IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation Corporate Training
Learn to administer z/OS estates and modernize them for hybrid cloud, in live guided labs.
Edstellar, a corporate training company, delivers corporate training that helps your team learn to administer z/OS mainframes and modernize them for hybrid cloud. Employees build skills in system administration, JES batch operations, RACF security, and WLM performance tuning, then practice modernization with z/OSMF APIs and DevOps tooling. Each session is tuned to your stack, tools, and workflows.
Instructor-led group trainingVirtual / on-site / off-site10 languagesDelivered inEnglish, Spanish, Mandarin, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Hindi, French, Japanese, Italian100+ countriesWe have delivered inUnited States, United Kingdom, India, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and 90+ more countries
How we build a modern mainframe team
The Edstellar IBM MAINFRAME CAPABILITY MODEL
Assess mainframe skills
Skill checks map your team's z/OS administration, security, and modernization baseline.
Standardize operations
One shared playbook for z/OS operations, RACF controls, and change routines.
Practice in guided labs
Labs cover JES batch runs, RACF policies, WLM tuning, and z/OSMF APIs.
Measure capability lift
Lab reviews benchmark each employee's z/OS administration capability.
Scale across estates
One standard rolls out across LPARs, sysplexes, and mainframe teams.
Need more than one program?Get a group quote
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Program Overview: What is IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation?
IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration & Modernisation is a hands-on training program for systems administrators and engineers who run mainframe estates. The program covers z/OS foundations and system administration, batch processing with JES, data and storage management with DFSMS, RACF security, workload management, and modernisation patterns. Participants build real administrative skill across eight modules over 33 hours.
Sessions are lab-driven on realistic z/OS environments. Participants configure system parameters, submit and monitor JES batch jobs, manage datasets with DFSMS, and harden systems with RACF. Instructors with mainframe operations experience review configurations, diagnose workload issues with learners, and coach through modernisation exercises. The program finishes with a six-hour capstone where each team plans and executes the modernisation of a sample z/OS estate.
Mainframe expertise is retiring faster than it is being replaced, while the systems keep running the business. Teams inherit estates they barely understand and modernisation feels like surgery on a beating heart. This program builds administrators who understand z/OS deeply and can modernise it without breaking what works.
Each team leaves the capstone with a modernisation plan and working proof for a sample z/OS estate: assessed workloads, a prioritised modernisation backlog, and hardened configurations they built themselves. They go back ready to own the mainframe roadmap instead of just keeping the lights on.
Eight modules and 33 hours: z/OS foundations, system administration, JES batch processing, DFSMS storage, RACF security, workload management, modernization patterns, and a capstone lab. Every module pairs concepts with guided labs, so each technique is practiced on realistic scenarios.
Delivery is hybrid across virtual and onsite sessions, scheduled around your calendar. Cohorts work in small groups with practitioner trainers, and materials include lab guides and runbook templates.
What's Included in this Workshop for Your Enterprise Teams
- 1
z/OS administration walkthroughs
IPL, consoles, catalogs, and datasets in labs.
- 2
Batch and storage operations
JCL runs, JES control, and SMS storage tasks.
- 3
Security and performance labs
RACF policies, audits, and WLM tuning drills.
- 4
Modernization patterns
z/OSMF APIs, DevOps pipelines, cloud links.
- 5
Capstone modernization lab
Administer and modernize a full z/OS estate.
- Instructor-led delivery across virtual, onsite, and hybrid
- Guided labs in every module with instructor coaching
- Capstone modernization build, reviewed with your team
- Flexible scheduling around your calendar
- Lab guides and runbook templates included
- Group size and batches set along with you
Build your team's skills. Anywhere in the world.
Real-world use cases
from day one
Instructor-led training
for your teams
Delivered globally
in 100+ countries
Enterprise Training Solutions Customized for Your Company
One partner for instructor-led corporate training, delivered the way your teams work.
Request a Training Quote- Customized Training Delivery
- Scale Your Training: Small to Large Teams
- In-person Onsite, Live Virtual or Hybrid Training Modes
- Plan from 2000+ Industry-ready Training Programs
- Hands-On Labs on Live Infrastructure, Led by Industry Experts
IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation Course Topics and Program Outline
A tailored 33-hour, eight-module workshop: one learning journey from z/OS foundations to a capstone modernization build. Sessions pair concepts with labs on real-world use cases. Materials include lab guides and runbook templates, plus a capstone assessment.
Built by Edstellar with mainframe systems practitioners
Built by engineers who administer z/OS estates in production, shaped around your stack and use cases.
Skill checks baseline your team's z/OS administration, security, and modernization readiness before training begins.
Live instruction covers z/OS internals, system administration, and mainframe foundations across 7 focused hours.
Guided labs build JES, SMS, RACF, and WLM skill across 16 hours of supervised, scenario-based practice.
Your team modernizes a full z/OS estate in a 10-hour apply arc, closing with a capstone build and review.
From z/OS foundations to a capstone modernization build, every technique is practiced in guided labs.
Delivered as
Delivered as a hybrid program of live instruction and guided labs, scheduled around your team's calendar in flexible batches.
Explore the mainframe hardware and z/OS address spaces in a guided walkthrough, then navigate TSO/E, ISPF, and SDSF on a realistic system.
learna)z/Architecture and mainframe hardware overview
b)LPARs, z/VM, and virtualization concepts
c)z/OS components, address spaces, and started tasks
d)TSO/E, ISPF, and SDSF for daily operations
Perform a guided IPL walkthrough, edit PARMLIB members, and manage ICF catalogs and system datasets in a sandbox system.
learna)IPL process and system initialization
b)PARMLIB members and system parameters
c)ICF catalogs and system dataset structure
d)Consoles, system logger, and operator commands
Build and submit JCL jobs, control job flow through JES2 spool and queues, and practice restarts and recovery like a real shift.
practicea)JES2 spool, queues, and job flow
b)JCL syntax, DD statements, and procedures
c)Job classes, priorities, and scheduling
d)Started tasks and automation basics
e)Restart, recovery, and output management
Allocate datasets, configure SMS storage classes and ACS routines, and run backup and recovery drills with HSM concepts.
practicea)DASD concepts and volume management
b)SMS storage classes and ACS routines
c)Dataset allocation, organization, and catalogs
d)Backup, recovery, and HSM concepts
Design RACF users, groups, and profiles in policy drills, model permissions, and generate SMF audit reports for compliance.
practicea)RACF users, groups, and profiles
b)Access control models and permission design
c)Auditing, SMF records, and security reporting
d)Hardening checklists and compliance basics
e)Incident response and access reviews
Set WLM service classes and goals, analyze RMF and SMF data to find bottlenecks, and resolve problems with dumps and traces.
practicea)WLM policies, service classes, and goals
b)RMF and SMF data for performance analysis
c)Capacity planning and bottleneck diagnosis
d)Problem determination with dumps and traces
Expose a mainframe service through z/OSMF REST APIs and wire a Git-to-z CI pipeline in guided modernization labs.
applya)z/OSMF and REST APIs for mainframe services
b)DevOps on z: Git, pipelines, and test automation
c)Integrating mainframe with cloud platforms
d)Application modernization strategies
e)Measuring modernization value and cost
Capstone lab: administer, secure, and modernize a full z/OS estate, then present the build for structured instructor review.
applya)Estate health check and admin routines
b)Security review and RACF policy updates
c)API exposure and DevOps pipeline build
d)Final review and modernization roadmap
Customize this program tailored to your team?
Tell us your training needs: what your team already works with, the level they’re at, and the topics you want them to focus on. We’ll adjust the modules, duration and hands-on labs, and send you a customized outline for your group.
Key Skills and Outcomes Your Team Will Gain
Your team will gain practical z/OS administration skills and modernization capability, practiced in guided labs: batch operations, storage, security, performance, and APIs.
Administer z/OS systems
Run IPLs, manage PARMLIB, catalogs, and system datasets with confident, repeatable routines.
Run JES batch workloads
Build JCL jobs, control job flow through JES2, and manage restarts and recovery in production-style labs.
Manage mainframe storage
Apply SMS storage classes and ACS routines, allocate datasets, and run backup and recovery with HSM concepts.
Secure estates with RACF
Design users, groups, and profiles, model permissions, audit with SMF records, and apply hardening checklists for compliance.
Tune workloads with WLM
Set WLM policies and service classes, analyze RMF and SMF data, and diagnose bottlenecks and capacity needs.
Expose services through APIs
Use z/OSMF and REST APIs to connect mainframe services with cloud and distributed platforms.
Modernize with DevOps
Bring Git, CI/CD pipelines, and test automation to z, and plan practical modernization roadmaps.
Teams that Benefit from this IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation Group Training
Built for teams that run IBM mainframes and must keep them stable while modernizing. Content adapts to each cohort's roles and experience, so every team practices the z/OS administration and modernization workflows it owns.
Keep z/OS estates stable, secure, and ready to modernize.
Systems programmers gain repeatable routines for IPL, PARMLIB, catalogs, and WLM, plus modernization patterns they can apply to live estates without risking stability.
Workflow friction
- Inconsistent admin routines across LPARs and sysplexes.
- Security and change reviews slow down every release.
- Modernization plans stall on unclear API and DevOps paths.
How the program helps
- Standardized z/OS administration routines and runbooks.
- RACF policies and audits that satisfy compliance reviews.
- API and DevOps patterns that modernize without disruption.
Practice use cases
- IPL and PARMLIB labs
- RACF policy drills
- WLM tuning labs
- z/OSMF API build
Run shifts with fewer incidents and faster recovery.
Operations teams practice JES batch control, console operations, and restart and recovery drills, so production shifts run smoother and incidents resolve faster.
Workflow friction
- Batch failures and restarts eat into every shift.
- Console and monitoring coverage varies by operator.
- Handoffs between shifts lose critical context.
How the program helps
- JCL and JES routines that cut batch failures.
- Standard console and monitoring practices for every shift.
- Runbook templates that keep handoffs complete.
Practice use cases
- JES batch labs
- Console operation drills
- Restart and recovery
- Runbook templates
Prove controls and pass audits with less effort.
Security and compliance teams learn RACF design, auditing, and hardening routines that produce audit-ready evidence from everyday operations.
Workflow friction
- Audit evidence is scattered across systems and teams.
- Access reviews lag behind staff and role changes.
- Hardening standards differ across mainframe estates.
How the program helps
- RACF audit trails and SMF reporting that satisfy auditors.
- Repeatable access reviews tied to role changes.
- One hardening baseline across every LPAR.
Practice use cases
- RACF audit labs
- Access review drills
- Hardening baselines
Connect mainframes to cloud without breaking them.
Platform engineers learn z/OSMF APIs, integration patterns, and DevOps tooling that link mainframes to cloud platforms safely and incrementally.
Workflow friction
- Mainframe and cloud teams speak different languages.
- Integration projects bypass change and security controls.
- API efforts duplicate logic already on the mainframe.
How the program helps
- z/OSMF API patterns that reuse existing services.
- Integration designs that respect mainframe controls.
- Shared DevOps pipelines across mainframe and cloud.
Practice use cases
- z/OSMF API labs
- Cloud integration patterns
- DevOps pipeline build
Cohorts train as a cross-functional workforce, with each batch aligned on shared operations and modernization standards.
Prerequisites: Teams that run or support IBM mainframes benefit most, from operators to systems programmers. Familiarity with enterprise IT concepts helps but is not required; the program adapts to each cohort’s tools, estate layout, and modernization context.
Mainframe Operator to z/OS Modernization Engineer
Tracks how mainframe teams progress from basic z/OS administration to advanced estate modernization across the program's learn, practice, and apply phases.
A program that grows with mainframe careers, from first IPL walkthrough to confident estate modernization.
Mixed cohort, or several teams at once?
We can tailor the training to different teams, roles, and experience levels within the same program.
Certificate of Training Completion.
On successful completion, employees receive an Edstellar course completion certificate, recognizing their commitment to ongoing learning and professional development. It validates the skills they have built and motivates them to keep growing and contribute to organizational success.
Earned, not attended. Awarded on completion of all hands-on labs and the capstone project.
Training Delivery Modes: Virtual, Onsite and Hybrid
Recordings and lab guides are shared on your LMS so the team can revisit each e-learning module after the live sessions.
Hybrid Training
Instructor-led sessions mix onsite and virtual delivery with guided labs throughout. Teams practice z/OS administration on realistic scenarios with instructor coaching, then apply modernization patterns to their own estate.
- Live instruction across onsite and virtual sessions
- Guided labs with instructor coaching and reviews
- Real z/OS workflows practiced throughout
- Flexible scheduling without losing live interaction
Onsite Training
Instructor-led training at your offices, with labs set up on your network and tooling. The instructor works through your LPAR layout, admin routines, and modernization goals with the team.
- Instructor-led training at your offices
- Labs set up on your network and tooling
- Hands-on admin drills with your estate layout
- Exercises tuned to your stack and workflows
Live Virtual Training
Live virtual sessions on Zoom or Teams with screen-shared walkthroughs, breakout labs, and real-time instructor review. Your team practices the same z/OS labs as onsite, from anywhere.
- Live virtual sessions on Zoom or Teams
- Screen-shared walkthroughs and breakout labs
- Real-time instructor review and coaching
- Same guided labs as onsite, from anywhere
Need a training format that works for your team?
Full days, half days across weeks, or split by module. Tell us the delivery window and we schedule the cohort around it.
Learn from industry experts.
Every session is led by a practitioner who has run monitoring for models in production, not a generalist working from slides.
Natabar
IBM Mainframe Trainer in Bengaluru
31+ years of Experience
Sukesh
Mainframe Trainer in Agarpara
15+ years of Experience
Dibyaranjan
CCNA, Red Hat and Linux Trainer in Hyderabad
16+ years of Experience
Ranjna
Windows Servers Trainer in Bengaluru
16+ years of Experience
Vidya
Networking Trainer in Pune
15+ years of Experience
Trainers are matched to your stack and delivery window at scheduling. We confirm your assigned trainer, with a full profile, before the program is booked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Share your team size, locations, and delivery preference, and we will send a detailed per-group quote with batch options.
Yes. Book a discovery call to discuss your mainframe estate, skill gaps, and modernization goals before you commit to dates.
Yes. Live virtual sessions run on Zoom or Teams with the same guided labs as onsite, led by a practitioner instructor.
Yes. Onsite delivery uses your network and tooling, and the instructor works through your LPAR layout and admin routines.
The program runs 33 hours across eight modules, scheduled in flexible half-day or full-day batches around your calendar.
Question not answered here?
Put it in the request. A training specialist answers it directly, within one business day.
Where this Training Fits in Your Team's learning path.
Mainframe work starts with administering z/OS itself. From there your team engineers JCL batch jobs, automates them with Control-M, and then modernises the COBOL applications those jobs run.
Why Choose Edstellar as Your IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation Corporate Training Provider
Edstellar partners with enterprise teams to build mainframe capability that lasts. Practitioner-led sessions, realistic labs, and a structured arc from z/OS foundations to modernization mean your teams keep critical systems stable while moving them toward hybrid cloud.
EXPERT TRAINERS
YEARS DELIVERING
ORGANIZATIONS TRAINED
CERTIFIED
Tailored
Labs and examples are tuned to your z/OS setup, tooling, and modernization goals after a discovery call.
Proven Methodology
Assess, standardize, practice, measure, and scale: one arc that moves mainframe teams from baseline to capability.
Practice-Based Learning
Every module pairs briefings with guided z/OS labs, closing with a capstone estate build.
Expert Trainers
Mainframe practitioners who administer z/OS in production lead every session and review your capstone.
Global Scale
One standard rolls out across your LPARs, sysplexes, and regions with consistent labs and reviews.
Measurable Outcomes
Skill checks and lab reviews track the lift from first IPL walkthrough to confident modernization work.
Also from Edstellar
Talent assessments
Psychometric, behavioral, leadership and 360-degree assessment.
→Training needs analysis
Needs analysis, gap identification, and a training roadmap.
→L&D consulting
Learning strategy, content, technology and ROI measurement.
→OD consulting
Org design, succession planning and cultural change.
→Managed training services
Training outsourcing, vendor management, logistics and administration.
→Coaching solutions
Executive and manager coaching that keeps skills in use.
Start an RFP shaped to your needs.
Answer three quick questions about team size, scope, and how often you need the program run, then send the request from the last step. Everything you choose travels with it, so you only fill this in once.
How many team members need training?
IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration & Modernisation Training Packages & Pricing
Where L&D holds an annual budget, license packages price the whole year at once instead of raising a purchase order per workshop. Hours and licenses are pooled across teams, programs and locations, so unused capacity is not stranded in one department.
Starter
120
trainee licenses64 hours of group training
Tailored for SMBs
Growth
320
trainee licenses160 hours of group training
Ideal for growing SMBs
Enterprise
800
trainee licenses400 hours of group training
Designed for large corporations
Custom
Unlimited
trainee licensesDuration set by the rollout
Multi-region and multi-year
Training Packages & Pricing
Choose the training format that works for your team. Pricing is customized based on your requirements, cohort size, and delivery needs.
Request IBM Mainframe (z/OS) Administration and Modernisation Training for Your Team
Share your team size, mainframe estate, and modernization timelines to receive a tailored training plan and quote. Book a discovery call to discuss your goals; we confirm availability and respond with a proposal.