Shared SMF File definitions

Shared SMF File definitions provide automatic SMF file selection when you generate Report Set or HDB load JCL. Start of changeThere are three types of SMF File definitions: daily SMF files, cyclic SMF files, and SMF log streams.End of change
Daily SMF files
Daily SMF files span a period of time for the current day (today). They are used when you request reporting for today.

Daily SMF files are typically GDGs, one generation created by each SMF dump (IFASMFDP) job. They can only be defined by the Take-up from SMF File facility.

A daily SMF file remains available for reporting until you uncatalog or delete its data set. When a daily SMF data set is uncataloged or deleted, CICS PA marks its SMF file definition as "expired" (no longer available for reporting). To delete expired daily SMF file definitions, run the HDB housekeeping utility.

Cyclic SMF files
There are two types of cyclic SMF file:
Cyclic files with an origin
These files cover a known period of time, according to the origin, interval, and DISP values that you specify. CICS PA uses these values to determine which data sets to select for a requested reporting period. These cyclic SMF files are typically GDGs. For example, a weekly SMF GDG where the most recent cycle (generation 0) spans the current week, -1 is last week, and so on. CICS PA supports various intervals, including daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and fixed (number of days) cycles.
Cyclic files with no origin
Cyclic SMF files with an origin value of NONE (no origin) cover an undetermined period of time. Specify an origin of NONE when you want to explicitly select a particular SMF data set for reporting, regardless of the reporting period.

You cannot report on a mix of cyclic SMF files with and without origins. If a system contains definitions for cyclic SMF files with and without origins, then you must either exclude the files with no origin, or exclude all of the others.

You specify one or more cyclic SMF file definitions that match the way you collect and manage long-term SMF data at your installation.

Start of changeSMF log streamsEnd of change
Start of changeCICS PA can read SMF log streams directly, giving you access to very recent data without the need for the SMF dump utility to first create an offline file. CICS PA can locate and process the required SMF data quickly, regardless of whether the reporting period spans several months or the last few minutes.
Like data sets, log streams are referenced by name. Wherever a log stream is specified in the product, the name must be prefixed with IFASMF and cannot be enclosed in quotes. Example:
IFASMF.FTS1.SMF.MAN1

There are two types of log stream: Coupling Facility (CF) and DASD-only. CF log streams are available to all images in the plex and do not require any special processing. DASD-only log streams are created by and can only be accessed by their local MVS Image. DASD-only log streams require the CICS PA job to be run on their local system and therefore require special handling.

It is possible to route different SMF records to separate log streams, so that for example one log stream contains CMF records, while another contains DB2 records, and yet another contains WebSphere® MQ records. Since some CICS PA reports combine records from different data sources, CICS PA supports multiple log streams as input into reports.

Log streams have almost unlimited capacity. Therefore, when processing log streams in CICS PA, specification of the reporting time range is mandatory.

The DASDONLY profile option (menu option 0.5) determines the log stream type for all log streams in all system definitions. If selected, this option indicates that all log streams will be treated as DASD-only and will require an Image name to execute. If DASDONLY is not selected, all log streams are treated as CF log streams.

Note: Sites that have a mix of CF and DASD-only log streams are limited in their ability to combine the two log stream types. For example, if CICS SMF records are written to a DASD-only log stream and DB2 records are written to a CF log stream in different system images, a System Definition must be defined for every combination of DB2 and Image since the CICS and DB2 Images must be the same to be selected for DASD-only log streams.
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Log stream retention period (RETPD)

SMF log streams have a retention period specified in days (0-65536). Records older than the retention period are considered inactive but might not be deleted immediately. Inactive records that are still stored in the log stream are available for reporting through CICS PA.

You can specify a RETPD value in the system definition. This value is used to calculate a start date for CICS PA reporting. It has no effect on the SMF log stream itself. Specify a value in the following range:
0
All records in the log stream are eligible for reporting.
( < the log stream retention period)
Records older than this are not eligible for reporting.
( = the log stream retention period)
Recommended. All active records are eligible for reporting.
( > the log stream retention period)
Records within this period are eligible for reporting even if they are inactive.
65536
The maximum value.
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File selection at run time

When Shared System Definitions are used, all batch requests (that require SMF input) will have their SMF file DD statements generated automatically from either the Daily SMF File or Cyclic SMF File or log stream definitions. Specify the required reporting interval, and CICS PA will automatically select the required SMF files for your job.

If reporting is required for today, then CICS PA will use the Daily SMF Files (if available). Otherwise, CICS PA will use the Cyclic SMF File definitions to satisfy your request. If no SMF file definitions cover the required reporting interval, then CICS PA will honor the “Missing SMF Files Option” on the run panel.

Start of changeA log stream is only selected if the report interval Start time falls within the span of the log stream and the "Use Log Streams when available" profile option is selected. Otherwise, normal file selection is performed. The log stream retention period (RETPD) in the System Definition is used to determine the start time of the first record in the log stream.End of change

Start of changeTo avoid double accounting of SMF data, JCL generation prevents the use of a log stream with SMF files. However, you can define a log stream and SMF files in the same System Definition and either the log stream or files will be selected based on the specified report interval.End of change


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Timestamp icon Last updated: Friday, 8 February 2013


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