Objectives

• explain the relationship between the data related components
• detect and isolate the failing component of an ICF catalog
• utilise the available diagnostic tools
• perform appropriate recovery and repair procedures
• list the factors that affect catalog performance.

Who Should Attend

Systems Programmers, Storage Administrators and Senior Operations Analysts.

Prerequisites

At least one year of experience with MVS. Familiarity with TSO/ISPF and JCL is essential. VSAM knowledge, as provided on RSM’s VSAM Essentials Workshop, is also recommended.

Duration

3 days

Fee

£1195 (ex. VAT)

Course Code

MICF

Contents

ICF Environment
Catalog overview; Catalog search order; Catalog environment; Multi-level aliases; Catalog address space; VTOC and IXVTOC; ICF environment review.

VSAM File Structure
VSAM file types; VSAM hierarchy; CI structure and usage; RDF usage; Spanned record RDF usage; BCS - a KSDS; Index CI format; Alternate index; Class exercise - VSAM file structures.

Catalog Component Structure
Catalog environment; Basic Catalog Structure (BCS); VSAM Volume Data Set (VVDS); BCS record structure; BCS record types; BCS record cells; Sphere records - cluster; 3.9 Cluster name cell; Ownership cell; Security cell; Data/index name cell; Volume cell; Class exercise – BCS cluster record; Sphere records; Alternate Index name cell; Association cell; Relation cell; Path record; Pass name cell; Truename record; Truename cell; Class exercise – KSDS cluster record; Sphere records - GDG; GDG base name cell; Generating Aging Table (GAT) cell; GDS name cell; Volume cell; Extension name cell; Non-VSAM record and name cell; Alias record and name cell; Catalog connector record and name cell; Class exercise – user catalogs; BCS/VVDS relationship; VVDS record types; VVDS record cells; VVDS record structure; VVCR and extensions; VSAM Volume Record (VVR); VVR header cell; VVR data set info cell; VVR AMDSB cell; VVR volume info cell; Class exercise – VVCRs and VVRs; Non-VSAM Volume Record (NVR) and header cell; NVR data set info cell; Volume Table Of Contents (VTOC); VTOC structure; Describing a data set; Managing the volume; VTOC usage; Solving VTOC performance problems: VTOCIX; VTOC index structure; How the index works; VTOC index entry record.

Problem Diagnosis
Problem analysis; Data set processing flow; Allocation; OPEN; I/O processing; File extensions; CLOSE; DEALLOC/CATLG; Problem severity; Diagnostic tools; IDCAMS EXAMINE; IDCAMS DIAGNOSE (VVDS); IDCAMS DIAGNOSE (ICFCATALOG); Shotgun technique; Class exercise – problem diagnosis.

Backup Techniques & Considerations
User catalog backup; Export/import; Export/Import advantages; Backup frequency; User catalog strategy; Validation; User catalog backup recap; Master catalogs; Alternate master catalogs; SYSCAT format; Creating an alternate master catalog; VVDS backup; REPRO NOMERGECAT; REPRO MERGECAT; EXPORT DISCONNECT; IMPORT CONNECT with ALIAS; IMPORT CONNECT.

Recovery, Repair & Maintenance
Recovery vs. repair; Entries; Recovery/repair outline; VTOC and IXVTOC; VVDS catalog utility; VVDS delete; VVDS entry - VVCR; VVDS entry – delete VVR/NVR; BCS recovery import; Import BCS; Delete a user catalog; Delete a user catalog with Noforce; Delete a user catalog with Force; Uncatalog a data set; Catalog an existing VSAM object; Delete TRUENAME; Deleting VSAM data sets from a volume; Forward recovery; ICF SMF records; Recovery tips.

Performance & Integrity Considerations
Sizing the BCS; Sizing the VVDS; Sizing the VTOC and index; Catalog performance; Performance – BCS data component; Performance – BCS index component; Performance - CAS; Sharing catalogs with other systems; Catalog SHROPTS; Performance - CDSC; Activating CDSC; Sharing catalogs in a CDSC environment (VVDS); Sharing catalogs in a CDSC environment (ECS); Monitoring and controlling CDSC; CDSC report information; Monitoring catalog performance; VVDS performance; Implementing SYS% conversion; Extended alias support.

Hands-on lab exercises