Changes for Version 4 Release 2

CICS® VR Version 4 Release 2 contains these changes.

Support for ABARS backups
ABARS backups are now included in the set of types supported by CICS VR automatic restore. ABARS notifies CICS VR of backups, then CICS VR adds the backups to the inventory. CICS VR provides ISPF panels to enable recovery for ABARS data sets.
Individual criteria can be specified for log streams
Using the CICS VR interface, you can set a retention period for MVS™ log streams and log of logs streams. The retention period for blocks value applies to all registered log streams. CICS VR allow you to specify individual retention criteria for log streams registered to CICS VR.
NOTIFY utility
CICS VR has a NOTIFY utility. This utility intended to be used for any backup of a VSAM sphere created by an IBM® or non-IBM product. When notified, CICS VR registers information about the backup in the CICS VR RCDS. Information about the backup is visible through the CICS VR panel interface.
Hardware backup support
Additional support for hardware backups has been provided. A new keyword to indicate the use of a hardware backup has been added to the RECOVER command.
Enhancement to DWWEFCBF program
The DWWEFCBF program enables program DWWXFCBF at exit XFCBFAIL with parameters optimized for the CICS TS version. No user configuration changes are required to enable this change.
Extended ESDS support
CICS VR supports Extended Addressability for ESDS, for CICS updates and for CICS VR Batch Logging. No user configuration changes are required to enable this change.
SMS tape data sets deregistration
CICS VR deregistration of SMS tape data sets now uncatalogs and deletes the data sets. No user configuration changes are required to enable this change.
New CICS VR journal print utility
There is sometimes a need to print the contents of MVS logs and to find information about records logged on them. CICS VR can print records logged by CICS VR or CICS on MVS logs.
Automatic and manual invocation of log of logs scan utility
CICS VR can run the log of logs scan automatically, at regularly scheduled times. CICS VR can also run the log of logs scan manually, at more convenient times.
Multiple undo logs support
The new CICS VR logger feature allows a user to have several undo logs on a system, and customize their usage by defining UserID, JobID and HLQ associations.