You can backup and clear the journal without backing up the control data set. DFSMSrmm allows updates to the control data set during journal backup so that the impact of journal backup on other tasks is low. Use EDGHSKP when you want to backup and clear the journal. Use EDGBKUP when you only want to back up the journal and not clear it. Use the RMM LISTCONTROL TSO subcommand to find the time of the last journal back up.

When the journal reaches its threshold, schedule a backup of just the journal to minimize the time needed to clear the journal. When you restore the control data set, ensure that the correct journal backups are used for forward recovery.