Potential use of IMS commands

Although the primary purpose of end-user procedures is to describe transaction input, you might also allow the users to enter a subset of IMS commands so that they can make more informed use of IMS resources.

For example, if the end users can choose the order in which transactions are submitted, they can use a /DISPLAY command to gauge the current queue levels.

Recommendation: If you do allow end users to enter IMS commands, consider disallowing the use of the ALL keyword to minimize the effect of these commands.

The following table presents a list of IMS commands and evaluates their potential use by a remote terminal operator. The /DISPLAY TRAN and QUERY TRAN commands are especially appropriate. However, because of the many keyword choices for these commands, you should specify individual keywords. For convenient entry, include command abbreviations.

The commands in the table that are marked with an asterisk (*) are available to the remote terminal operator using default command security. To allow the remote terminal operator to use other commands, you need to declare the full list of commands for that terminal through RACF® (or an equivalent product). You can also use the DFSCCMD0 exit routine for command security.

Table 1. Command suitability for use by a remote terminal operator
Command group Command Default security End-user use Comments
End-user specific /RCLSDST * YES Acts as remote VARY offline (for VTAM® terminals).
/RCOMPT * YES Decentralizes control of VTAM component.
/BROADCAST * YES Provides convenient user interaction; use of message switching is preferred.
/SET * YES Provides convenient entry for batched transactions.
/RESET * YES Used with /SET.
/RDISPLAY * YES Identifies MTO location; used with /BROADCAST.
/CANCEL * YES Cancels both single- and multisegment messages.
/EXCLUSIVE * YES Safeguards discrete application usage.
Connection commands /OPNDST   NO Allows access to VTAM network.
/CLSDST   NO Restricts access to VTAM network.
/QUIESCE   NO Restricts access to VTAM network.
/SIGN * YES Allows access to IMS resources; required for signon verification.
/RSTART   YES Starts IMS resources; allowed if /STOP allowed.
/MSASSIGN   NO Alters assignments for IMS resources; required for MFS transactions.
/FORMAT * YES Formats a screen; required for conversation terminations.
/EXIT * YES Terminates conversations; required for non-VTAM switched terminals.
/HOLD * YES Suspends conversations.
/RELEASE * YES Resumes conversations.
Connection commands for MTO /START   NO Starts IMS resources.
/STOP   NO Stops IMS resources.
/CHANGE   NO Allows changes to mode table and automatic session restart. Immediate termination best handled by the MTO.
/IDLE   NO Allows control of multiple systems.
Device control /COMPT   NO Sets terminal components; also available through /RCOMPT.
/MONITOR   NO Stops programmable remote stations; best handled by MTO.
Monitoring /DISPLAY   YES Displays information about IMS resources; convenient for status of queues and terminals.
/TRACE   NO Allows IMS to trace resource activity; IMS Monitor and traces affect system performance.
/LOG * YES Records user text on IMS system log.
Serviceability /DIAG   NO Retrieves diagnostic information for system resources (for example, IMS control blocks) without taking console dump.
Testing /TEST * YES Sets test mode; limit use for remote terminal operators.
/LOOPTEST * NO Tests I/O for terminal.
/END * YES Terminates test, looptest, or exclusive mode.
/MSVERIFY   NO Verifies IMS resources; used by administrator of multiple systems.
Resource control /ASSIGN   NO Assigns IMS resources; prime control of resources for MTO.
/PSTOP   NO Restricts use of resources.
/PURGE   NO Restricts input to resources.
/LOCK * NO Restricts resource use; use only for supervisor remote terminal operators.
/UNLOCK * NO Unlocks IMS resources.
/RMxxxxxx   NO Allows control of DBRC resources; database availability should be controlled by MTO.
/SMCOPY   NO Controls the logging of system messages, commands, and command responses to the secondary master terminal.
/MODIFY   NO Allows online changes to IMS system.
Recovery /DBRECOVERY or UPDATE   NO Controls database availability; restrict to MTO.
/DBDUMP or UPDATE   NO Controls database availability; restrict to MTO.
/DEQUEUE   NO Controls integrity of message queues; restrict to MTO.
/CHECKPOINT   NO Shuts down IMS; restrict to MTO; simple checkpoints can have a performance impact.
/ERESTART   NO Restarts IMS; restrict to MTO.
/RECOVER   NO Recovers full-function databases and Fast Path areas; restrict to a DBA or the MTO.
/SWITCH     NO Switches data sets used in an XRF environment; restrict to MTO.