Basics of z/OS RACF Administration

Course Overview

This course begins with an introduction to the z/OS environment, TSO and ISPF/PDF, batch processing, and z/OS data sets. Hands-on labs allow you to gain experience with viewing and allocating data sets, submitting a batch job, and viewing job output. After the introduction to z/OS, you will then learn, through lecture and lab exercises, how to use basic RACF command parameters and/or panels to define users and groups, protect general resources, z/OS data sets, and choose a basic set of RACF options.

Target Audience

• People who are new to z/OS and the RACF and responsible for security administration using the RACF element of the z/OS Security Server.
• Students who need to implement some of the more advanced features of the RACF may want to attend one or more of the following courses:
  • Effective RACF Administration (BE87) or (H3927)
  • Implementing RACF Security for CICS (ES84) or (ES840)
  • Exploiting the Advanced Features of RACF (ES88) or (ES88A)

Course Objectives

• List and describe the basic features and concepts of zSeries architecture and of the z/OS operating system as they relate to security administration
• Describe the allocation process for data sets in the z/OS environment
• Identify the security requirements of a system
• Use the basic facilities and features of RACF
• Define users to RACF
• Set up an RACF group structure
• Use RACF to protect resources
• Select a base set of options to tailor RACF

Course Content

• Review of z/Architecture, and z/O
• An introduction to TSO/E and ISPF/PDF
• An introduction to z/OS data sets
• Batch processing
• Security and RACF overview
• Administering groups and users
• Protecting z/OS data sets
• Introduction to general resources
• RACF options
• Other administrative features and facilities

Course Prerequisites

You should have:

• little familiarity with the facilities of the z/OS system.

The first day of the course presents the background material needed to proceed.