Creating the instruction data set is optional. The instruction data set contains instructions or any other information you think is necessary to assist the recovery site in recovering and running the application. It is an informal, free-form text file.
If you decide to back up the instruction data set, you must create it before you issue the ABACKUP command. The instruction data set must be a sequential data set and it must be cataloged. ISMF panels allow you to allocate, browse, and edit the instruction data set.
The instruction data set can be recovered during the aggregate recovery prepare step, before actually recovering the aggregate data sets. This can be helpful, especially if people other than the backup site personnel will run the application at the recovery site.
You should include the instruction data set name in the aggregate group definition so that the instruction data set is identified to aggregate backup. During aggregate backup, the instruction data set is backed up to an instruction and activity log file.