Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) is an z/OS component that supports you in defining both the operating system configuration and the processor hardware configuration of a system.

HCD validates the data you enter and checks it for consistency and completeness. Because HCD performs the check when the data is defined rather than when the device is accessed, inconsistencies can be corrected right away and unplanned system outages resulting from inconsistent definitions can be avoided.

The configuration data can then be used to POR/IPL or dynamically reconfigure your system. Dynamic reconfiguration management is the ability to activate a new I/O configuration during normal processing and without the need to perform a POR or IPL of the system.

For more information about HCD, see z/OS HCD User's Guide.