How to use z/OSMF Sysplex Management to manage sysplex resources (II)

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How to use z/OSMF Sysplex Management to manage sysplex resources (II) - Enhancements in Sep, 2018

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In last blog, we have an introduction how to use z/OSMF Sysplex Management task to view sysplex physical configurations, such as coupling facilities and LPARs, as well as logical resources, such as couple data sets and coupling facility structures, and CF Connectivity between systems and CFs.

With new enhancements (PI99307) in Sep, 2018, z/OSMF Sysplex Management V2R3 provides a bunch of new features to allow the user to modify sysplex resources, such as Rebuild/Duplex/Reallocate coupling facility Structure, Set Physical/Logical Path online/offline for the channel paths for the systems specified to a CF, Start/Stop Maintenance Mode for a CF and Switch to Primary/Set Alternate Couple Data Set for couple data sets objects, as well as improve the usability of this task.

Usability Enhancements

In the main page of Sysplex Mangement task, which is called Topology View, the graphic shows all the Sysplexes which are configured in Systems task for management. To make it easier to launch to different graphic views, the action menu of Sysplex and CF objects are enhanced, as shown in Figure 1. Alternately, the user can also click the links in the graphic to open specific views rather than open Properties.

Figure 1 Sysplex Management main page

Click Open Physical View or the link of Sysplex6 will by default open Physical view of the selected sysplex, as Shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Sysplex Management physical view

A notification icon may appear on the Sysplex object which depicts a bell, indicates that warning or error notifications exist, related to the following conditions:

Single point of failure for a couple data set
Channel path is not online
Coupling facility is in maintenance mode
CPC is not configured correctly.

Click the icon to show information about the notifications.

Click the icon, the user can see notification details and open the specific graphic view to deep into the issue, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Sysplex Health Check Notifications

Structures Commands

Click the Sysplex name in Physical View, it will open Coupling Facility Structures view for the sysplex, as shown in Figure 4 Right-click a structure object or a CF object to open a selection of Modify actions. You could rebuild or stop rebuilding a single structure, duplex or stop duplixing a single structure. You could also Reallocate all structures in the Sysplex or Rebuild Structures (which is not recommended when rebuild processing be performed serially) or Duplex Structures for a CF.

Figure 4 Modify actions for Coupling Facility Structures

Click Rebuild Structure -> Start, a confirmation window is displayed, as shown in Figure 5.

Sepicify the location where the new structure or structures can be rebuilt. If you specify LOCATION=NORMAL, the new structure can be allocated in any coupling facility in the preference list, following the normal allocation rules. If you specify LOCATION=OTHER, the new structure cannot be allocated for rebuild in the same coupling facility as the original structure. The new structure can be allocated in any other coupling facility in the preference list, following the normal allocation rules.

Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 5 Confirm Start Rebuild for Structure

Figure 6 Command Preview for Start Rebuild for Structure

After clicking OK, the command will be submitted and a message will be returned to tell its running status . It might take a long run for some commands, and then the user can go to Commands Log page to check the status later.

Commands Log

Commands Log keep all the modifying records for all users. Use the commands log to see and manage your sysplex commands. All main views have the link to the commands log.

The commands log displays the commands used in sysplex management and their relationship between sysplexes, objects, and systems. It displays the status and output of each command, as well as the user that issued the command. The number next to commands log indicates how many commands have been updated or added since you last visited the commands log page. The commands that have been updated or added appear in bold type. Use the filter bar to search the commands table. Click Refresh to refresh the commands log. Click Close to close the commands list and return to the previous page. See Figure 7 and Figure 8.

Figure 7 Commands Log

Figure 8 Commands Output

Switch Alternate to Primary Command

In Physical View, you can right click a couple data set to open a selection for Modify actions as shown in Figure 9.

Select Switch Alternate to Primary, use this command to switch the alternate couple dataset (of a given type) to become the primary couple dataset. For more information on SETXCF COUPLE commands see SETXCF COUPLE Commands.

For either the No Alternate or New Alternate options, a confirmation window is displayed. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

The options on the Switch Alternate to Primary command are as follows:

New Alternate

Specify a new alternate couple data set.

No Alternate

Do not replace the alternate couple data set.

The command issues a SETXCF COUPLE command with a PSWITCH parameter.

Figure 9 Modify actions for Couple Data Set

So far, you can specify an existing couple data set as a new alternate. Input the couple data set name and click Search to find it, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10 Confirm Switch Alternate to Primary

Set Alternate Couple Data Set Command

Use this command to set the alternate couple data set. For more information on SETXCF COUPLE commands see SETXCF COUPLE Commands.

A confirmation window is displayed. Click Command Preview to see the command that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

To select the data set, first type one or more qualifiers in the Alternate couple data set name qualifier field. Specify the volume if the data set is not cataloged. Then click Search. Select a data set from the resulting list.

The command issues a SETXCF COUPLE command with an ACOUPLE parameter. ACOUPLE is described as follows:

ACOUPLE

Specifies the data set to use as an alternate sysplex couple data set. This data set must be defined and formatted with the XCF format utility and for each parameter specified in the utility, the parameter values must be equal to or greater than the parameter values that were used to format the current primary couple data set.

Channel Path Commands

In CF Connectivity View, use these commands to restore or remove channel paths to a CF from either a CHPID, system, or a CF, as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11 Channel Path Commands

Set Physical Path

From CHPID

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for every system on the corresponding CHPID. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

From System

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for every channel path on the corresponding system. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

See Figure 12 and Figure 13.

Figure 12 Confirm Set Physical Path online from System

Figure 13 Command Preview of Set Physical Path online

From CF

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for the name and channel paths of every system corresponding to that CF. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

See Figure 14 and Figure 15.

Figure 14 Confirm Set Physical Path online from CF

Figure 15 Confirm Set Physical Path offline from CF

Set Logical Path

From CHPID

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for every system on the corresponding CHPID. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

From System

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for every channel path on the corresponding system. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

From CF

A confirmation window is displayed. It includes the command options and a table for the name and channel paths of every system corresponding to that CF. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

CF Maintenance Commands

Use the Maintenance Mode commands on a selected CF to start or stop Maintenance Mode as well as prepare for or restore after disruptive maintenance. For more information on SETXCF commands see SETXCF Commands.

See Figure 16.

Figure 16 Modify actions for CF

Start Maintenance Mode

The Start Maintenance Mode command starts maintenance mode for the selected CF.

A confirmation window is displayed. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

Stop Maintenance Mode

The Stop Maintenance Mode command stops maintenance mode for the selected CF.

A confirmation window is displayed. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

Prepare for Disruptive Maintenance

Use the Prepare for Disruptive Maintenance action for a selected CF. A confirmation window is displayed. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

Figure 17 Confirm Prepare for Disruptive Maintenance

Restore after Disruptive Maintenance

A confirmation window is displayed, showing the commands that are going to be issued, as well as the selected systems. Click Command Preview to see the commands that will be issued. On the confirmation window, click OK to continue or Cancel to return to the previous page.

Figure 18 Confirm Restore after Disruptive Maintenance

With these enhancements, we hope it can help you simplify your sysplex management. You are warm welcome to give us feedback or comment to help us do better.