In a sysplex, you can define an MCS and SMCS console configuration that allows messages and commands to flow from system to system. Figure 1 shows a two-system sysplex, with three consoles attached:

Figure 1. Sysplex Showing Console attachments

In Figure 1, two systems are part of a sysplex with cross-coupling services (XCF) providing signalling paths that allow MCS or SMCS consoles on different systems to communicate with each other. In a sysplex, you can define your MCS or SMCS consoles so that any MCS or SMCS console can receive messages from any system, and commands entered on any MCS or SMCS console can be processed on any system.

The sysplex has great flexibility in its console attachments. When you define your MCS or SMCS consoles for a system and IPL the system into a sysplex, your consoles can have a logical association to any system. Any MCS or SMCS console on a system in a sysplex can be the focal point, or MCS and SMCS consoles can share the control they have over systems.

Examples and MVS planning aids for operations describes how you can define consoles for a two-system sysplex. For information about defining and tuning the sysplex, see z/OS MVS Setting Up a Sysplex.