Here are the mainframe interview questions asked in Capgemini.
Mainframe Interview Questions
#1 What is the 77 level?
It is an independent level, and you cannot add child records to it.
#2 What is the 88 level?
The usage is to classify the variable with different names.
#3 What are Search and Search all in COBOL?
The search will do a sequential search, but Search all will do a binary search.
#4 What is perform statement?
The purpose is to read the array of data in a loop.
#5 How to execute only the 5th step?
The easiest way is to use the cond parameter in the job card.
#6 How to find the reason for SOC7?
Analyze the job logs and find the variable name as per offset. The other way is to debug the code using the debugger.
#7 What is the difference between In-stream and Cataloged procedures?
The in-stream procedure applies to that job, but the Cataloged can use in many places.
#8 What’s TIME=1440 or TIME=NOLIMIT?
It means there is no limit on the time, and the Job parameters will take precedence over the step parameters.
#9 What is Region=0K or 0M?
It can use all the available memory (there is no limit).
#10 What is the -818 error code?
It causes differences in timestamps of the Load module and DBRM.
#11 What is the DBRM?
Say, database request module, and has an equivalent host language call statements for each SQL statement.
#12 Why do we need isolation levels?
The prime purpose is to maintain data integrity.
#13 What is a segment in IMS DB?
The segment in IMS DB is the smallest piece of data that the IMS can store.
#14 What is a hierarchical database?
The segments in the database are in hierarchical order.
#15 What are DBD, PSB, and PCB?
- DBD is a database descriptor (It contains information on segments)
- PSB contains information on PCBs.
- PCB is a program communication block.
#16 What are the calls available in IMS DB?
The top database calls are GU, GN, GHU, GHN, DLET, REPL, etc.
#17 How to copy the dataset in the IDCAMS utility?
You can do it using the REPRO command.
#18 What’s an OVERLAY statement in DFSORT?
It allows replacing a piece of text with new text as you wish.
#19 What is the SB37 return code?
It is due to secondary space utilized, and no more extents are available.
#20 What’s the purpose of cursors in DB2?
The purpose of cursors logic is to read the Table data row by row for the program to process.