Defining systems and files

Before requesting CICS PA reports, you must first define the systems that you wish to report against.

The System Definitions facility allows you to define CICS® APPLIDs, DB2® subsystems, and other system types (z/OS® MVS™ Image, WebSphere® MQ, MVS System Logger), group them for reporting purposes, and specify their associated SMF files.

In this tutorial, use option 1 Personal System Definitions to maintain system definitions for your own use. Alternatively, to maintain a central repository of system definitions that can be accessed by others, use option 6 Shared System Definitions.

To define systems and files for reporting, the steps are:
  1. The first time that you select option 1 (Personal System Definitions), you are presented with a menu. You can choose to bypass this in the future.
      File  Confirm  Options  Help
    ---------------------------------------------------------
                  Personal System Definitions Menu
    Command ===> ___________________________________________
     
    Select an option then press Enter.
    1  1. Define Systems, SMF Files and Groups
       2. Maintain SMF Files
       3. Maintain Group definitions
       4. Take-up from SMF File
     
    Enter "/" to select option
    _  Always go directly to Systems View
     

    You can use Take-Up to automatically populate your system and file definitions with details extracted from specified SMF files.

    However, we will select option 1 to enter the details manually.

  2. The initial System Definitions list is empty. Enter the NEW command to add a new system definition.
       File  Edit  Filter  View  Options  Help
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Personal System Definitions
     Command ===> NEW_____________________________________________ Scroll ===> ____
     
     Select a System to edit its definition, SMF Files and Groups.
                                                                         SMF Files
     /   System   Type    Image                 Description              System
     ********************************* End of list *********************************
     
     
     System list is empty. Enter the NEW command to add a new System definition.
  3. Specify the name and type of system. System names can be a masked pattern, for example, CICSP*. Then all CICS systems with names that match the pattern will share the system definition, SMF files, and so on.
                     New System
     Command ===> _____________________________
     
     Select the name and type of system.
     
     System Name  . . *_______
     
     System Type  . . 1  1. CICS System
                         2. MVS Image
                         3. DB2 Subsystem
                         4. MQ Subsystem
                         5. System Logger
     

    You might have an SMF file to analyze but not know the name of the system. In this case, specify an asterisk (*) as the system name. Select type 1 to specify a CICS system and press Enter.

  4. Specify the CICS system details including a meaningful description.
  5. Then specify the data set name of an SMF file that belongs to this system. Enclose fully-qualified data set names in quotes.
      File  Edit  Dictionary  View  Options  Help
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CICS System               Row 1 of 1  More: >
    Command ===> ___________________________________________ Scroll ===> ____
     
    CICS System definition:
     APPLID . . . . . . . . *_______  MVS Image . . ________
     Description  . . . . . Generic APPLID for getting started___
     CICS Version (VRM) . . ___
     MCT Suffix . . . . . . __
     MCT Load Library . . . ______________________________________________
     SDFHLOAD Library . . . ______________________________________________
     Dictionary DSN . . . . ______________________________________________
     
    / Exc             SMF Data Set Name +                UNIT +  SEQ VOLSER +
    _     'CICSGSG.CMF.FILE1'__________________________ ________ ___ ______
    ********************************* End of list *****************************
     
     F1=Help        F3=Exit        F4=Prompt      F5=Rfind       F6=Resize
     F7=Backward    F8=Forward    F10=Actions    F11=Right      F12=Cancel
    There are a number of fields of possible importance on this panel, so we'll pause here to explain some points:
    • Context-sensitive help is available throughout the CICS PA dialog on every panel and every entry field. For example, position the cursor on the MCT Suffix field, and press Help (F1).
    • You must specify the MCT Suffix and MCT Load Library if you want to include User Fields and Application Naming in your reporting. Otherwise, CICS PA will use the system default MCT for the particular CICS version. This is sufficient for our purpose now.
    • Input fields with a + sign to the right signify that Prompt is available. Simply position the cursor on the input field and press Prompt (F4) to select from a list of allowable values. For example, prompt on SMF Data Set Name will display a list of SMF data set names that were previously defined.
    • You can specify as many files for a system as you want to include in your reporting. CICS PA will process them all. However, to exclude a file from reporting, use line action X.
    • Preferably specify the files in time sequence (earliest first) as CICS PA processes them in the order that they are specified. Line actions are available to help you do this: I (Insert), R (Repeat), C (Copy), M (Move), D (Delete).
    • When you become more familiar with the CICS PA dialog, you will probably want to define your systems to groups. Groups enable you to connect systems together for consolidated reporting. This is especially useful for MRO, APPC or other systems that share workloads. Scroll Right (F11) to specify the groups that this system belongs to. More: > is displayed in the top right corner to remind you.
  6. Exit to update the system and file definitions. The list of system definitions is displayed.
       File  Edit  Filter  View  Options  Help
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Personal System Definitions              Row 1 from 1
     Command ===> ________________________________________________ Scroll ===> ____
     
     Select a System to edit its definition, SMF Files and Groups.
                                                                         SMF Files
     /   System   Type    Image                 Description              System
     _   *        CICS             Generic APPLID for getting started___ *
     ********************************* End of list *********************************
     
  7. To save the updates, enter the SAVE command or exit to return to the menu.

The initial system definition is complete and you can now move on to requesting reports.