Signal Quiesce (Signal Shutdown) Support

A signal quiesce (also referred to as signal shutdown) requests an end-of-program execution for a z/VSE system that has been enabled for signal quiesce.

To configure z/VSE for signal quiesce, you use the QUIESCE parameter of the IPL SYS control statement.

If a disruptive operation (for example, an IML or IPL) is performed via a Service Element (SE) or Hardware Management Console (HMC) panel, the SE or HMC will generate a signal-quiesce event. Under z/VM, a signal-quiesce event can be triggered for a guest using a SIGNAL SHUTDOWN command. The signal-quiesce event instructs an active z/VSE to quiesce (stop) processing:

When a signal-quiesce event is received, z/VSE issues message 0W01D:

0W01D DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE SYSTEM SHUTDOWN (WILL BE FORCED AFTER TIMEOUT)?
REPLY 'YES' TO ENTER HARD WAIT STATE OR 'NO'

If the operator replies YES, the system will enter a disabled-wait state and set a unique hard-wait code.
If the operator replies NO or does not reply at all, the system will wait for a predefined time-interval only, after which it continues to process the disruptive operation.

Signal quiesce is designed to be mainly used with console automation programs which can initiate a controlled system shutdown as a response to message 0W01D.

Note: z/VSE does not provide controlled shutdown processing!

For further details of the IPL SYS QUIESCE parameter, refer to Initial Program Load.
If you run z/VSE under z/VM, also refer to the z/VM CP Commands and Utilities Reference. This publication describes the SIGNAL SHUTDOWN command and its impact on z/VM Guest operating systems.