Recoverable resources
In CICS®, a recoverable resource is any resource with recorded recovery information that can be recovered by backout.
- CICS files that relate to:
- VSAM data sets
- BDAM data sets
- Data tables (but user-maintained data tables are not recovered after a CICS failure, only after a transaction failure)
- Coupling facility data tables
- The CICS system definition (CSD) file
- Intrapartition transient data destinations
- Auxiliary temporary storage queues
- Resource definitions dynamically installed using resource definition online (RDO)
In some environments, a VSAM file managed by CICS file control might need to remain online and open for update for extended periods. You can use a backup manager, such as DFSMSdss, in a separate job under MVS™, to back up a VSAM file at regular intervals while it is open for update by CICS applications. This operation is known as backup-while-open (BWO). Even changes made to the VSAM file while the backup is in progress are recorded.
DFSMSdss is a functional component of DFSMS/MVS, and is the primary data mover. When used with supporting hardware, DFSMSdss also provides a concurrent copy capability. This capability enables you to copy or back up data while that data is being used.
If a data set failure occurs, you can use a backup of the data set and a forward recovery utility, such as CICS VSAM Recovery (CICS VR), to recover the VSAM file.