REPLY command

Use the REPLY command to respond to system requests for information. The system associates an identification number with each information request it makes. The REPLY command for a specific request must contain the same identification number as the request. The verb, REPLY or R, is not required when you respond to a request.

When MVS™ is running in a single system (or in a sysplex configured for eight or fewer systems), reply IDs are assigned in sequential order. For example, four sequential WTORs might be assigned reply IDs 01, 02, 03, 04. An operator monitoring a console that sees all WTORs could expect to see all four reply IDs (01, 02, 03, 04), without skipping a number. If there were multiple consoles that received WTORs, an operator might track down any missing reply IDs and see who replied (or if it was replied to).

In a sysplex configured for greater than eight systems, reply IDs might not appear in sequential order. For example, an operator might see reply IDs 01, 02, 04, 03. This is normal and does not affect system processing.

Table 1 summarizes the system requests for information for which you would use the REPLY command.