Workspace data sets

Workspace data sets are VSAM data sets that RACF® uses to temporarily hold data that RACF is sending from one node to another. RACF deletes data from the workspace data sets when it receives confirmation that the data has been successfully processed at the receiving node. See How a directed command travels through the network for details about when RACF saves data to and deletes data from the workspace data sets.

RACF uses two workspace data sets, the INMSG data set and the OUTMSG data set, for the local node and for each of its remote nodes.

INMSG
The INMSG data set for the local node is used to temporarily hold requests that are sent to the local node from itself. The INMSG data set for a remote node is used to temporarily hold requests that are sent to the local node from the remote node, such as:
- Commands directed to the local node
- Output from RACF commands, application updates, and password changes that were directed to a remote node
OUTMSG
The OUTMSG data set is used to temporarily hold requests that are being sent to a target node, such as:
- Commands, application updates, and password changes directed from the local node
- Output to be returned to another node

To protect RACF data from casual viewing while it is in the workspace data sets, RACF masks the data using the Commercial Data Masking Facility (CDMF) algorithm.