Defining the Catalog Configuration

The system data sets SYS1.NUCLEUS and SYS1.PARMLIB contain members used to define portions of your catalog configuration.

When you IPL your z/OS® system, you must identify the master catalog to z/OS. This can be done either through the SYSCATxx member of SYS1.NUCLEUS or the LOADxx member of SYS1.PARMLIB.

If you use the SYSCATxx member, z/OS issues the following message asking you to identify which member you are using. This is done during the nucleus initialization program (NIP) time. You respond with the last two characters in the SYSCATxx member name (the xx value):

IEA347A SPECIFY MASTER CATALOG PARAMETER

If you enter a blank line in response to this message, z/OS uses "LG" as the parameter, identifying SYSCATLG.

If you use the LOADxx member to identify the master catalog, the system uses the master catalog specified in the member, and the master catalog message is not issued.

MVS™ also uses information you define in the COFVLFxx member of SYS1.PARMLIB to identify the catalogs that are candidates for the catalog data space cache (or VLF cache). Catalogs not identified in the COFVLFxx member are eligible for the standard in-storage catalog cache.

Another member of SYS1.PARMLIB, SMFPRMxx, is used to identify the record types that the system management facilities records. SMF can be used to record changes to catalogs.