During system recovery, MVS™ might
try to communicate with you. Your installation might have defined
the system console, or any other MCS 
or HMCS
console
as members of a console group in CNGRPxx to
receive synchronous messages. Synchronous messages are WTO or WTOR
messages that can be issued during initialization or recovery situations.
The operator must respond to the WTOR messages before the system
will continue. In a sysplex, a console can display synchronous messages
only if it is attached to the system that issues the message. If your
installation has not specified a console group or a console is not active, the system issues
the message to the system console.
The MVS message on the system console does not time out; the message remains on the screen until you enter a reply. See z/OS MVS Planning: Operations for more information about consoles and console recovery.