UNIX for the Mainframer: The Essential Reference for Commands, Conversions, TCP/IP (Paperback)

~ David B. Horvath (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book is for technical professionals on IBM mainframe whose work environments and applications are moving to UNIX. The growing client/server environment has included the mainframe as a major component. UNIX is much more interactive and completely different way of thinking than the mainframe. This book is unique because it builds on existing mainframe knowledge to make the transition to UNIX.

From the Back Cover

“I know how to do it on the mainframe, but what's the command under UNIX?”

More and more organizations are migrating to UNIX, leaving experienced programming staff frustrated by their lack of familiarity with the new environment. But mainframe skills are transferable!

Designed especially for mainframe professionals, UNIX for the Mainframer builds on existing computer knowledge to ease the technology transfer. Programmers, analysts, system analysts, database administrators, and consultants already know how computers work. This book maps that understanding to the UNIX paradigm without rehashing a lot of basic computing concepts or presuming prior familiarity with UNIX.

UNIX for the Mainframer provides a complete orientation to UNIX for users in transition. It is also an outstanding reference volume for looking up the answers to specific questions, for example:

• “What's the command for ?????” - UNIX commands are mapped directly to the corresponding mainframe terms.
• “What's a Shell Script?” - UNIX scripting languages are explained in terms of JCL, PROC's, CLIST, and REXX.
• “How did these files get here?” - How to organize, specify, name, and retrieve UNIX files is detailed, along with full instructions for account configuration.
• “How do you edit these files?” - Popular editors are reviewed and related to ISPF commands.
• “What's going on deep down?” - A comparative history describes UNIX and mainframe operating systems and environments.

Appendices offer further resources for deciphering common error messages, converting data, comparing hardware, and accessing networks, along with general hints and suggestions for ongoing reading.

UNIX for the Mainframer is the only book that helps mainframers use their existing skills to get them up and running in the UNIX environment, fast.

“David Horvath has written an excellent introduction, tutorial, and reference for those mainframe programmers and administrators who need or want to become part of the larger computing and network world. It is solidly structured, technically sound, and more than passably readable.” Robert Slade, Internet Review Project.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (August 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136328377
• ISBN-13: 978-0136328377
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,468,101 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #81 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Mainframes & Minicomputers
  #82 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Networking > Networks, Protocols & APIs > TCP-IP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely helpful training manual/cross reference, August 2, 2001

By A Customer

Designed to enable professional mainframers to apply existing knowledge and skillsets in the UNIX environment. Not for beginners with no knowledge base in either environment. Gives many helpful comparisons, for example:

Mainframe = SDSF da/i/o/etc.. Closest Unix Equiv = lpstat/ps/who/vmstat/iostat

Mainframe = partitioned data set (PDS) Closest Unix Equiv = subdirectory

I believe would benefit both midrange and mainframers working in a multi-platform environment. If nothing else it helps bridge the language barrier between the two groups and takes some of the mystique out of the 'other side'.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

Describes Unix using the mainframe as equivalents. Very interesting and helpful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does the job, October 22, 2009

By	da video guy (mahwah, new jersey United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Every now and then (depending on what department I am in and the tasks I have to perform) I have to pull out this book "UNIX For The Mainframer" (UFTM) to save my anatomy. This enables me to support multi-platform applications.
Of the four UNIX books I have at work, UFTM is the first one in which I found the answer, having the terminology I used for the search.
If you have to "RTFM", try UFTM.