Routing commands in a sysplex (CPF macro)

The command prefix facility (CPF), whose entries are defined through the CPF macro, allows any operator or any authorized application to enter a command from any system in a sysplex and route that command to the appropriate system for execution.

Note: If the installation has defined the security profile MVS.CPF.ROUTE.CHECK in the OPERCMDS class, the issuer of the command requires sufficient authority to the MVS.ROUTE.CMD.system to route the command to a different system in the sysplex.

The command responses will come back to the originating console. The application can be an installation exit, a subsystem, or an installation-written program.

CPF assigns unique installation-defined prefixes to each system so that an application can direct a command to any system in the sysplex, just as if that system is the one on which the application is running. For example, if your installation is running in a poly-JES2 environment, you can use CPF to create a unique command prefix for each copy of JES2, so that you direct JES2 commands to a specific copy of JES2. When an application with CPF REQUEST=DEFINE in its code initializes, CPF adds to the CPF table the prefix for the system to which the application will direct commands. The CPF table is shared by all systems in the sysplex. Also, by issuing the CPF macro, an application can modify or delete entries in the table.

CPF also ensures that two or more systems do not have the same or overlapping prefixes, which helps prevent confusion. To ensure the integrity of your command prefixes, use CPF for as many prefix definitions as possible in your system.