SMCS consoles are MCS consoles that use z/OS® Communications Server SNA and TCP/IP services
for input and output. SMCS consoles provide most of the same functions
as MCS consoles with the following exceptions:
- Synchronous WTO/R, also known as disabled console communication
facility (DCCF), is not supported for SMCS consoles. The system console
or an MCS console must be used instead.
- SMCS consoles are not available during NIP. The system console
or an MCS console must be used instead.
- z/OS Communications Server
must be active for SMCS to be active. The system console and MCS consoles
do not rely on z/OS Communications
Server, and these can be used before z/OS Communications
Server is active.
- SMCS consoles must be activated differently than MCS consoles.
The activation process depends on the console definitions, but in
all cases, VARY CONSOLE and VARY CN, ONLINE do not work for SMCS.
- SMCS does not support output-only (message stream and status display)
consoles. SMCS consoles must always be full-capability consoles.
- SMCS does not support printer consoles.
Because an SMCS console is connected through a network and uses z/OS Communications Server services,
the z/OS Communications Server
commands VARY NET and HALT NET, as well as network problems, can affect
console operations.