On a mission to spread the word of enterprise computing and the power of running applications on IBM Z, Joris Mertens and Frank van der Wal have been hard at work getting learners all over the world engaged with Code-A-Thons. Listen here for more details, and for the full multimedia experience, visit the one-pager here: https://www.ibm.com/communit…

When you beat a game on Super Difficulty, sometimes there's an extra bonus reward or special animation waiting at the end. There's no prize for taking the hard route when it comes to mainframe, so let's make sure we clear out as many hurdles and time sinks as possible at the start of a project. This means getting systems set up exactly the way you'…

Running the systems that run the world... nobody expects it to be as simple as flipping a light switch, but there are certainly some areas where advancement means simplification. In this episode, we hear from Marcel Mitran about how this is achievable on everyone's favorite computing platform.By Frank and Jeff

Being able to work with the infrastructure of IBM Z as an evolving set of code, which can be reviewed, updated, iterated, and managed the same as a traditional software project opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. It's a task easier said than done, thankfully there are some wonderful people working on this task who are making sure it's done…

Datacenters grow, and every so often, they need to move, which is quite possibly the clearest definition of "Easier Said than Done." Now make it 23 datacenters around the world with an IBM Z presence, consolidated down to 4. In this episode, Marianne Serra talks us through how to even start thinking about tackling a problem this size.…

We had a packed studio for this one, and there is much to discuss. It's time to get an update into the latest Ansible news, plus some deep diving into some work being led by Jay in the area of automation on z/VM using Ansible. An episode to delight, educate, and inspire anyone interested in working smarter, rather than harder. Ansible for IBM Z Pla…

If you know how to do it, you're probably looking to do it faster. ZOAU is a great set of tools which exists to make many common z/OS system tasks happen with less friction and more user friendliness. In this episode. Anthony Giorgio gives us the info on what we can find, and what we may hope to find in this wonderful piece of software. https://www…

Returning to the show are Python and Open Source Experts Joe Boston and Chad McIntyre. Keeping up to date on how Python on IBM Z is advancing and improving is important, and we've got an episode chock full of info. From packages to ports, AI to Flask, it's time to refresh that knowledge. Auto-Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate) Frank We…

Always good to hear Steven's informed thoughts on where the platform is headed, how to get others along with us, and just where to find motivation. Lots to digest in this episode, so you might need to drive around the block a few extra times to fit it all in! https://www.seven9s.com/ https://www.ensono.com/…

Nuts and Bolts vs Ones and Zeroes. Who really makes the world go around? It gets feisty on this one when Frank and Ray go toe-to-toe discussing their favorite part of our favorite platform.By Frank and Jeff

Getting resolution on an ever-evolving platform requires ever-evolving solutions. In this episode, we talk with the Team Lead for z/OS & USS Support, John Shebey, about what it takes to optimize problem resolution on such a demanding system.By Frank and Jeff

Getting skills on Z is discussed almost as frequently as Z itself, and with good reason! The jobs are out there, they need to be filled, but it takes the right type of person and the right type of education to bring it all together. There is perhaps none better to discuss this topic than COO of Interskill, Darren Surch. Learn more about Interskill'…

Being back in the studio means we can finally get the band back together. In this episode, we've got Gary Puchkoff and Allison Moshier to tell us how z/OS Container Extensions have advanced since we last chatted, and to give us a peek of the direction of things to come.By Frank and Jeff

Standing in for the now-possibly-unbanned Peter Enrico, Scott Chapman is in the virtual studio to give us a fresh batch of insight into how IBM Z users can get the most from their systems. We learn that sometimes exceeding your goals is *not* a good thing, and that recompiling code to take advantage of new features isn't always as simple as hitting…

The Go language has emerged as a leading language for server-side and cloud applications, DevOps automation tools, and so much more. Like all good things, it has come to z/OS, and may just be what you're looking for to extend existing methods into a new direction. Bill O'Farrell and James Tang are here to walk you through all of the questions you n…

SDSF is, to many, the part of ISPF that lets you manage jobs and fire off the occasional command, but not many truly appreciate its journey and just how deep those hooks go into the core of the OS. Ken Jonas and Rob Scott stop by this episode to shed some insight into SDSF and what the future may hold for such a powerful tool.…

In order for Z continue to run the world, we need a world around for it to run. Recent efforts in Sustainability are designed to lessen the impact of computing on our own natural resources, as well as making better decisions with regards to modern workloads. There's lots to discuss, and Dustin Demetriou is going to lay it all out for you on this ne…

It's time to rethink your storage model. Don't worry, nobody is saying throw everything into the cloud, rather TCT is a new offering allowing for a whole new tier of storage which leverages the cloud storage provider of your choice. That's about the extent of my Storage knowledge, so if you want to know more, hit play and listen to Robert Gensler t…

VTOC. Know it. Use it... Love it? If you're putting data on volumes, you're using a Volume Table of Contents to keep track of what's where, and like most things in Z, knowing just how that information gets put to use can help aid in performance and reliability. Let the experts, Kevin Miner and Mike Koester take us through the importance of this oft…

When you think of DevOps, your mind probably fills with visions of mobile apps, some middleware applications, maybe a backend service or two, but probably not machine firmware and millicode. Brenton is here to change that thinking, telling us all about how implementing DevOps at all levels can help teams get more done with greater efficiency.…

The processor powering the next generation of IBM Z and LinuxONE machines has some seriously impressive tech inside. From caching structures that keep response times down, to even more speciality engines built around AI, to even more security enhancements, Telum has much to offer. The research and collaboration that went into bringing all of this t…

For testers, there's just never enough time, and being thorough without pushing back release dates is a constant struggle. With some very clever test architecture, and just heaps of pure genius, PJ Catalano and team have been able to get a jump on testing some big features in new hardware without sacrificing quality. Get a peek into the world of En…

You've gotta stay on top of your installed software, and the right approach can make all the difference. World renowned software install/management/upgrade expert Marna Wanna (and co-host of the other mainframe podcast, Mainframe, Performance, Topics) joins us to shed some light on what it takes to keep current without adding drama to an already-bu…

What happens when you try and mix core Z tasks with modern automation frameworks? Turns out you get a robust system for getting those basic tasks done quicker, and in a way that enables much greater integration into other tooling. In this episode, we talk with The Michaels from Ensono, and hear how they leverage Ansible with z/OS to make things run…

In this "Back to School" episode, we learn all about Messaging, as in the process of sending/requesting logic and/or data on a computer platform, NOT passing notes in the back of class, and more specifically MQ, the specific middleware supported just about anywhere, but most importantly on Z. Professors Matt Sunley and Matt Leming walk us through t…

Alongside the dizzying array of processors, I/O adapters, power management and networking hardware, nestled up in a far corner of the z15 sits a pair of servers with perhaps the most important job in the world; starting everything up. The Support Element (SE) and Hardware Management Console (HMC) give you all the controls needed to manage your Z re…

Rich and Randy are avid advocates of Z, but also know that the real magic happens when people can benefit from it without needing to know a whole lot about the tech underneath. That's the case with the most recent pivot towards serverless computing, and what this episode is all about. This episode is a good peek into what it takes to blend cutting …

For many, Python is just _the way things get done_, and having it available on z/OS alongside so many other great languages, subsystems and features helps make the platform more accessible than ever. Hear straight from Chad McIntyre, IBM Open Enterprise Python for z/OS Dev Lead, on just how important this effort is, why now, and how you can be best…

Before software goes into production, it needs to be tested, and "It looks good to me" just isn't good enough. To ensure maximum coverage is attained, testing tools and frameworks are the way to go, and in this episode, we hear from Will Yates and Michael Baylis about how the Galasa Project helps them ensure solutions pass all the right tests. http…

If you were able to open up a data set without knowing the volume it's on by heart, thank Catalog. This often-overlooked but absolutely necessary component of z/OS deserves a deeper look, and Stephen Branch is here to spell out all of the interesting bits, as well as explaining some data set basics for the new learners. Definitely an educational an…

It's been a while since we last got a deep dive into IBM z/OS Container Extensions, and there's much to discuss. Terminal Talk Top Tier Listener Anthony Giorgio is on the scene with an action-packed look at the what, how, and why of this wonderful new addition to IBM Z's bag of virtualization tricks. Anthony's got both hands on the pulse of these l…

The strengths of IBM Z have always been apparent in critical business applications, and as more and more businesses look to use cloud technology as part of their day-to-day operations, there is a great opportunity for Z to demonstrate its value once again. In this episode, we talk with Tom McPherson, Vice President of Platform Services, IBM Cloud I…

Maybe it's because nobody wanted to get on another web conference, or maybe we just like the sounds of our own voices... or maybe this year's Master the Mainframe is so much different and exciting that it's worth talking about for nearly 45 minutes. No matter the reason, in this episode, we talk about the changes and challenges that went into the t…

Getting comfortable in z/OS takes a considerable amount of discovery. There are constructs and commands unlike anywhere else, which makes the learning curve somewhat daunting. Mike Fulton, IBM Distinguished Engineer for IBM Z Application Foundation is working to change that with IBM Z Open Automation Utilities. Now, leveraging some new capabilities…

Behind the scenes, but bathed in light, FICON connects powerful mainframe systems to massive storage devices. Encoded within that light lives some of the world's most important data which needs to get to their destination quickly. How do you get security without sacrificing speed? Give a listen to this week's episode with Chris Colonna: FICON Chann…

It was a dark quiet night, just like this one, when a series of Linux guests running under z/VM suddenly gave up the ghost. Those in charge knew it was time to bring in the big guns. With Chief Sleuth Emily Hugenbruch hot on the case, and a deep bench of talent providing backup, this was one defect that got de-commissioned. Big thanks to Jim Ground…

You never know what's going to bring COBOL to the forefront of people's thoughts, but here we are. Jessielaine Punongbayan,Senior Mainframe R&D Engineer at Broadcom Inc., has made a name for herself over the years as a Systems Programmer and COBOL coder, but has recently been making waves with a series of posts on Medium.com highlighting ways that …

When it comes to keeping data safe, there's no such thing as too many options. In this episode, Eli Dow gives us a peek into how it all works, how it will help us from a personal and business standpoint, and how you can get started today. Learn more here: https://fhe-website.mybluemix.net Get the toolkit here: https://github.com/IBM/fhe-toolkit-mac…

Live from Fort Poole, we welcome Chris Poole to talk about the latest in protecting valuable business applications and data, IBM Kuberenetes Service and Hyper ProtectBy Frank and Jeff

At the intersection of transactions, security, and business logic sits Blockchain. Hard to think of a better platform than IBM Z to stand this up and leverage the already-impressive capabilities of the platform. Rebecca Gott, DE for Blockchain on IBM ZBy Frank and Jeff

You don't go from Waterfall to Agile overnight, but real meaningful change requires a driving force to maintain momentum. In this episode, Dave Jeffries, VP of z/OS Development talks about making strides in modernizing mainframe developmentBy Frank and Jeff

The hits just keep on coming, and in another huge step forward for Z, you now have the option of using Ansible for automation of z/OS applications. Curious why all the fanfare? Let Dan Jast, Offering Manager for Ansible on z/OS fill in the blanks.By Frank and Jeff

From humble beginnings come great things. It's up to you to figure out if we're talking about the show, mainframes, or today's extra-special guest, IBM Z General Manager, Ross Mauri. Happy 100 Episodes, let's keep this going!By Frank and Jeff

It should come as no surprise that important applications need rock-solid code. COBOL, being a language specifically designed for highly-precise transactions at high scale delivers just that, and Tom Ross is the perfect guest to tell us about it.By Frank and Jeff

What's new with Zowe? A whole lot! If you haven't been paying attention, it's worth hearing what's been going on with everything, and there's nobody better to do it while keeping you entertained than Joe Winchester.By Frank and Jeff

We don't need to tell you this, but designing an IBM Z system is no simple turn of the crank. Rhonda Sundlof has a wealth of experience from a variety of areas that help deliver the fantastic systems you know today. Something for everyone in this episode.By Frank and Jeff

Our last episode with Mark Brooks was such a hit, we thought we'd follow it up with a deeper look at GDPS, the technology that keeps Z going through even the toughest of situations. Stephen Anania is your guide, prepare to dive in.By Frank and Jeff

Parallel Sysplex on IBM Z allows for some pretty amazing things in the areas of reliability, performance, serviceability and more. The technology enabling this certainly warrants a deeper look, and fortunately we have Mark Brooks to demystify it for us.By Frank and Jeff

What does it take to bring Z technology to those who could benefit from it most? Talk to Melissa Sassi, IBM Z Evangelist, who is working with startups around the world to make it all happen.By Frank and Jeff

Want it or not, we all need cryptography in our lives. And while we may not need to know the mechanics behind every operation, it certainly doesn't hurt to have a little behind-the-scenes information. Anne Dames is here to enlighten and delight.By Frank and Jeff