The goal algorithm

The Goal algorithm may be used when dynamic routing decisions are primarily concerned with the ability of a region to achieve response time targets.

Goal mode routing should only be employed where routers and targets are managed by the same CMAS in the following scenarios:

  • Dynamic routing using DTRPGM for dynamic transactions.
  • Dynamic routing using DTRPGM for EXEC CICS® START TERMID over APPC or MRO connections.
  • Distributed routing using DSRTPGM for business transaction service routing.

In any other dynamic routing scenario, the QUEUE or LNQUEUE algorithms should be used.

If a transaction being routed has no active affinities then the goal algorithm causes CICSPlex® SM to select the target region that conforms to the following set of criteria:
  • Is the least affected by conditions such as short-on-storage, SYSDUMP, and TRANDUMP.
  • Is the least likely to cause the transaction to stop.
  • Is the most likely to meet the transaction response-time goals (either average or percentile) set for it (and for other transactions in its class) using the Workload Manager component of z/OS®.
  • Is the shortest path for interregion communication.
  • Is the AOR with the shortest queue of transactions, relative to MAXTASK, waiting to be processed.
  • Has a z/OS WLM health value in the range 1 - 100.