7Training personnel to work with the OS/390 system.

8Planning and installing the OS/390 system products.

9Developing standards for application conversion that reflect such things as naming conventions to be used in the new OS/390 system environment.

10Collecting all VSE source materials and presenting same to the conversion process.

11Translating VSE programs to OS/390 programs.

12Converting JCL.

13Transferring data files from VSE to OS/390.

14Testing each converted application under OS/390.

15Documenting and preparing run books and operational procedures.

16Implementing the production workload under OS/390.

3.2.4Milestone Events

Within each migration, certain activities should be identified as key activities, the attainment of which can signal significant progress (or the lack of attainment, a schedule slippage). These activities are typically called milestone events or just milestones. Each customer should identify the milestones most important in their migration.

The following are some suggested VSE to OS/390 migration milestones:

￿Migration Plan completed, reviewed, and approved.

￿VSE software inventory completed.

￿All vendor support committed.

￿Essential education completed.

￿Necessary hardware installed.

￿Installation of OS/390 and related products completed.

￿Initial OS/390 IPL performed.

￿Pilot conversion completed.

￿Each major application¢s successful conversion.

￿Stress/Production tests completed.

￿Operator education and Run Books completed.

￿Production criteria attained.

￿Production implementation initiated.

Once milestones are defined, periodic ²checkpoints² can be scheduled to monitor successful milestone completion; that is, project progress.

48VSE to OS/390 Migration Workbook

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IBM OS/390 manual Milestone Events
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OS/390 specifications

IBM OS/390, a versatile operating system, was a cornerstone in enterprise environments and played a pivotal role in mainframe computing. Released in the mid-1990s, OS/390 combined the strengths of IBM's MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) with new features and enhancements, targeting scalability, reliability, and performance in demanding business applications.

One of the key features of OS/390 was its robust support for multiple users and processes. The system allowed thousands of concurrent users to access applications and data, ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime—a critical requirement for many large organizations. This scalability was supported through various enhancements in memory management and processor scheduling, enabling optimal resource allocation across diverse workloads.

OS/390 was known for its superior workload management capabilities. The Workload Manager (WLM) component allowed administrators to define service policies, specifying how system resources would be allocated according to the priority of tasks. This ensured that critical business processes received the necessary resources while less critical tasks were managed more flexibly.

Another significant characteristic of OS/390 was its commitment to security. The operating system provided comprehensive security features, including user authentication, data encryption, and auditing capabilities. This focus on security was vital for organizations handling sensitive data, ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding against unauthorized access.

OS/390 also supported advanced technologies that facilitated integration and development. The system included features like the IBM CICS (Customer Information Control System) for transaction processing and IMS (Information Management System) for database management. These technologies allowed organizations to build robust, high-performance applications tailored to specific business needs.

The ease of network integration was another strength of OS/390. With the advent of the Internet and global connectivity, OS/390 systems could easily interface with various network protocols, enabling businesses to operate in a connected world. This inclusion paved the way for many organizations to expand their capabilities and offer new services, driving digital transformation.

In conclusion, IBM OS/390 represented a significant advancement in mainframe technology, combining scalability, security, and robust workload management. Its rich feature set and support for critical enterprise applications solidified its role as a vital component of many organizations' IT infrastructures, ensuring they could meet their operational challenges head-on while supporting future growth. As technology continues to evolve, the legacy of OS/390 remains influential in the realm of computing.
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