Preparing SMF records for postprocessing

The Postprocessor generates reports based on data gathered in SMF records by the following data gatherer functions:

  • RMF Monitor I, Monitor II, Monitor III — gathering SMF records type 70 - 79
  • HTTP Server — gathering SMF records type 103
  • Lotus® Domino® Server — gathering SMF records type 108

Because SMF produces VSAM data sets or SMF log streams, but the Postprocessor cannot read these formats, you must copy the SMF records into sequential data sets. You should do this by using the IFASMFDP program for SMF data sets or the IFASMFDL program for SMF log streams. For more information about IFASMFDP or IFASMFDL see z/OS MVS System Management Facilities (SMF). Using other utilities to copy SMF records often results in truncated or unusable records. The input data sets to the Postprocessor should not be compressed.

Sorting is required: The SMF records must be sorted by RMF interval start date and interval start time in the data set. If you want to combine SMF records from several data sets, you must sort the records together to ensure correct reports.

RMF provides two SORT exits (ERBPPE15 and ERBPPE35) that should be used when running the SORT program. Use the sample job supplied with RMF in SYS1.SAMPLIB(ERBSAMPP) for sorting Postprocessor input:

Example: 
//ERBSAMPP JOB job information,REGION=0M
//RMFSORT  EXEC PGM=SORT
//SORTIN   DD   DISP=SHR,DSN=<input_smfdata_system1>
//         DD   DISP=SHR,DSN=<input_smfdata_system2>
//         :
//         :
//         DD   DISP=SHR,DSN=<input_smfdata_systemN>
//SORTOUT  DD   DISP=disp,DSN=<sorted_smfdata>,…
//SORTWK01 DD   DISP=(NEW,DELETE),UNIT=SYSDA,SPACE=(CYL,(10))
//SORTWK02 DD   DISP=(NEW,DELETE),UNIT=SYSDA,SPACE=(CYL,(10))
//SORTWK03 DD   DISP=(NEW,DELETE),UNIT=SYSDA,SPACE=(CYL,(10))
//SYSPRINT DD   SYSOUT=*
//SYSOUT   DD   SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN    DD   *
  SORT FIELDS=(11,4,CH,A,7,4,CH,A,15,4,CH,A),EQUALS
  MODS E15=(ERBPPE15,36000,,N),E35=(ERBPPE35,3000,,N)

You can then start the Postprocessor as described in Starting the Postprocessor. If you want to start the Postprocessor with JCL, you can use the statements shown in the example under Starting with JCL as a second step in the sort job.