Role of the operator in the offload process

When it is time to offload an active log, you can send a request to the z/OS® console operator to mount a tape or prepare a disk unit.

The value of the WRITE TO OPER field of the DSNTIPA installation panel determines whether the request is received. If the value is YES, the request is preceded by a WTOR (message number DSNJ008E) informing the operator to prepare an archive log data set for allocating.

The operator need not respond to message DSNJ008E immediately. However, delaying the response delays the offload process. It does not affect Db2 performance unless the operator delays response for so long that Db2 uses all the active logs.

The operator can respond by canceling the offload. In that case, if the allocation is for the first copy of dual archive data sets, the offload is merely delayed until the next active log data set becomes full. If the allocation is for the second copy, the archive process switches to single-copy mode, but for the one data set only.

When Db2 switches active logs and finds that the offload task has been active since the last log switch, it issues the following message to notify the operator of a possible outstanding tape mount or some other problem that prevents the offload of the previous active log data set.

DSNJ017E - csect-name WARNING - OFFLOAD TASK HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE 
           date-time AND MAY HAVE STALLED

Db2 continues processing. The operator can cancel and then restart the offload.