Save As vs. Save Active? Which Connect:Direct for z/OS method is right for saving my Secure Plus PARMFILE?

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Deciding between Save As or Save Active when making Connect:Direct for z/OS PARMFILE updates can be tricky. Use this to help choose the right method for your situation.

The major distinction between the two methods is whether the Connect:Direct started task needs to be restarted before changes take effect.

Recommendation – Determine if you have a window to restart the started task after making Secure Plus PARMFILE changes.

• If you are able to restart the system, consider using Save As.
• If you want to minimize system downtime, Save Active may be the better choice.
• You can use a combination of methods if desired. For example if you have a planned maintenance window, you could use Save As for normal changes, but use Save Active for unscheduled updates.

Exceptions:

• First time PARMFILE setup must use Save As.
• Save Active requires that an existing PARMFILE name is specified in SECURE.DSN Init Parm.

Want more information?

For more on Save As vs. Save Active, see Technote 280609.