Curriculum Vitae

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Name:
Nigel G Thomas
email:
nigel.g.thomas@gmail.com
Role Summary:
Senior Network Engineer
Senior Systems Engineer
Technical Support Manager
Systems Programmer
Applications Programmer
Computer Operator
Operating Systems:
Z/OS,OS/390,MVS/ESA,MVS/XA,VM,AIX,Windows
Major IBM Software:
CICS,VTAM,NCP,TCP/IP,NetView,DFSMS,RACF,ADSM
OpenEdition(Unix System Services)
Languages:
BAL,PL/1,PASCAL,REXX,C,C++,Delphi, C#
PC Skills:
Windows software development,
Token ring/Ethernet LAN support
Administration of Windows 2000/2003, Exchange 2000/2003
Windows development with Delphi and .Net framework and PDA development with the compact framework.
Network Skills:
Cisco switches and routers support
IBM 22xx Access router support
Cisco PIX firewall support
VPN Installation and Support
Certifications:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) since 2001

Summary

I have been involved in the support of mainframe based data centres for many years. Most of the sites have been small to mid-sized, which has allowed me to acquire a large number of skills rather than specialise on a limited range of products. In addition to the support of mainframe hardware and software I also have excellent networking skills and have been Cisco CCNP certified since 2001. I also have excellent PC skills including administration and software development.

Employment History

June 2007 to July 2007, Royal Oman Police
Returned to Oman to help ROP rebuild and relocate their data centre after the old one was destroyed by cyclone Gonu. The project involved installing the salvaged equipment in a backup site along with a replacement mainframe and SAN storage and reconnecting all the remote branches to the new site. My tasks mainly involved helping to rebuild the network infrastructure and back-end servers (Exchange/Domain Controllers etc).
Jan 2002 to February 2007, Royal Oman Police
Position: Senior Systems/Network Engineer

The Royal Oman Police run a computer centre that provides country wide IT services supporting traditional Police services as well as other services, such as Customs, Immigration, passport control and issuance, motor vehicle registration and driving licence issuance. The ROP is also responsible for running a smart-card based national registration system. The data centre uses a variety of platforms to deliver the services, including a z890 mainframe running Z/OS 1.7, Open Systems (AIX/Linux) and Windows based systems.

Rejoined after taking some time off to become Cisco certified.
My main tasks and responsibilities were:
  • Designed, implemented and supported a countrywide network consisting of legacy SNA devices, 300+ Cisco and IBM routers, switches, PIX and symantec firewalls
  • Designed, implemented and supported a multi site Active Directory based Windows domain using Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 and Exchange 2000/2003.
  • Implemented VPN solutions using Cisco hardware
  • Implemented RSA/Securid solution for VPN access
  • Designed and implemented solution for hosting the ROP website (www.rop.gov.om) in-house.
  • Upgraded OS/390 2.9 from z/OS 1.2 and to Z/OS 1.4 and assisted on upgrade to Z/OS 1.7
  • Provided network support for the IBM z890 system running z/OS 1.7
  • Provided backup support for the z/OS system
  • Provided support for the local area network and PC systems
  • Provided advice to senior management on all computer related topics.
  • Participated in the selection of equipment and vendors for new projects
  • Worked with outside vendors to ensure new equipment is successfully installed.
  • Provided training and guidance for other staff.

April 1999 to April 2001, Royal Oman Police
Position: Senior Systems Engineer

Provided OS/390 Systems Programming support and related skills to the Royal Oman Police Information Technology department in Muscat, Oman.
My primary projects and achievements were:
  • Provided support and guidance to the successful Y2K project
  • Provided first level support for OS/390 and related software/hardware
  • Installation of and migration to OS/390 version 2.9
  • Migration of the existing country wide SNA based network to TCP/IP based on IBM and Cisco network components.
  • Installation and support of local Ethernet LAN

November 1998 to March 1999, Halifax plc
Position: Systems Programmer

Contracted to the Halifax to provide general systems programming skills related to year 2000 testing of software and the installation of OS/390 2.6. Installed and implemented ACF2 6.2.

July 1998 to September 1998, Thesaurus Computer Services
Position: Systems Engineer

Contracted to Thesaurus to provide support for MVS, OS/390 and related products for a Thesaurus client in the North West. As well as providing day-to-day systems support, I was also involved in providing support for the year 2000 project.

September 1997 to June1998, IBM Saudi Arabia (SBM)
Position: Contract Systems Programmer

SBM provides systems and customer engineering and administrative services to support the IBM data processing marketing operations in Saudi Arabia. I was contracted by SBM to upgrade their internal Mainframe based systems to year 2000 compliant software levels on a newly installed CMOS processor.
Specifically, the tasks included:
  • Installing OS/390 1.3 and related products using a ServerPac
  • Migrating MVS 3.1.3 to OS/390
  • Migrating numerous program products to year 2000 versions
  • Upgrading CICS systems from version 2.1 to version 4.1
  • Upgrading DB2 from version 2.1 to version 4.1 (Limited Involvement)
  • Implementing OpenEdition as a platform for running Lotus Domino
  • Migrating data from 3380/3390 DASD to a newly installed RAMAC RVA
  • Implementing DFSMShsm, DFSMSrmm and SMS.
  • Implementing TCP/IP connectivity to the OS/390 host through an OSA adapter
August 1996 to Sept 1997, IBM Middle East (GBM)
Position : Senior Software Support Engineer

GBM provides systems and customer engineering and administrative services to support the IBM data processing marketing operations in the Middle East (excluding Saudi Arabia).
My job in Product Support Services was twofold:
  1. Provided telephone support to system 390 customers assisting them in resolving problems with, installing and utilising IBM system software/hardware.
  2. Provided on-site services to GBM customers.
In addition, I also provide support, as required, for the internal GBM computer systems.
Main Tasks Completed Included:
  • Installation of turnkey MVS/JES3 CAD/ CAM system for a customer in Abu Dhabi.
  • Installation of OS/390 and related products (CICS,NCP,IMS) and migration from MVS 4.3 for a customer in Oman
  • Provided backup support for an OS/390 hosted airline reservation system for a Dubai based airline.
  • Installation and support of AIX based firewall providing Internet access to all GBM offices.
  • MVS/Network support for migration of GBM internal systems from Bahrain to Sharjah
July 1994 to July 1996, Amdahl UK Ltd
Position : Senior Systems Engineer

Provided technical support and services to Amdahl customers throughout the United Kingdom.
Major tasks completed included:
  • Assisting a major bank to convert to MVS version 5.1 from 3.1.
  • Assisting a customer to split an MVS workload across two domains utilising a Basic Sysplex.
  • Providing OS/2/Rexx support for a major MVS automation project.
  • Supporting a workstation software distribution project using EDM.
  • Designed and wrote a customer database application in Microsoft Access for internal use by Amdahl.
  • Providing general systems programming support to a number of Amdahl customers

April 1994 to August 1994
Position: Freelance Windows Software developer

Developed Windows software (both 16 and 32 bit) for sale as shareware. I also customised this software for a number of corporate customers so that it met their particular requirements.

April 1993 to February 1994, GBM, Abu Dhabi
Position : Senior Systems Engineer

Subcontracted by Gulf Business Machines (IBM in Gulf Area) to an Oil company in Abu Dhabi to provide technical assistance to the Operations and Technical support department. The Company ran a medium sized mainframe under MVS 4.2 along with a number of RISC/6000 workstations and a large number of PC's. My main projects were:

  • Supporting the OfficeVision/MVS system and related PC and CICS products.
  • Support of CICS systems
  • Installation and support of MVS TCP/IP and related products.
  • Installation and support of MVS/DFP NFS
  • Major participant in a pilot image project based on MVS/ESA ImagePlus
  • Installed and customised NetView/Access and ASF to allow ImagePlus objects to be retrieved and displayed from Application System (AS)
  • Wrote a Rexx program using the 3270 HLLAPI interface to allow automatic logon to VTAM applications from OS/2 workstations.