Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) support

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HCD supports definition of the I/O configuration for an entire installation. It is required for parallel sysplex and LPAR clusters. A single I/O data file is created for the installation and used for multiple machines and I/O configuration data sets.

HCD supports:

Up to 85 logical partitions (LPs) for models ME1 and ML1 per central processing complex (CPC) on an z17.
Up to 40 logical partitions (LPs) for models ME2 and MER per central processing complex (CPC) on an z17.
Coupling facility configurations
Multiple Image Facility (MIF)
Dynamic CHPID Management (DCM) channel paths.
MCSS
Assigning reserved logical partitions a meaningful name

Table 1. HCD function support
HCD Function	z/OS®	z/VM®
Define up to 85 (Models ME1 and ML1) or 40 (Models ME2 and MER) logical partitions?	Yes	Yes
Define shared channel paths?	Yes	Yes
Define coupling facility channel paths?	Yes	Yes (Note 2)
Define dynamically managed channel paths?	Yes	Yes (Note 2)
Write IOCDSs remotely?	Yes (Note 1)	No
Access I/O devices on shared channel paths?	Yes	Yes
Use software-only dynamic I/O?	Yes	Yes
Use hardware and software dynamic I/O?	Yes	Yes
Defined shared FICON® CTC?	Yes	Yes
Use hardware-only dynamic I/O	Yes	No
Notes: HCD, running on z/OS, allows you to remotely write IOCDSs from one CPC to another CPC that is powered on, LAN-attached, enabled for remote LIC update, and defined to the same Hardware Management Console. HCD, running on z/VM, allows you to define coupling facility channel paths or dynamically managed channel paths for a z/OS LP but z/VM does not support coupling facility channel paths or dynamically managed channel paths for use by z/VM or guest operating systems. z/VM does virtualize the coupling facility for guest test purposes.

For more information about using HCD with Multiple Image Facility, see

z/OS Hardware Configuration Definition: User's Guide, SC34-2669
z/OS Hardware Configuration Definition Planning, GA22-7525
z/VM I/O Configuration, SC24-6291.