Senior Systems Engineer at VM Assist, Inc.
Greater Milwaukee Area
- Current
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- Senior Consultant at VM Resources, LTD
- VM Technical Steering Committee at SHARE
- Sr. Systems Engineer at VM Assist, Inc
- Member at CAVMEN
- Conference Planning Commitee Member at WAVV
- Past
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- Sr. Systems Engineer at illustro Systems International, LLC
- Sr. Systems Engineer at DSG
- Sr Systems Engineer at Sytek Services, Inc
- Sr. Systems Programmer at Grede Foundries, Inc.
- Sr. Systems Programmer at Compuware Corporation
- Sr. Systems Programmer at Computer People Unlimited
- Systems Programmer at Aldrich Chemical Company
- Education
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- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Marquette University High School
- Recommended
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2 people have recommended Rich - Connections
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273
connections
- Industry
- Information Technology and Services
- Websites
Rich Smrcina’s Summary
Over 25 years experience in the IT industry with an emphasis on System z infrastructure and support.
Installation and implementation of z/VM and Linux for System z, including but not limited to internal networking infrastructure of Virtual Switches, Hipersockets and Guest LANs. Requirements for good performance, including I/O generation and system configuration options.
z/VSE installation, implementation and maintenance. Also IBM and ISV software available for z/VSE. Very familiar with the IBM VSE Connectors software (VSE/VTAPE, VSE Redirector, VSE Web Services).
Very comfortable with a large number of open source software packages on Linux; Including but not limited to: Apache, MySQL, Xymon, SugarCRM, OpenCOBOL.
Programming experience in several languages, COBOL and S/390 Assembler and multi-platform REXX. Some experience with C and Java, a little Perl and PHP.
Wrote the following articles for zJournal, a System z oriented publication, http://www.zjournal.com:
Configuring Linux to Authenticate to the z/VM LDAP Server - Apr 2009
REXX for CICS - Jun 2007
Web Services and VSE: Providing SOAP Services - Aug 2005
Web Services & VSE: Fit Into a Modern Systems & Applications Infrastructure - Jun 2005
Using the CICS Transaction Gateway - Aug 2004
The VSE Redirector - Jun 2004
Linux for zSeries: Expectations vs Reality - Dec 2003
Coming Soon: COBOL Modernization and Development Under Linux
Maintainer of the System z clients for the Xymon network services monitor (formerly Hobbit) http://hobbitmon.sourceforge.net/.
Rich Smrcina’s Specialties:
Installation and implementation of z/VM, z/VSE and Linux for System z and the System z hardware.
Available for consulting work/contract services in any location.
Rich Smrcina’s Experience
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Senior Consultant
VM Resources, LTD
(Information Technology and Services industry)
November 2007 — Present (1 year 9 months)
VM Resources provides expertise in z/VM and Linux for System z consulting and training.
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VM Technical Steering Committee
SHARE
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Events Services industry)
August 2007 — Present (2 years)
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Sr. Systems Engineer
VM Assist, Inc
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
January 2005 — Present (4 years 7 months)
We provide systems support services for mainframe based systems with the emphasis on z/VM, VSE and Linux on System z. Analysis, design and implementation of a Linux on System z infrastructure with special attention paid to the special hardware and software features that make this an exciting platform to work with.
We also provide video surveillance consulting and implementation. If your organization has the need for video surveillance or want to upgrade an existing setup, let me know. -
Member
CAVMEN
(Information Technology and Services industry)
2001 — Present (8 years)
Local User Group
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Conference Planning Commitee Member
WAVV
(Events Services industry)
1997 — Present (12 years)
We are a volunteer run user group that holds meetings every year in various cities around the United States. We will typically draw users and vendors from different parts of the globe as well. Our focus is z/VSE, z/VM and Linux for System z. As a conference planning committee member I am involved in finding and slotting speakers and presentations for the Linux track of the conference.
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Sr. Systems Engineer
illustro Systems International, LLC
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
May 2004 — December 2004 (8 months)
Provided contract Systems Programming services to customers throughout the United States. Was part of a team to 'insource' a computer system for an insurance company. The data on the old machine was backed up, transported to the co-location site, restored and brought up over a weekend. The team effort paid off with a happy customer.
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Sr. Systems Engineer
DSG
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
January 2003 — March 2004 (1 year 3 months)
DSG aquired Sytek Services in January 2003. Provided Systems Programming services and support for various sites around the United States. Installed Linux for S/390 and zSeries as 'proofs-of-concept' at a large number of customer locations.
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Sr Systems Engineer
Sytek Services, Inc
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
October 2001 — December 2002 (1 year 3 months)
Provided contract Systems Programming services for a large number of customers around the United States. Responsible for installation and maintenance for VM, VSE and Linux for S/390 systems at various customer sites. Also involved in road shows sponsored by Computer Associates and other companies. Attended and spoke at various industry events and trade shows. Conducted training classes in VM and Linux basics and installation.
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Sr. Systems Programmer
Grede Foundries, Inc.
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Automotive industry)
June 1996 — October 2001 (5 years 5 months)
Maintained mainframe systems using z/VM, VSE/ESA and Linux for zSeries operating systems.
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Sr. Systems Programmer
Compuware Corporation
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Software industry)
July 1994 — June 1996 (2 years)
Compuware bought out local consultancy Computer People Unlimited in 1994.
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Sr. Systems Programmer
Computer People Unlimited
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
June 1990 — June 1994 (4 years 1 month)
Provided VM and VSE systems support for customers in south-eastern and south-central Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
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Systems Programmer
Aldrich Chemical Company
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; SIAL; Chemicals industry)
November 1980 — June 1990 (9 years 8 months)
Supported VM and VSE systems and third party software running on those operating systems.
Rich Smrcina’s Education
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Milwaukee Area Technical College
1980 — 1982
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Marquette University High School
1976 — 1980
Additional Information
Rich Smrcina’s Websites:
Rich Smrcina’s Interests:
Technology, Science, History, Reading, Genealogy
Rich Smrcina’s Honors:
Invested into the Companions of the Order of Knights of VM in August 2002 as 'Sir Rich of Consonants'.
Rich Smrcina’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
