Mainframe DB2
About Infrastructure Technology
Infrastructure Services is a team based in South Africa and Rest of African countries. We are accountable for delivering and supporting resilient, secure infrastructure technology and services to customers, clients and colleagues, both in South Africa and Rest of Africa.
Mainframe Capacity and Performance Team
The mainframe Capacity and Performance team is responsible for ensuring that all z/Os and z/VM / z/Linux systems on the mainframe are managed in a way that is acceptable to both the organisation and their customers.
Overall Purpose of Role
The role is as an Engineer Database Specialist working in the Mainframe Infrastructure team to provide technical maintenance and support for DB2 Databases.
Key Responsibilities
Support for end user programmers and application teams.
Natural and Cobol / Rexx and Assembler.
Writing of and analyzing SQL statements.
Extensive performance tuning and enhancements.
Creating DB2 databases, table spaces, tables, indexes, fields, for Test / Dev / QA and Production environments.
Partitioning.
Automation of processes.
Responsible for data and object housekeeping and maintenance.
Reorg/Run stats/Backups.
Automation of processes.
Database availability: Uptime and stability.
High availability and SYSPLEX knowledge.
Database backups and environmental restores.
High availability
Recover procedures
Automation of processes.
Database structure support.
Altering table spaces, table, indexes, and fields.
Manage, monitor and configure database security.
DCL (Data Control Language)
RACF
TWS
Maintain processes and schedules.
DB2 Installation and upgrades.
Version upgrades.
Patching.
ZParm parameters.
All the mentioned duties included the daily operational functions to keep the systems running, as well as project involvement.
The projects would eventually slot into the daily operations and it was essential to get the design standards and procedures in place upfront. In doing this, operationally the projects would need very little down time to correct. Especially the high focused ones.
A good understanding and work relationship with the various stakeholders within the environment i.e. OS, Storage, Networks etc also assisted in delivering first class support to stakeholders and business.
Software Products and Versions Used
DB2 Version 10
DB2 Version 11 (zOS, 2.4)
DB2 Version 12
Not mentioned in detail is the zOS operating system knowledge. This knowledge is essential to maintain PDS, copy/create/edit files on zOS.
Key Accountabilities
System basic configuration
Version and RU (maintenance) level
zParms up to date
Logging setup
Bufferpools (size, hit ratio, alerts)
Locking, lock contention and deadlocks
Components: DRDA, IRLM
Memory pools and caches
Application databases, table spaces, sizes, invalid objects, fragmentation, extents and space usage
Bufferpools tables, page size, partitioning, indexing, constraints
Referential integrity and clustering
Maintenance runstats, reorg, backup, automation
Application plan/package binds, package usage, stored procedures, WLM integration
Security SysAdm, DbAdm, public grants
Problem diagnosis, performance issues, analytical support
Make and implement DB2 changes
Provide 24x7 standby support
Identify incidents and problems without backup support
Provide architecture solutions aligned with new technologies
Support implementation of new DB2 versions and features
Support implementation of new Mainframe/zOS software and identify impacts
Stakeholder Management and Leadership
Strong communication skills
Ability to articulate complex concepts to various audiences
Represent Mainframe area in project meetings
Communicate technical aspects to senior managers
Collaborate with project and programme managers
Decision-Making and Problem Solving
Excellent analytical skills
High attention to detail
Initiative and determination
Proces