How to Access the IBM MVS Mainframe
Large Systems Concepts and Techniques
User IDs and Passwords
Everyone registered in the course should automatically have a UserID of the form INSxxx9 where xxx represent’s your initials and "9" is a numeric tie-breaker. If you or someone else has another MVS account with the same initials, you need to try a "2" or even "3" suffix. Examples follow.
Geoff S. Howard INSGSH1
Jennifer A. Holquist INSJAH1
Diane M. Rosinski INSDMR2
(If someone else has the same initials as DMR.)
Your initial logon password is the same as your UserID.
Direct Access
The fastest access to the IBM is via directly connected IBM 3270-type terminals. These are located in Room 320 of the College of Business. Turn the terminal on and the login screen will come up automatically. The line printer in this room also provides convenient capability for rapidly printing files from your IBM mainframe account. To use this printer, enter PRINTAT BUS at any CMS prompt. All subsequent PRINT commands (until you logoff) will automatically direct print to this printer. See the Lowe text, Chapter 1, Topic 3, for specific guidance on how to use the 327X terminals, especially with respect to the CLEAR, ENTER, and carriage return keys. Note that if you’re using a 3270 terminal emulator package such as the one in the Business labs, you can click the "Clear" button at the bottom of the screen with the mouse. This saves the trouble of trying to figure out which key (if any) on your PC keyboard emulates the "Clear" key. Room 320 is open whenever the College of Business is open, which means it generally has broader hours of availability than the labs on the second floor.
From Networked PCs on the Campus
There are many PC labs all over campus, including in some of the dorms. Nearly all of these PCs are networked together such that they can access the IBM mainframe. The sequence of commands differs slightly depending upon where you are on campus. Look for documentation or ask for help on how to access the "IBM VM mainframe" and that will get you the info you need.
In the College of Business labs on the second floor, the procedure is as follows:
1. Turn on a computer and allow it to boot up on its own.
2. On the "College of Business Administration Login Menu" type A.
3. Type C (or another letter for your favorite printer), then hit any key. This should get you to the Novell Network Main Menu.
4. Select 4 Windows
5. Double-click on the Internet Utilities icon.
6. Double-click on Telnet KentVM.
7. From here, you will be presented with the IBM VM logon screen. Put in your USERID and PASSWORD, and proceed from here, using the directions/assignments you have been given relative to the IBM mainframe.
From a Dialup-MODEM
You can use any communication package, such as Procomm, Kermit, or practically any shareware to dial into the IBM mainframe. If you use Windows 95, use Hyperterminal (under "Accessories"). The phone number is (330) 672-4850. Set up a communication protocol of 8-N-1. The dialup supports speeds up to 9600 baud, with improvements scheduled for implementation soon. 9600 baud is MORE than fast enough for the work we will be doing on the IBM.
From the Internet
If you have access to the Internet either at work or at home via an Internet Service Provider (ISP), then it is easy to reach the IBM mainframe by Telnet, plus you can avoid a toll call if your ISP is local.
Windows 95: First, you need to obtain a piece of software called QWS 3270 Plus. Create a folder on your PC called QWS3270, then go to this URL on the WWW:
http://asgard.kent.edu/largesys/download.htm
and download the four files shown there. Create a shortcut in Windows 95 to the file QWS3270.EXE. Start QWS3270.EXE either from the menu or by double-clicking on it. Then click on "Connect" and fill in the host name of kentvm.kent.edu.
This will get you to the logon screen that I demonstrated in class. From here, you can follow the standard logon instructions.
Go to the Setup, Options panel in QWS3270 and make it look like below.
(To speed things up, you may wish to edit the file QWS3270.INI and change the HOSTNAME to kentvm.kent.edu and the AUTOCONNECT parameter to yes.)
Logon Procedure
After you get connected (using one of the procedures above) you'll be presented with this menu:
Select "B" for the TSO system and hit the Enter key. Key in your userid (as described in the first section of these directions) so that the panel looks like the one below, then hit Enter.
On this panel enter your initial password, which will be the same as your userid. From there, follow the prompts carefully on the screen below to select a new password and then to enter its confirmation. Don't forget the password you select!!!
Once you get the screen below, key in the word "go" as I've done below and hit the Enter key.
When you get the screen below, you're in and the logon process is complete. From there, follow the directions in the other assignment handouts. THINK about what you're doing at each step -- please don't just blindly follow the directions!
