The Role of Large Scale Computing in Computer

Science Educationat Widener University

Dr. Suk-Chung Yoon and Noah PascarellDr. Suk-Chung Yoon and Noah Pascarell

Dept. of Computer ScienceDept. of Computer Science

Widener UniversityWidener University

Overview (Part I) What is “Large Scale Computing”? Capabilities of a Mainframe Viability of the Mainframe Why Teach Large Scale Computing ?

Mainframe Demand The World Depends on Mainframes

Hardware Chart Our Course

Objectives Topics

Why Learn COBOL? Format

Our Wiki

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What is “Large Scale Computing”?

Developing “really big” applications

Focus on highly available, transaction processing systems

Using the “mainframe” as a server

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Capabilities of a MainframeLarge-scale transaction processing (thousands of transactions per second)

Support thousands of users and application programs

Simultaneously accessing resources

Terabytes of information in databases

Large-bandwidth communications

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Viability of the MainframeAre Mainframes Still Used?

Most Fortune 1000 companies 60% of all data available on the Internet is stored

on mainframes

There are more CICS transactions processed than Web pages served

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Why Teach Large Scale Computing ?

Demographics – average age of a “mainframe programmer”…

Shortage of skill set

Key concepts that can be applicable across other platforms

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Mainframe DemandMainframe Resources:

A growing issue for mainframe enterprises is the shrinking set of skilled staff to maintain the environment – Gartner 2004/2005.

Wanted: 20,000 IBM Mainframe Experts – InformationWeek, Aug 2005

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The World Depends on Mainframes

Turn on a light Get a business loanMake a telephone call Process accounting

recordsUse your ATM card Control inventoriesPut money in a bank Process payrollRent a car Update personnel

recordsPurchase life insurance Control an assembly lineTravel Control a railroadSend a package Use corporate data

basesTrack in-transit packages

Run a government agencyTrade stocks Conduct international business/banking

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What Would You Title This Chart?

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• Understand key concepts required for large scale application development - which is independent of “mainframe” vs “distributed computing”

• Describe programs from an “Application Architecture” perspective

• Gain some real world insight into the application of “Computer Science” concepts

• Have something unique to discuss during a job interview...

Course Objectives

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Course Objectives (continued)Be able to have an intelligent conversation with

respect to Large Scale Computing

Understand the differences when creating applications to run on a PC, traditional web-based applications and “really big” applications.

Become “fluent” in the TLAs/Buzzwords Understand Hype verses reality

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Course Objectives (continued) Understand the mainframe - how it compares and contrasts to

distributed computing environments across concepts such as: Scalability, reliability, security, fault-tolerance,

transaction integrity, databases Gain experience doing application development using

mainframe programming tools & languages Explain how businesses make use of mainframes and outline

the major types of workloads for which mainframes are best-suited.

Understand the key principles behind transaction processing, and how mainframe technologies can provide robust transaction processing applications

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1.System Architecture overview2.Introduction to COBOL and JCL3.Data: VSAM and Sequential Files 4.Application Architecture of transaction processing

systems5.Databases: Relational and hierarchical databases6.Using the mainframe as a “server” (MQ, HTTP, J2EE)7.Transaction Processing – CICS8.High Availability - Parallel Sysplex 9.Security – system security & security processes

Course Topics

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Why Learn CobolMost mainframe programs are written in Cobol

Most applications are large (ex. 10,000,000 lines of code)

Cobol can be very efficient for certain types of applications

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Course Format Lectures - Review key concepts - includes both applied (ex.

compile/link a program) and foundational topics (ex. security)

Labs - Focus on getting familiar with the mainframe environment

Online - helping to create/use our “Wiki”

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Our Wiki Areas of the Wiki

Course info (ex. reading assignments, schedule, …) General mainframe computing info (ex. terms & abbreviations)

One contributes to the Wiki by editing (improving) the web pages, and as appropriate, contributing to the discussion on specific web pages

It is expected that students will be an active reader / contributor to our web site!

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Our Wiki

Overview (Part II) Implementing a Large Scale Lab @ Widener

Conceptualization Contacting Marist College

Requirements Preparing the facility

Hardware Software

IBM: Master the Mainframe Challenge Creating the first lab assignment for the course

Taking the Large Scale Computing Course Reactions to the first lab assignment Course content

Conceptualization Conferred with Dr. Yoon and Dr. Saltz about the

layout of the course Lecture and lab held on the same day Need to construct a lab facility for the course Start to develop mainframe skills

IBM Contest

Held regular meetings bi-weekly Update advisors on status of project Delegated tasks to group members

Contacting Marist College Started e-mail correspondence with system

programmers Received requirements to connect with system z9

3270 terminal emulator Internet connection

Requested USERIDs for lab managers, instructors, and students

Continued communication with system programmers throughout lab construction phase

Preparing the Facility - Hardware New facility

Moved new computers into location

Crimped CAT-5 and connected machines to existing computer science network

Preparing the Facility - Software Machines dual boot

Linux/Widows Received a free unlimited

license to Vista tn3270 for educational use Runs in Windows

environment Configured Vista to

connect with the Marist Mainframe IP address

Created documentation Downloading/configuring

Vista From home or in lab

IBM: Master the Mainframe Challenge Participated in IBM’s contest in

Fall 2006 Completed two of three parts Gave an introduction to basic

MF skills as well as more advanced topics

Used the contest format to create the first lab assignments

Contest is held yearly, and is open to all college students

Received T-Shirts for completing part I

Creating the First Lab Assignment Modeled after part I “Breaking the Ice” of IBM’s

contest Adapted to our system Based on screenshots and instructions Divided into more manageable sections for the course Added two additional sections:

Allocating data sets Overview of COBOL and creating the students’ first

program

Reactions to the First Lab Assignment Students received USERIDs/passwords at the

beginning of the course Connection to Marist worked flawlessly Initial lab assignment spread out over first 3-4

weeks of class Overall lab was well accepted by students

“Extremely informative, and easy to follow.” - Student in Computer Science

Dr. Saltz felt that that our lab was a good introduction

Course Content Upper level technical elective content

Prerequisites: CSCI 151, 152, 247 Each topic was on average covered in a week

General mainframe background COBOL (several lectures) Different parts of large scale application development process

(requirements, design, testing, etc…) Mainframe capabilities Mainframe vs. other systems discussions

Overall coursework is both challenging and rewarding One of the few courses which gives direct insight into

current industry practices Credit Card Processing System

Conclusions Mainframe market is in

need of experienced employees

System is comparable to those used in industry

Allows for an introduction into large scale application development

Provides another programming language within curriculum

Opens the door to new opportunities

Relying on off-site (third party) hardware

More lab time is needed than other lab-courses

Challenging coursework