VTAM startup

The figure contains a sample of typical startup messages for VTAM.

Note that on the START command (abbreviated S, in Figure 1) includes &VTAMSYMB instead of the desired VTAM list data set. The systems programmer might be using z/OS symbolics to identify the LPAR.

&VTAMSYMB in the command

S NET,,,(LIST=&VTAMSYMB)

is not actually the name of the VTAM list data set. Instead, it is a system symbol variable. In a VTAM context, each LPAR has a unique set of definitions, and startup requirements. Using symbolics can allow a different variable substitution to occur on each LPAR, but the command can be the same. For example, on an LPAR numbered 5, &VTAMSYMB might have the value "05", so the command would resolve as:

S NET,,,(LIST=05)

Note: System symbols are defined in the z/OS parmlib member SYS1.PARMLIB(IEASYMxx). Each LPAR (z/OS image) can utilize system symbols to provide simple variable substitutions in JCL, system commands, and even within TCP/IP configuration files.

The series of IST093I messages occur when VTAM reads the ATCSTRxx start list member, and any other specified start option members, to build the VTAM environment. Message IST093I is also issued as VTAM reads the configuration list member ATCCONxx, which contains a list of VTAM resources defined by the z/OS network administrator. The list of IST093I messages are comprised of resource names that should eventually become familiar to the network administrator.

Figure 1. A sample of some of the network startup messages for VTAM

 S NET,,,(LIST=&VTAMSYMB) 
 08.32.00 STC07376 ---- WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2005 ----           
 08.32.00 STC07376  IEF695I START NET WITH JOBNAME NET
 08.32.00 STC07376  $HASP373 NET STARTED                 
 08.32.00 STC07376  IEF403I NET - STARTED - TIME=08.32.00 -
 08.32.08 STC07376  IST093I ISTCDRDY ACTIVE
 08.32.11 STC07376  IST093I COSAPPN ACTIVE
 08.32.11 STC07376  IST093I ISTRTPMN ACTIVE
 08.32.11 STC07376  IST093I ISTTRL ACTIVE  
 08.32.11 STC07376  IST093I CULN830 ACTIVE 
 08.32.13 STC07376  IST093I APOSAXX ACTIVE 
 08.32.13 STC07376  IST093I APNJEXX ACTIVE 
 08.32.13 STC07376  IST093I APEJE2XX ACTIVE
 08.32.13 STC07376  IST093I APCASXX ACTIVE 
 08.32.13 STC07376  IST093I APTCPXX ACTIVE 
 08.32.15 STC07376  IST093I OSA2380 ACTIVE 
 08.32.15 STC07376  IST093I OSA2800 ACTIVE 
08.32.16 STC07376  IST020I VTAM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE FOR CSV1R10
 08.32.16 STC07376  IST1349I COMPONENT ID IS 5695-11701-1A0
 08.32.16 STC07376  IST1348I VTAM STARTED AS  NETWORK NODE      
 08.32.17 STC07376  IST093I ISTLSXCF ACTIVE

One of the most important messages within Figure 1 is message IST020I. This message is an indication that VTAM is now ready to receive and process VTAM network operator commands.