VSAM Technology Update

VSAM RLS is a mode of managing buffer pools, which allows any number of users within the Parallel Sysplex to share existing VSAM spheres. It provides full read and write data integrity. The serialization is at record level. However, to implement recoverable spheres the user will require a backout log, just like CICS.

VSAM RLS does not introduce new types of VSAM clusters; rather, it introduces a new way of accessing existing data sets. Apart from the requirement to open data sets in RLS mode, the same VSAM record management interfaces are used: get, put, point, erase.

SYS-ED workshops explain and demonstrate:

• The EXAMINE IDCAMS command which allows the user to analyze and collect information on the structural consistency of KSDS data set clusters and of a VVRDS data set cluster.
  • EXAMINE can analyze and report on the structural integrity of the basic catalog structure (BCS) of an ICF catalog.
     

• The CICS VSAM Copy for z/OS V1.1 is a new tool for creating copies of VSAM data sets while they are under the control of a CICS region.
   
• How CICS VSAM Copy provides for the creation of copies of VSAM files concurrently with business-critical on-line processing.
   
• How copies are made without interrupting the on-line user.
  • Updates can continue to be made to the VSAM data sets being copied; the on-line CICS user is unaware that the copy takes place.
  • There will be no effect on transaction response time in typical user situations.
     
• VSAM KSDS performance and tuning techniques.