The Virtual Mainframe User Group on IMS recently gathered to talk about Z Xplore. IBM Z XPlore is the successor to Master the Mainframe, the competition-style program that introduced thousands of students to IBM Z. Where Master the Mainframe ran only a few months each year, Z XPlore is available year-round, giving users the ability to learn at their own pace.
Virtual IMS User Group Sponsor
On Z XPlore, participants earn badges by completing progressive challenges across topics like COBOL development, RACF, Linux on Z, CICS, Db2, and system utilities. The platform is free to use and available globally (IBM Z XPlore Overview).
“Unlike its predecessor, Z XPlore is always on—24/7 access to live IBM Z environments.”
How IMS Fits into Z XPlore
The addition of IMS came directly from community demand. As Ross Cruickshank explained during the user group session, once Z XPlore became permanent, learners immediately began asking for access to IMS and Db2 alongside the existing subsystems.
The solution was to create a shared IMSplex in which each participant can run their own Message Processing Region (MPR). Within that space, learners can issue operator commands, examine logs, and even test application development. RACF ensures separation between users, and each region is provisioned with its own libraries and datasets.
What is IMS?
IBM’s Information Management System (IMS) is both a database and a transaction manager. It is widely used in industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail to handle massive volumes of secure, high-speed transactions. IMS remains a backbone of critical workloads—its hierarchical database design and reliability make it indispensable in many enterprise systems.
A Phased Rollout
The IMS channel is being introduced in stages:
- Phase 1 (June 2025): Introductory exercises on IMS operations—such as displaying transactions, navigating with SDSF, and learning basic commands.
- Phase 2 (Fall 2025): Application development. Learners will modify a COBOL phone book application, create their own DL/I databases, and test connectivity with z/OS Connect.
Ross emphasized that Z XPlore is not a replacement for formal IMS training or certification. Instead, it provides a sandbox where learners can “try things out” and build confidence before tackling production environments.
Lessons from the Field
Running IMS in this way has been a learning process for the Z XPlore team as well. Unlike CICS, which is relatively resilient to disruptions, IMS tends to halt when it encounters problems, waiting for explicit operator intervention.
To address this, the team implemented automation to handle restarts and routine system prompts. They also built mechanisms to assign and reclaim class numbers for users’ regions, ensuring resources are managed efficiently.
“IMS doesn’t just soldier on when things go wrong—it stops and waits for you to fix it. That’s part of its DNA.”
These efforts reflect a broader theme: bringing IMS education into a modern, scalable model requires not just teaching materials, but also new approaches to system management.
Why This Matters for the Mainframe Community
The launch of IMS on Z XPlore is more than just another feature—it represents a shift in how mainframe education is delivered. By making IMS accessible in a self-service, always-available environment, IBM is lowering barriers for both newcomers and experienced professionals.
For those entering the workforce, it offers a first taste of IMS—one that could spark career paths in transaction processing and systems management. For seasoned professionals, it provides a way to refresh skills, experiment with commands, or explore modernization features like z/OS Connect without risk.
Why Z XPlore Matters
- Free, always-available access to IBM Z environments
- Covers fundamentals and advanced topics (CICS, Db2, RACF, IMS, Linux on Z, and more)
- Hands-on experience in a safe environment
- Bridges the gap between traditional training and real-world practice
Continuing the Journey
The IMS User Group session closed with reminders about upcoming events. Videos and transcripts are posted on Planet Mainframe’s Virtual User Group site, and the next IMS User Group meeting is set for November 11, 2025, with a presentation from BMC.
For those interested in trying Z XPlore, registration is free through IBM’s official Z XPlore portal.
Visit the IMS User Groups to catch up on previous sessions.
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