FARF6 fixed file record support extends the use of FARF6 addressing to fixed file records for both z/TPF and z/TPFDF databases.
FARF6 is an 8-byte symbolic file address. Previously, FARF6 addressing was supported for only 4 KB long-term duplicated pool records and 4 KB short-term pool records. With this enhancement, FARF6 addressing can be used for fixed file records of all sizes: small, large, and 4 KB fixed file records. In addition, you can use FARF6 fixed file record types when you create a fixed file system (FFS) or pool file system (PFS).
You can expand existing functionality in large z/TPF systems and add functionality that requires a significant increase in the size of z/TPF and z/TPFDF databases that use FARF5 fixed file addresses. FARF6 fixed file record support allows each record type to contain 4,294,967,295 records.
FARF6 fixed file address usage in z/TPFDF databases
Before you start using FARF6 fixed file records in a z/TPFDF database you must take the following actions:
- Load a FACE table that defines the fixed file record type for the z/TPFDF database as a FARF6 record type.
- Ensure that the FARF6 migration switch is enabled by using the ZMODE command with the T parameter specified.
- Ensure that any z/TPFDF databases that will use FARF6 addresses have 8-byte file address headers.
If you want to use FARF6 fixed file addresses with an existing database, you must migrate the data from a database that uses FARF3, FARF4, or FARF5 fixed file addresses to a database that uses FARF6 fixed file addresses. You must determine how to migrate the data; IBM does not provide a tool or instructions to migrate existing fixed file databases to use the FARF6 format.
For more information about APARs PJ44596 and PI76032, see the APEDITs. Also, see FARF6 fixed file record support in the IBM Knowledge Center.