Mainframe Storage Administrator

Introduction

Mainframe storage forms the backbone of the IT infrastructure for many large-scale enterprises. Ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and management of mainframe storage systems demands a specialized set of technical skills and extensive knowledge. This document outlines the critical job skills necessary for professionals working in the mainframe storage domain.

Technical Skills

Knowledge of Mainframe Storage Systems

Storage Architecture Expertise: Profound understanding of storage architecture, encompassing hierarchical storage management (HSM), virtual storage access method (VSAM), IBM DS8000 series, and various storage media including tape libraries, RAID arrays, and solid-state drives (SSD).

Proficiency in Storage Management Software

IBM DFSMS Mastery: In-depth expertise in IBM's Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (DFSMS), crucial for storage management automation on z/OS systems. This includes DFSMSdss for data set services, DFSMShsm for hierarchical storage management, and DFSMStvs for transactional virtual storage enhancements.

Data Backup, Recovery, and Replication

• Advanced Backup Solutions: Proficient in deploying and managing enterprise-grade backup solutions to ensure data integrity, consistency, and availability. Familiarity with backup architectures such as incremental-forever, synthetic full, and deduplication-based backups.
• Comprehensive Disaster Recovery Planning: Expertise in developing thorough disaster recovery (DR) plans, including defining recovery point objectives (RPO) and recovery time objectives (RTO), implementing DR drills, and leveraging site-to-site replication.
• Replication Technologies: Advanced knowledge of synchronous and asynchronous replication technologies using IBM FlashCopy, Metro Mirror, and Global Mirror. Understanding of consistency groups, multi-target replication, and data deduplication for efficient replication processes.

Performance Tuning and Optimization

• Performance Monitoring and Analysis: Advanced skills in utilizing tools such as IBM OMEGAMON for Storage, Resource Measurement Facility (RMF), and System Management Facilities (SMF) to monitor and analyze storage performance metrics. Capability to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks effectively.
• Capacity Planning: Expertise in conducting detailed capacity planning and forecasting using trend analysis and predictive modeling to ensure optimal resource allocation and future growth. Proficiency in using tools like IBM Capacity Management Analytics.

Security and Compliance

• Advanced Data Security Standards: Expertise in implementing robust data security measures including hardware-based encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and data masking to protect sensitive information throughout its lifecycle.
• Regulatory Compliance Knowledge: In-depth understanding of regulatory requirements such as GDPR, and ensuring storage practices align with these standards, maintaining audit readiness and data privacy.

Technical Integration with Open Systems

• Logical Unit Number (LUN) Management: Proficiency in configuring and managing LUNs for optimal storage allocation and access across heterogeneous environments.
• World Wide Port Name (WWPN) Configuration: Expertise in configuring and managing WWPNs within Fibre Channel SANs, ensuring seamless integration and communication between mainframe storage and open systems, including zoning, aliasing, and masking.

Virtual Tape Systems and Tape Libraries

• Virtual Tape Systems (VTS) Proficiency: Expertise in configuring, managing, and troubleshooting VTS, ensuring efficient operations with capabilities such as data deduplication, compression, and backup management. Familiarity with IBM TS7700 series and its grid configurations.
• Tape Libraries Management: Advanced skills in managing automated tape libraries, including tape drive configuration, media management, and ensuring optimal performance for backup, archival, and hierarchical storage management solutions.

Data Center Migration Experience

• Data Center Migration Projects: Proven experience in planning, executing, and managing complex data center migration projects, with an emphasis on mainframe storage systems. Ensuring minimal operational disruption and data integrity throughout the migration process is essential.
• Deep Knowledge of Hardware Setup: Extensive understanding and hands-on experience in setting up and configuring storage hardware, including disk arrays, tape libraries, and VTS, to ensure seamless integration and operation during data center migrations.
• Inter-Site Data Replication Setup: Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in setting up inter-site data replication, ensuring seamless data availability and consistency across multiple locations. Proficiency in using technologies like IBM Copy Services Manager (CSM) for orchestrating replication tasks.
• Risk Management: Expertise in identifying and mitigating risks associated with data center migrations, such as data loss, extended downtime, and hardware compatibility issues.
• Detailed Planning: Proficiency in developing comprehensive migration plans involving detailed timelines, resource allocation, and contingency strategies to handle unforeseen challenges. This includes inventorying all storage assets, mapping dependencies, and designing data migration paths to minimize operational impact.
• Execution and Coordination: Strong ability to coordinate with various stakeholders, including infrastructure teams, application owners, and third-party vendors, to ensure seamless data center migration and integration. This involves conducting pre-migration testing, data validation, and post-migration performance assessments.
• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in utilizing migration tools and technologies such as IBM's z/OS Migration Utility, Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS), and other automated migration solutions to facilitate efficient and accurate data transfers.
• Documentation and Reporting: Ability to maintain detailed documentation of migration processes, configurations, and outcomes, along with providing regular status updates and reports to management and stakeholders.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

Root Cause Analysis

• Problem Identification: Expertise in identifying the root cause of storage-related issues through advanced diagnostic and troubleshooting techniques, implementing effective corrective actions.
• Troubleshooting Skills: Strong skills in using diagnostic tools and logs to efficiently address and resolve storage problems, minimizing operational impact.

Data Analysis

• Analyzing Storage Trends: Proficiency in analyzing storage usage trends and performance data using advanced analytics tools to make informed decisions about storage management and optimization.
• Reporting and Documentation: Expertise in creating detailed reports and documentation to effectively communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Project Management Skills

Planning and Execution

• Project Planning: Experience in planning and executing complex storage projects, including hardware upgrades, data migrations, and new implementations, using project management methodologies such as Agile or Waterfall.
• Time Management: Strong time management skills to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget, employing tools like Microsoft Project or Jira for tracking and management.

Team Collaboration

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including system administrators, network engineers, database administrators, and application developers to ensure seamless integration and operation of storage solutions.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills to convey technical information to non-technical stakeholders and collaborate with vendors for support and procurement.

Soft Skills

Attention to Detail

• Accuracy: High level of accuracy in managing and configuring storage systems to prevent data loss and ensure system reliability.
• Documentation: Meticulous documentation practices to maintain comprehensive records of storage configurations, changes, and procedures.

Adaptability

• Learning New Technologies: Willingness and ability to learn and adapt to new storage technologies and methodologies, staying current with advancements in the field.
• Flexibility: Flexibility to handle changing priorities and work in a dynamic IT environment, adapting to new challenges and requirements.

Certifications

Relevant Certifications

• IBM Certified Specialist: Certification as an IBM Certified Specialist in storage solutions, demonstrating expertise in IBM storage products and technologies.
• Other Industry Certifications: Additional certifications such as CompTIA Storage+, SNIA Certified Storage Professional (SCSP), and certifications specific to storage vendors like Hitachi or EMC.