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. 

Terminal Talk

Brenton Belmar - DevOps... for Firmware??

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 to life deserves some airtime as well, and we've got Dr. Christian Jacobi, Distinguished Engineer, IBM Z Hardware Development Systems to tell us why Telum is grabbing the industry's attention, how it all came together behind the scenes, and how its technology will benefit Z and LinuxONE users around the world.   Read more here: https://www.ibm.com/blogs/systems/ibm-telum-processor-the-next-gen-microprocessor-for-ibm-z-and-ibm-linuxone/ Anandtech Article: https://www.anandtech.com/show/16924/did-ibm-just-preview-the-future-of-caches  

Christian Jacobi tells us all about Telum

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 Enterprise System Test in this episode. 

PJ Catalano - N-1: A Time Machine for Testing

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-busy workload. 

Marna Walle - Modern Installation Management on z/OS

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 smoother, just by aligning workloads, and in a single-digit matter of months. Truly inspiring.  Learn more at https://www.ensono.com and https://www.ansible.com/integrations/infrastructure/ibm-zos  

Ansible in Action - Michael Fontanetta and Michael Neuliep of Ensono

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 the business and technical side of this powerful side of enterprise applications.  Learn more at: https://www.ibm.com/products/mq   Sound Effects provided by ProSoundEffects / Pond5 Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Back to School - MQ

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 resources, including LPARS, power management, and loading microcode.  In our first ever "Back to School" episode, Fred Bader introduces us to this all-important part of the IBM Z data center.  Back to School episodes are made with absolute beginners in mind. We will keep making regular episodes, where we dive deep into technologies, but we wanted something that newbies could jump onto without feeling overwhelmed. Seasons pros just may learn a thing or two as well!  So don't worry, we didn't fire Old Man Charlie or anything :)     Sound Effects provided by ProSoundEffects / Pond5 Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Back to School: HMC & SE w/ Fred Bader

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 edge tech with the expected levels of capacity and availability. Make sure to stay tuned towards the end for some extremely solid career advice from the guys. 

Rich and Randy - Serverless Thinking on Z

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 positioned to meet the needs of today's Python developers. Knowledge Center - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSCH7P_3.9.0Marketplace - https://www.ibm.com/products/open-enterprise-python-zosMRS (external pax download) - https://www-01.ibm.com/marketing/iwm/platform/mrs/assets?source=swg-ibmoep

Chad McIntyre - Python on z/OS

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. https://galasa.dev 

Will Yates and Michael Baylis - Using Galasa to streamline CICS testing

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 and insightful episode. 

Stephen Branch - Catalog

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 latest developments, and we think there will be a lot of folks taking advantage of that 90 day trial by the end.  IBM Systems Mag: Rapid Containers: Improving zCX Runtime Performance https://ibmsystemsmag.com/IBM-Z/9/2020/rapid-containers-zcx90 Day Trial: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSLTBW_2.4.0/com.ibm.zos.v2r4.izso100/izso100_zcxtrial.htmIBM Systems Mag: What's the IBM z/OS Container Extensions trial feature? : https://ibmsystemsmag.com/IBM-Z/07/2020/z-os-container-extensions-trialLearn more here: https://www.ibm.com/support/z-content-solutions/container-extensions/

Anthony Giorgio - zCX Update - New Kid on the Control Block

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 Infrastructure, about the role IBM Z plays in making the most powerful and resilient cloud offering out there. 

Tom McPherson - IBM Z and Public Cloud

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 technical end of Master the Mainframe 2020. If you're interested, just sign up at masterthemainframe.com (available through January 17, 2021). 

Jeff Bisti - Master the Mainframe 2020

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 in USS, users can manage jobs, files, and core Z functionality with simple commands right from their shell. Even better, this plus Python enabled that Ansible thing you've been hearing so much about. It's probably time to evolve your z/OS Stack.  Linkage: IBM Z Open Automation Utilities Announcement Mike's Blog - ZOAU Introduction Welcome / Getting Started w/ ZOAU

Mike Fulton - IBM Z Open Automation Utilities

In this podcast, we'll take a look at the people, technology, and culture behind one of the world's most powerful and important computing platforms, the Mainframe. Expect interviews, discussions, and interesting tidbits along the way, with your hosts, Frank and Jeff.

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Terminal Talk

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