Choosing the IMS master terminal

The IMS master terminal is the key control point for IMS online operations. Choosing a device as the master terminal provides the advantage of convenient data entry and output response.

The IMS master terminal acts as the control point for IMS online operations, data entry, and output response. Keep in mind that you might need a printed copy of many of the responses to commands, as well as a record of the system messages that are sent to the master terminal.

To choose the master terminal, specify MASTER after the logical terminal name on the NAME macro. The NAME macro must follow the TERMINAL macro that describes the terminal chosen.

To choose a secondary master terminal, specify SECONDARY after the logical terminal name on the NAME macro. Logging at the secondary master terminal can be turned on and off using the MSG keyword of the /SMCOPY command.

The /ASSIGN command can be used to switch the secondary master terminal to another destination such as a spool SYSOUT line group.

Choosing master terminal devices

Some restrictions apply for choosing the device for master and secondary terminals, as shown in the table that follows. Your choice for secondary master terminal depends on the expected amount of output and the user's requirement for promptness of printing.

Table 1. Device choices for master terminals
Master terminal type Choice of device type
Primary 32701
  SLUTYPE1 (console)
  SLUTYPE2 (console)2
Secondary 328x1
  SLUTYPE1 (first component)
  SPOOL
Notes:

1 If a 3270 device is specified as the master terminal, a 328x or SPOOL device must be specified as the secondary terminal.

2 SLUTYPE2 requires a secondary master terminal. The NAME macro for the secondary terminal must be placed before the primary terminal.

Specifying the master terminal configuration

The following figure shows an example of coding for a master terminal on a 3270 local line.

TYPE  UNITYPE=(3270,LOCAL),MODEL=2
TERMINAL NAME=L3270A
NAME  (VT3270L1,MASTER)
TERMINAL NAME=L3270B,MODEL=1,OPTIONS=FORCRESP
NAME  VT3270L2
TERMINAL NAME=L3270C,TYPE=3270-A2,SIZE=(24,80)
NAME  VT3270L3
TERMINAL NAME=L3270D,TYPE=3270-A3,SIZE=(32,80)
NAME  VT3270L4
TERMINAL NAME=L3270E,TYPE=3270-A4,SIZE=(43,80)
NAME  VT3270L5
TERMINAL NAME=L3284A,UNIT=3284,PTRSIZE=132
NAME  (VT3270P3,SECONDARY)

The configuration for the master terminal is shown in the figure below:

Figure 1. Configuration for a master terminal
Relationship is shown between type (UNITYPE=3270 LOCAL), terminals, and logical names. Six terminals are associated with six logical names.

Choosing the extent of secondary master logging

To automatically copy the entry and response of key system control commands, use the COPYLOG keyword on the COMM macro. The COPYLOG values that you specify cause all command activity that is issued by any terminal to be copied.

Unless terminals other than the master terminal are likely to issue many commands, specify COPYLOG=ALL. The values of NONE or NOMASTER are not recommended because the printed log of activity provides a valuable audit mechanism. Your choice of automatic copying does not affect the logging of IMS system messages to the secondary master terminal.