Mainframe Interview Questions and Answers

Last updated on Feb 06, 2023
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Mainframe Interview Questions

Mainframe testing is somewhat similar to web-based testing. It is actually defined and designed for mainframe system testing. It has a major role in application development. It comes into action to test the test case which is developed. To get into complete the complete details about the mainframe interview questions we are mentioning Questions and Answers that can be a help to you. Mainframe testing action usually takes place over the code which has already been deployed. Various sets of data combinations are used in the input file. A terminal emulator is usually used to access the applications running on the mainframe. The only thing that is required in the client’s system is Emulator installed in it. The tester must be aware of the CICS screen navigation while starting Mainframe testing.

You will get to about the complete details of Mainframe Testing in Mainframe interview questions that we are mentioning below.

Most Frequently Asked Mainframe Interview Questions

Here in this article, we will be listing frequently asked Mainframe Interview Questions and Answers with the belief that they will be helpful for you to gain higher marks. Also, to let you know that this article has been written under the guidance of industry professionals and covered all the current competencies.

Q1. What is the difference between HDAM and HIDAM databases?
Answer
HDAM database HIDAM database
HDAM databases do not have a separate index file. The key field in these files are passed through a randomizer and that places the record in its specific position in the database HIDAM databases have their own separate file indexes and they are based on the root segment. Each file has a piece of information about the pointer that shows the position of the data.
Q2. What is meant by referential integrity?
Answer

Referential integrity is a rule that states that there needs to be followed between the primary and foreign keys. This means that every foreign key needs to have a specific primary entry key

Q3. List the type of locks and explain each of them.
Answer

There are primarily three types of locks:

  • Shared lock - The shared lock allows two or more programs to be read from the locked space itself but it does not allow the viewer to modify it
  • Update lock - It is a relatively more lenient type of lock, it slows the program to be read and it can also be modified
  • Exclusive lock - As the name states, it restricts any user to access the locked space and its contents
Q4. What is INSPECT and what is it used for?
Answer

INSPECT is termed as a COBOL verb and it is used to discover the number of times a certain string shows up to supplant a certain segment of an information thing.

Q5. What is NEXT SENTENCE and CONTINUE unique?
Answer

NEXT SENTENCE is a code which handles the time frame and the stream of control into the statement. And the CONTINUE unique is responsible for the stream of control after the extension eliminator

Q6. What is meant by DRDA?
Answer

DRDA means Distributed Relational Database Architecture, It is essentially a protocol for connection for relational database processing which many vendor databases and the IBM database use.

This is one of the most important mainframe developer interview questions.

Q7. What is the term “WHERE” for?
Answer

“WHERE” is a clause that is used which is meant to isolate a particular row or an element whenever it is used along with a relational statement

Q8. How do you create a LIKE table?
Answer

The LIKE table can be created It can be made by the use of the LIKE parameter in the statement CREATE. These tables are generally required for testing the production environment.

Q9. In a test environment, is there a need to run a runstats?
Answer

It is required to run a runstats because you have to clear the default values from the catalog columns. The existence of a default value in a column may result in an unexpected answer

Q10. Why do you need a secondary index in an IMS?
Answer

A secondary index is like an alternative path into any IMS database. It is a substitute path into any IMS database. It can be used as a file to acquire the required data.

Advantages of Mainframe testing
  • Flexible infrastructure
  • Your information is your power - centralized data hub doesn’t let it go waste.
  • It provides a better yielding ability to the process.
  • It provides you with the capability of recovering from the error
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