Setting up CICS data sets

You must define a number of data sets to run CICS®. Some data sets are mandatory, whereas others are needed only if you are using the corresponding facilities. You might also need to provide data set definitions for user files, DL/I databases, and terminals other than z/OS® Communications Server terminals.

1. Plan what CICS data sets you require.
   1. Review the CICS facilities that you want in your CICS regions and their data set requirements.
   2. Define a naming convention for your data sets.
   3. Calculate the space to allocate to the data sets and the data definition statements to define them to the running CICS region.
2. Define and catalog the data sets that are used by CICS.
3. If required, initialize or preformat the data sets that are used by CICS.
4. Protect the data sets with an external security manager, such as RACF®, to suit your security requirements.
5. Define the DD statements for the required data sets in the CICS startup job stream.
   You do not have to define DD statements for the following data sets:

   • User files for which you are using CICS dynamic allocation facilities
   • CICS system data sets that are managed by CICS file control and for which you are using CICS dynamic allocation facilities
   • DL/I databases you are accessing through CICS remote DL/I support or DBCTL

   For more information about user file definitions, see Defining user files.