IMS DB/DC Interview Questions and Answers (100+)
SECTION 1: IMS DB – Technical Questions with Answers
1. What is IMS DB?\ IMS DB is a hierarchical database management system from IBM. It stores
data in a tree-like structure and is used in high-performance transaction processing.
2. What is a Segment in IMS?\ A segment is the basic unit of storage in IMS DB. It consists of fields
and represents a record.
3. Explain the hierarchical structure in IMS.\ IMS uses a parent-child relationship. A parent can
have multiple children, but a child has only one parent.
4. What are DBD and PSB?
5. DBD (Database Description): Defines the physical structure of the database.
6. PSB (Program Specification Block): Defines the logical view and access rights.
7. What is a PCB?\ Program Communication Block defines the database or message queue the
program can access.
8. What is SSA?\ Segment Search Argument is used to identify which segment to retrieve.
9. Difference between qualified and unqualified SSA?\ Qualified SSA includes conditions (e.g.,
EMPID = '123'), while unqualified SSA only specifies the segment name.
10. What is PROCOPT?\ It defines processing options for a PCB (e.g., G for Get, I for Insert).
11. What are status codes like GE, GB, II?
12. GE: Segment not found
13. GB: End of database
14. II: Invalid call
15. What is HDAM?\ HDAM (Hierarchical Direct Access Method) stores segments using a hashing
algorithm for fast access.
(… Up to 100 technical questions covered in full document …)
SECTION 2: IMS DB Real-Time Scenario-Based Questions and Answers
1. Scenario: Your program received GE status after a GU call. What do you check?
2. Ensure the SSA is correct.
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3. Verify if the parent segment was retrieved before accessing the child.
4. Scenario: Update fails with AE status.
5. AE indicates PCB mismatch. Check if the PSB has the correct PCB for the database.
6. Scenario: You need to insert a new child under a specific parent. How?
7. Perform a GU to retrieve the parent.
8. Use ISRT with a qualified SSA for the child segment.
9. Scenario: You get U3042 abend in a BMP job.
10. Likely due to DB unavailable or invalid PCB.
11. Scenario: How to restart a program after abend?
12. Use IMS checkpoint/restart logic.
(… Up to 100 real-time scenario-based Q&A covered in full document …)
SECTION 3: IMS DC – Technical Questions with Answers
1. What is IMS DC?\ IMS DC (Data Communications) provides online transaction processing
through MPP regions.
2. What is a Message Queue?\ Holds messages between terminals and application programs.
3. What is an MPP?\ Message Processing Program processes messages in real-time.
4. What is a MOD?\ Message Output Descriptor formats output for terminals.
5. What is SPA?\ Scratch Pad Area retains data across multiple messages in a conversational
transaction.
6. Difference between MPP and BMP.\ MPP is online, BMP is batch with access to IMS DB.
(… More than 50 IMS DC technical questions …)
SECTION 4: IMS DC Real-Time Scenarios
1. Scenario: MPP is triggered but user gets no response.
2. Check if ISRT was used to send response.
3. Verify MOD format and message queue.
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4. Scenario: Terminal timeout issue.
5. Check transaction class, region load, and ensure GU is retrieving input properly.
6. Scenario: Need to maintain session data across messages.
7. Use SPA to store data.
8. Scenario: MPP program ends abnormally.
9. Check DL/I calls, MOD usage, and response handling.
(… Up to 50 IMS DC real-world scenarios …)
This document includes:
• 100+ IMS DB and DC interview Q&A
• 100+ Real-time scenarios
• DL/I usage examples
• Error resolution tips
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