You can specify whether the hardcopy medium is the system log (SYSLOG) or the operations log (OPERLOG) at system initialization using the DEVNUM keyword on the HARDCOPY statement in the CONSOLxx member of Parmlib. Once the system has been initialized, operators can use the VARY HARDCPY command to redefine the hardcopy medium. Operators can only enter the VARY HARDCPY command to change a hardcopy device from MCS, HMCS , SMCS or extended MCS consoles with master authority.

An extended MCS console can also receive the hardcopy message set. You request that an extended MCS console receive the hardcopy message set by using the MCSOPER macro with the HARDCOPY attribute on the OPERPARM parameter. You can also use this macro to collect all the hardcopy messages from one or more systems in a sysplex. See z/OS MVS Programming: Authorized Assembler Services Reference LLA-SDU for information about the MCSOPER macro.