freeze process of Mirrored Disks; PPRC Failure Policy; Actions on the PPRC Failure Policy; PPRCFAILURE policy selection considerations; Freeze and Go; Freeze and Stop; Freeze and Stop last; Freeze and Stop conditional; Freeze and Stop conditional last; K-Sys with Metro Mirror; Hyperswap function; Hyperswap actions; Incremental Resynchronization; Concurrent Copy cleanup; Global Mirror; Global Mirror Configuration; K-Systems and R-systems for Global Mirror; Global Mirror in Action; Responsibilities of the K-sys and R-sys; GDPS GM in a 3-site or 4-site configuration; Dynamic Site Table and PPRC refresh.

GDPS Definitions

GEOPARM; Example of GEOPARM; Dynamic PPRC Link Configuration Management; GEODEF; Example OF GEODEF; GEOGROUP; Example of GEOGROUP; GEOSEC; Making GDPS Policy statement changes.

GDPS Scripts - Batch, Takeover and Control

Actions; Scripts; GDPS Script XML file syntax; Example of Takeover, Control and Batch Script; Step Keywords for Takeover, Control and Batch scripts; Takeover Scripts; Control and Batch Scripts; GDPS Exits; Examples of a Script from GDPS PANELS.

GDPS and AOC Operations

GDPS and AOC panels; Logging onto NetView; Main Menu for AOC; Panels in AOC; GDPS Main Menus; DASD Remote Copy panel; Copy Options panel; Policy Management panel; Configuration and Freeze Time panel; FlashCopy Management panel; FlashCopy Set Device list panel; Disk Subsystem List panel; View SSID Pairs panel; Query Paths panel; View Device pairs panel; Device Pairs Exceptions panel; View Secondary Devices panel; Display Volume Serials; Standard Actions; Stop Standard Action; Re-IPL Standard Action; Modify Standard Action; Load Standard Action; Activate Standard Action; Steps for an Activate; GDPS Environment Information panel; Planned Actions; Example of a Planned Script; Site Switch Planned Action; Sysplex Resource Management; Working with Coupling Facilities; View GDPS Definitions; Config Management; GEOGROUP Management; Status Display Facility (SDF).

GDPS Monitoring

SDF Monitoring; Monitoring functions; Hyperswap Monitoring; GDPS Health Checker; GDPS parameter settings; GDPS load modules; GDPS Health Checker panels; Examples of GDPS Health Checker panels; Forwarding to SDF.


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