ICKDSF: Accommodate new default for INIT and REFORMAT commands
Description
The VERIFYOFFLINE parameter of the INIT and REFORMAT commands verifies that the device is offline to all other systems before the command is attempted. Beginning with ICKDSF APAR PI25913, if the UNIT parameter is specified for the INIT or REFORMAT command, and the required storage control microcode support and software support exists, and the device is not a minidisk, the VERIFYOFFLINE parameter is the default, meaning that verification that the device is offline occurs even if VERIFYOFFLINE is not specified. Prior to ICKDSF APAR PI25913, verification occurred only when VERIFYOFFLINE was specified.
If the VERIFYOFFLINE parameter is processed as the default, and the device is online to another system, the command terminates, with message ICK31306I in the job output.
To request that verification not take place, you can use a new NOVERIFYOFFLINE parameter.
Table 1 provides more details about this migration action. Use this information to plan your changes to the system.
| Element or feature: | ICKDSF |
|---|---|
| When change was introduced: | APAR PI25913 (on ICKDSF R17) for both z/OS V2R1 and z/OS V1R13. |
| Applies to migration from: | z/OS V2R1 and z/OS V1R13 (on ICKDSF R17), both without APAR PI25913. |
| Timing: | After the first IPL of z/OS V2R2. |
| Is the migration action required? | Yes, if you require that the new default not be used. |
| Target system hardware requirements: | DS8870 R7.1 GA, Bundle 87.10.87.0, LIC 7.7.10.287 DS8700 R6.3 SP6, Bundle 76.31.79.0, LIC 6.6.31.670 DS8800 R6.3 SP6, Bundle 86.31.95.0, LIC 7.6.31.1150 |
| Target system software requirements: | The software support is provided in APAR OA40719 for z/OS V2R1 and V1R13, and incorporated into z/OS V2R2. |
| Other system (coexistence or fallback) requirements: | None. |
| Restrictions: | None. |
| System impacts: | If the VERIFYOFFLINE parameter is specified either explicitly or by default, and the device is online to any other systems, message ICK31306I VERIFICATION FAILED: DEVICE FOUND TO BE GROUPED is issued and the command is terminated. If the NOVERIFYOFFLINE parameter is specified and the device is online, command processing continues. |
| Related IBM® Health Checker for z/OS® check: | None. |
Steps to take
If you do not want INIT and REFORMAT commands with the UNIT parameter to verify that the device is offline to all other systems before the command is attempted, add the new NOVERIFYOFFLINE parameter to those commands.
Reference information
For more information, see the descriptions of the INIT and REFORMAT commands in Device Support Facilities (ICKDSF) User's Guide and Reference.