Why Use the Sysplex Routing Services

The sysplex routing services allow work associated with a server to be distributed across a sysplex. They are intended for use by clients and servers when the incoming work requests have not been classified by workload management at the time the routing decision is being made.

The sysplex routing services enable distributed client/server environments to balance work among multiple servers. These services help distributed programs make the routing decisions, rather than having each installation make these decisions. Unlike the routing manager services described earlier, sysplex routing services do not automatically start server address spaces as needed.

A client is any subsystem work manager, application or product, in the network that requests a service. The service could be a request for data, a program to be run, or access to a database or application. In terms of the sysplex routing services, a client is any program routing work to a server. A server is any subsystem address space that provides a service on an MVS™ image.

The sysplex routing services provide information for more intelligent routing. They do not route or distribute work requests. The server must use its existing routing mechanisms.

Table 7 shows a summary of the sysplex workload balancing services.