Using the z/OS XL C MultiTasking Facility

This topic describes how to use the MultiTasking Facility (MTF) with z/OS® XL C. It explains how to organize, code, compile, link, and run a program using MTF. It also lists restrictions while using MTF.

MTF is a facility available under z/OS that can be used by application programs to improve turnaround time on multiprocessor and attached-processor configurations. When a program uses MTF on such a system, the elapsed time required to run the program can be reduced. You can run tasks, which can run independently of each other, simultaneously.

MTF is easy to use and requires very little knowledge of the multitasking capabilities upon which it depends. From the programmer’s perspective, multitasking facilities are available through the library functions of z/OS XL C. Because of this simplicity, it is easy to introduce MTF to existing applications and code new MTF applications to gain the benefits of multitasking.
Notes:
  1. Except for a few differences, the MTF support for z/OS XL C is the same as for the equivalent FORTRAN multitasking facilities. MTF is not supported under CICS®, IMS, DB2®, C++, or z/OS UNIX. In addition, IPA is not supported in an MTF environment.
  2. XPLINK is not supported in an MTF environment.
  3. AMODE 64 applications are not supported in an MTF environment.