Small enhancements - Edition 2016B

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2016. Technical University/Symposia materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.
EDITION 2016B:
Small z/OS enhancements over the past several releases
Marna WALLE, mwalle@us.ibm.com
Member of the IBM Academy of Technology
z/OS System Installation
IBM z Systems, Poughkeepsie NY USA

© 2016 IBM Corporation2
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Notes:
Performance is in Internal Throughput Rate (ITR) ratio based on measurements and projections using standard IBM benchmarks in a controlled environment. The actual throughput that any user will
experience will vary depending upon considerations such as the amount of multiprogramming in the user's job stream, the I/O configuration, the storage configuration, and the workload processed.
Therefore, no assurance can be given that an individual user will achieve throughput improvements equivalent to the performance ratios stated here.
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Notice Regarding Specialty Engines (e.g., zIIPs, zAAPs and IFLs):
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No other workload processing is authorized for execution on an SE.
IBM offers SEs at a lower price than General Processors/Central Processors because customers are authorized to use SEs only to process certain
types and/or amounts of workloads as specified by IBM in the AUT.

• z/OS V2.2:
•ISPF: z/OS UNIX Mounted File Systems
• z/OS V2.1:
BCP: Modifying and checking on VLF
CommServer: ftp mvsput and mvsget
SDSF: New system information panels
BCP: SETSMF without PROMPT at IPL
• z/OS V1.13:
JES2: Job step transfers
• Older than the hills:
•z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext
•SMP/E: FIXCAT Explorer
•BCP: Tape Library Load Balancing
•Communications Server: REXX ftp client API
z/OS Little Enhancements - Edition 2016B

= Sysprog
= Sysprog & Users © 2007 IBM Corporation
z/OS V2R2
Little Enhancements
ISPF: z/OS UNIX Mounted File Systems

 What: The ISHELL Mount Table is very difficult to work with, especially for a lot of
mounted file systems.
– Can’t find values easily, can’t see consolidated the file system name and
mountpoint, multiple deep steps to get handy information…
 z/OS V2.2 ISPF allows easy viewing/changing of the mount table!
– “Twisties” help consolidate similarly named file systems and mount points.
– Think: SMP/E FIXCAT Explorer.
– A helpful find command!
– File systems and mount points are shown together!
 How to use:
1. ISPF 3.17, File System -> Mount Table by File System or Mount Table by Mount
Point.
2. Expand, collapse, find, modify at will.
 Considerations:
– Check your PF settings, you’ll want PF11 (right) and PF10 (left) support.
– Just try it out, and you’ll never go back to the ISHELL Mount Table.
z/OS V2R2 Enhancements
ISPF: z/OS UNIX Mounted File Systems

Existing ISHELL: No find command, but there is an unhelpful locate command.

Three levels deep (when I finally find the file system I want)
to see mount point, file system type, …
Existing ISHELL:

New ISPF 3.17…two excellent “views”:

New ISPF 3.17 “Mount Table by File System”:

New ISPF 3.17 “Mount Table by File System”: xa for “expand (and collapse) all
Can xa on the command
line for all file system
names too.

New ISPF 3.17 “Mount Table by File System”: easily understood hierarchy.
Notice file system and mount point are clearly identified together!

New ISPF 3.17 “Mount Table by File System”: easy find!

New ISPF 3.17 “Mount Table by Mount Point”: … the reverse view

(Options -> Mount Table Column Arrangement)
Mount Table Mount Point customization:
Mount Table File System customization:

© 2007 IBM Corporation
z/OS V2R1
Little Enhancements
= Sysprog
= Sysprog & Users
BCP: Modifying and checking on VLF
CommServer: ftp mvsput and mvsget
SDSF: New system information panels
BCP: SETSMF without PROMPT at IPL

 What: Modify VLF (without stopping and starting it). The current configuration will be replaced
with the newly specified configuration.
 Use a health check to see if VLF is trimming recently added objects to make way for new
objects. Meaning, MAXVIRT for that class may be too small.
 How to use:
 MODIFY VLF,REPLACE,NN=xx Or NN=(xx,yy,zz)
 IBMVLF,VLF_MAXVIRT check runs by default once an hour at low severity and looks at
classes to see if objects are being trimmed sooner than their ALERTAGE, thereby not meeting
usage goals for VLF.
 You can specify ALERTAGE in COFVLFxx for each class and/or as a parameter for the check.
The check parameter overrides a COFVLFxx specification.
 Default applies when not specified in either (60 seconds). 0 means no alert.
 Check exception means MAXVIRT could be made larger, so the object may not be trimmed
that soon. Higher ALERTAGE likely will result in more check exceptions.
 Default ALERTAGE on check: no parms, uses COFVLFxx.
 Example check override: PARM('ALERTAGE(IRR*,45,CSVLLA,70)') Classes not
specified take the default.
 Consideration:
 Check supports VERBOSE mode, is very handy as each class has: Youngest Trimmed Age, Total
Exceptions, when Activated, Minimum Trimmed Age, AlertAge, and MaxVirt values.
z/OS V2R1
BCP: Modifying and checking on VLF

z/OS V2R1
Verbose NO

z/OS V2R1
Verbose YES

z/OS V2R1
To add a VLF parmlib member to existing with MODIFY command:

 What: New subcommands on ftp to make transferring MVS sequential,
PDS(E), or GDG(E) generation data sets so easy: mvsput and mvsget
 Allocation of the target data set can be done automatically, which avoids
having to pre-allocate the dataset and get the attributes wrong.
 How to use:
 ftp mvsput local_ds remote_ds
 ftp mvsget remote_ds local_ds
 Does have a (REAllocate option to delete, reallocate target data set.
 Consideration:
 If target data set is already allocated and (REAllocate isn’t used,
command fails.
 If command fails, target data set is deleted. Restart is not available.
z/OS V2R1
CommServer: ftp mvsput and mvsget

z/OS V2R1

z/OS V2R1
My “from” system:
My “to” system:

z/OS V2R1
With a GDG(E) must give absolute generation, and base must have been pre-defined :

 What: An SPE on z/OS V2.1 and V2.2 SDSF (PI43902, and a BCP PPT
update in OA48578), you can easily see system information:
– SYS - System information
– LNK – Link list data sets
– LPA – Link pack data sets
– APF – APF data sets
– PAG – Page data sets
– PARM – Parmlib data sets
– …and SRCH within the returned data sets for members!
 How to use:
1. Set up SDSFAUX address space
2. Start enjoying the new panels.
z/OS V2R1 SPE Enhancements
SDSF: New system information panels

 Set up SDSFAUX address space
– SDSF server address space continues to be optional (and recommended!) The server must
be started to use this new function.
– When SDSF server is started, the new SDSFAUX address space is automatically started.
– SDSFAUX will automatically stop when SDSF server is stopped.
– Only one SDSFAUX per system, and can be used by multiple SDSF servers.
– Can start manually with S SDSFAUX (and stop with P SDSFAUX)
 Considerations:
– Recent APARs PI54862 and PI56151 may help.
– APAR= PI54862: ISF452E SDSFAUX COMMUNICATIONS FAILED, RETURN CODE
0X00000008, RC= 0X00360806" RECEIVED WHEN USING NEW SDSF COMMANDS
– APAR= PI56151: MESSAGE HSF0067E CSVDYLPA ADD FOR MODULE HSFSRVRM
FAILED RC=4 RSN=00000401 DIAG=20004001.AT SDSFAUX STARTUP
– Doc for the new function is in SDSF Operation and Customization:
– V2.2: SA23-2274-03
– V2.1: SA23-2274-01

 How to set up SDSFAUX:
1. Copy the sample SDSFAUX (which is an alias of HSFSRJCL) from SISFJCL to your
proclib concat, and call it SDSFAUX.
– You can call it something else, but you’d need to update ISFPRMxx to give the name
if you didn’t use SDSFAUX.
– Check the proc, but you shouldn't need to make any updates.
2. SDSFAUX address space requires that SISFLOAD be in either the system linklist (or
be in the STEPLIB or JOBLIB).
3. Set up security for SDSFAUX address space.
– SAF SDSF class must be RACLISTed.
– Define userid associated with SDSFAUX address space (same as SDSF server is
fine).
– Add a profile in the STARTED class for SDSFAUX.* (or you can use your existing
SDSF*.* which is also fine).
4. Set up security for new panels for users. Plenty o’ profiles to control commands on
new panels.

SDSF: New system information panels - SYS

SDSF: New system information panels – SYS, DAL

SDSF: New system information panels – LNK

SDSF: New system information panels – LNK, SRCH

SDSF: New system information panels – LNK, SB

SDSF: New system information panels – PAG

= D ASM,LOCAL
SDSF: New system information panels – PAG, DL

 What: To use the SETSMF command (prior to V2.1) you had to have specified PROMPT(..)
in SMFPRMxx at IPL. However, folks didn’t want to specify PROMPT(..) at IPL.
– The SETSMF command is less disruptive than a SET SMF=xx command (which resets the
entire parmlib member).
 New statement in SMFPRMxx AUTHSETSMF|NOAUTHSETSMF can control whether you want
(or don’t want) to be able to use SETSMF after IPL.
– By allowing SETSMF when NOPROMPT is specified allows the majority of installations to
avoid delays at IPL.
 How to use:
Specify AUTHSETSMF in SMFPRMxx at IPL. Keep NOPROMPT if you like.
– You cannot SETSMF to change AUTHSETSMF!
 Considerations:
– When AUTHSETSMF is specified, the SETSMF command is authorized, regardless of the
specification of PROMPT or NOPROMPT.
– When NOAUTHSETSMF is specified, the SETSMF command is not authorized, regardless
of the specification of PROMPT or NOPROMPT
BCP: SETSMF without PROMPT at IPL

z/OS R13: D SMF,O then trying to do a SETSMS command with SMFPRMxx NOPROMPT
IEE970I explanation: The operator entered a SETSMF command. The SMFPRMxx parmlib
member in effect includes the NOPROMPT option, which makes SETSMF an incorrect
operator command.

z/OS V2.1: Added AUTHSETSMF (keeping NOPROMPT) to SMFPRMxx

z/OS V2.1: D SMF,O then doing a SETSMS command with SMFPRMxx
AUTHSETSMF and NOPROMPT … SUCCESS!

z/OS R13
Little Enhancements
JES2: JES2 job step transfers
= Sysprog
= Sysprog & Users

z/OS R13 Enhancements
JES2: Job step transfers
What:
 When trying to shutdown a system, there might a long running job (with
multiple steps) which has not completed. It might be holding you up from
shutting down the system.
 You can have the job end execution at the end of the current step, so that
it can be restarted elsewhere on the next step (requeued for execution).
How to use:
– $E Jxxx STEP[,HOLD]
– If you don’t use the optional HOLD, the job will be back waiting to
execute, and will resume if the class or initiators are not drained.
Considerations:
 Job must be restartable (JOURNAL=YES on JOBCLASS)
 Full cross member support. To move the job, it must not be eligible to
run on original system (alter the affinity, drain job class, service class, or
member).
 Has no effect of the job is executing its final step.

Immediate re-queue on next step:

Re-queue to HOLD on next step:

Older than the hills
Little Enhancements
z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext
SMP/E: FIXCAT Explorer
BCP: Tape Library Load Balancing
Communications Server: REXX interface for
ftp client
= Sysprog
= Sysprog & Users

What: Will tell you the description and action text for a
reason code for the following functions:
 z/OS UNIX System Services, TCP/IP, zFS, TFS, C/C++
Runtime Library, and NFS (as of V2.2!)
Can run from TSO or the shell, and even through System
REXX as an MVS system command.
How to use: The FIXCAT Explorer is found deep in the
SMP/E panels:
 bpxmtext [-d] reason_code | error_number
Example==> bpxmtext 058800B0
Considerations: Doesn’t work for HFS.
Older than the hills:
z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext

z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext

z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext
An alternate method…

Older than the hills…NOT!
z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext IBM Doc Buddy!
Another alternate method (and now reason codes are found in the app
under z/OS UNIX System Services, just search on reason code)

What: Allows you to discover and select SMP/E FIXCATs. This is an
excellent way to find new SMP/E FIXCATs that have been added
And to make sure that certain interesting FIXCATs are always verified
when doing APPLY, ACCEPT, and REPORT MISSINGFIX
commands.
How to use: The FIXCAT Explorer is found deep in the SMP/E panels:
 1.1 -> global -> 2 Options -> select your options -> 7 -> 2 ->
YES for explore.
 Expand and Collapse, and FIND any FIXCATs you are interested
in.
Considerations: Your SMP/E table member will remember when you
last were there, and show you the new ones since your last visit.
SMP/E: FIXCAT Explorer

Very first time

Subsequent times…

Explicit selection of a
wildcard, implicitly
selects affected

Everything selected from the Explorer is now saved for that Options entry.
When doing an APPLY, ACCEPT, or a REPORT MISSINGFIX command, that
selected FIXCAT will be considered (and doesn’t need to be explicitly specified).

Older than the hills (z/OS R11, back to R9):
BCP: Tape Library Load Balancing
What: A new optional algorithm for all non-specific tape requests (i.e.scratch) to be balanced
across tape libraries based on the number of devices in the library, all other things being equal.
 Otherwise (default) the tape requests are equally random across libraries, and may be
“unfair”.
How to use: As expected, use SETALLOC and ALLOCxx:
1. SETALLOC SYSTEM,TAPELIB_PREF=BYDEVICES
– To revert back: SETALLOC SYSTEM,TAPELIB_PREF=EQUAL
2. To make permenant in ALLOCxx: SYSTEM TAPELIB_PREF(EQUAL|BYDEVICES)
3. D ALLOC,OPTIONS To query current options
Considerations:
 No prerequisities. All done in Allocation.
 BYDEVICES has been found to scale much better than EQUAL for tape devices (virtual or
otherwise), even in balanced configuration!
 Customers with the newest TS7700’s have gotten good results with it.
 This function is even more attractive if you are adding new tape libraries (with lots of devices),
and want to reduce a chance of overload onto the older tape libraries (with fewer devices).
 Remember to make a dynamic change permanent, to avoid regression.

Example Without Tape Library Load Balancing:
TAPELIB_PREF(EQUAL)
…
1024 tape devices
8 tape devices
Scratch tape request
½ = 50%
½ = 50%Equally likely

Example With Tape Library Load Balancing:
TAPELIB_PREF(BYDEVICES)
…
1024 tape devices
8 tape devices
Scratch tape request
1024 / (1024+8) = 99.2%
128 times more likely
8 / (1024 + 8) = 0.7%

 What: REXX interface means you can easily write programs to use ftp!
– In addition to Java, C, COBOL, PL/I, and assembler.
 How to use:
– Handy sample is found in TCPIP.SEZAINST(EZAFTPIR)
– Understand the FCAI stem variables, which represents an instance of use.
– result = ftpapi(stem, request_type, parm1, parm2, ...)
1. ftpapi('fcai.', 'create', mytraceid) create the fcai
2. ftpapi('fcai.', 'init', myserver, myvar1, myvar2) open a connection
3. ftpapi('fcai.', 'scmd', my_subcommand, 'W') do an ftp subcommand
4. ftpapi('fcai.', 'term') terminate the connection, but
you should subcommand quit first to get the trace information.
 Considerations: Connecting to an ftp server that can accept an anonymous
userid is ideal. I had to provide my password “in the REXX”, if not.
 Doc: z/OS Communications Server: IP Programmer's Guide and Reference
Older than the hills (z/OS R8):
Communications Server: REXX ftp client API

My REXX EXEC, based on EZAFTPIR:

My REXX EXEC SAYs:

My REXX EXEC, FTP connection messages:

Summary of What We Might Want to Share:
• System Programmer & User Items:
ISPF (V2.2): z/OS UNIX Mounted File Systems
Communications Server (V2.1): ftp mvsput and mvsget
SDSF (V2.1): New system information panels
z/OS UNIX (old): bpxmtext
Communications Server (old): REXX ftp client API
• System Programmers’ Items:
BCP (V2.1): Modifying and checking on VLF
BCP (V2.1): SETSMF without PROMPT at IPL
JES2 (V1.13): Job step transfers
SMP/E (old): FIXCAT Explorer
BCP (old): Tape Library load balancing

z/OS Little Enhancements – Edition 2016B: Summary
• z/OS V2.2:
•ISPF: z/OS UNIX Mounted File Systems Excellent helpful views!
• z/OS V2.1:
BCP: Modifying and checking on VLF You asked for it, you got more!
CommServer: ftp mvsput and mvsget Legacy data is easy!
SDSF: New system information panels Offers handy in-context
information.
BCP: SETSMF without PROMPT at IPL Better availability and flexibility.
• . z/OS V1.13:
JES2: Job step transfers You wanna shut down? Go ahead.
• Older than the hills:
•z/OS UNIX: bpxmtext (and Doc Buddy) Easy on z/OS, very easy on
your mobile.
•SMP/E: FIXCAT Explorer To find those new FIXCATs that are needed
•BCP: Tape library load balancing Treats your tape requests fairly.
•Communications Server: REXX ftp client API Very easy to use.
•.

Small enhancements - Edition 2016B

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