Allocate in a DFSMS Environment

Products

• Allocate DASD Space and Placement

Issue/Introduction

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Allocate in a DFSMS environment.

Resolution

FUNCTIONALITY

Override JCL parameters to maintain integrity of DFSMS classes.

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate can help control to what extent JCL parameters are allowed to override Data Class values.

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Control both DFSMS and Non-DFSMS data set allocations.

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate can manage allocations of all data sets in any catalog regardless of DSORG, catalog or DFSMS status, providing system managed data placement for all data.

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Override DFSMS Constructs set by ACS routines.

Allocate supports this. N/A for DFSMS.

Remarks: Allocate gets control after normal DFSMS's ACS processing providing allocation assistance to DFSMS. Rules can be set in Allocate to query, set, adjust or even remove DFSMS constructs, in addition to other allocation parameters, from the allocation if desired.

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JCL Conversions.

Remarks: Since Allocate can modify any allocation parameter, no JCL conversions of any kind are required during implementation.

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Data and Volume Conversions

Remarks: Allocate does not require any conversion or expansion of VTOC's, VVDS's or catalogs in order to provide system managed data placement.

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Back out after Implementation

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: In the event of a problem, control over data set placement can be stopped by simply issuing the console STOP command to Allocate's running task. No back out conversion is necessary. Many sites use Allocate to position and organize the data in a DFSMS like environment in order to measure the impact of such management before any conversion effort is started.

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VSAM Definition Assistance

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate provides an ISPF dialog which can assist in the definition of VSAM clusters in the same way ISPF's option 3.2 helps for non-VSAM.

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Blocksize Control

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate can adjust blocksize to optimize device type or to any desired value. This is very important for redirection of allocations between tape and DASD and also when existing JCL contains poorly coded blocksizes.

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Dynamic control of Primary Size

Allocate supports this.

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Dynamic control of Secondary Size

Allocate supports this.

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Control Rename of Data Sets
Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate helps DFSMS control the renaming of data sets to eliminate data set names from existing with incorrect DFSMS constructs assigned to them.

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Control Release of Idle Space

Allocate supports this.

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Control Scratching of Data Sets

Allocate supports this.

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Application Group Control

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Application groups can be defined to Allocate with assigned space quota limits. Allocate can then track and report, warn or even deny new allocations when the limit has been reached.

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Arithmetic Capabilities

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Arithmetic equations can be code in Allocate's rules providing additional flexibility in automated decision makingduring data set architecture and placement.

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Output Media Selection/Conversion

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: DASD/Tape, Tape/DASD, Tape/Tape, DASD/DASD.

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COPYBOOK

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate eases rule setup where lists of objects can be created in PDS members and referenced by the COPYBOOK include feature rather than maintaining these lists directly in the rules.

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PDSE Support

Allocate supports this.

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Sequential Data Striping

Allocate supports this.

Remarks: Allocate can perform a type of data striping by spreading large files across multiple volumes.

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Cache Management

Allocate supports this.

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Additional features Allocate provides to data set allocation including those not managed by DFSMS:

- Approve or deny STEPCATs, JOBCATs or catalog name on DEFINEs
- Allocate DATA and INDEX components on separate volumes
- Volumes can be mounted with any attribute
- Free space thresholds maintained for volumes and storage groups
- Mixed device types in storage groups
- Storage group changes are dynamic, no IPL needed
- Enforce job and data set naming standards
- Prevent 'NOT CATLG 2' problems
- Prevent allocation of non-conforming data sets
- Send messages to users making invalid requests
- User exits provide additional logic and decision making