gtpd2m09 | Data Communications Services Reference |
Automated operations in TPF perform or assist in the execution of a large
subset of tasks that operators traditionally perform. These tasks
include monitoring and responding to messages as well as issuing
commands.
Automated operations yield such benefits as:
- Increasing system availability. There is a reduction in
the number of avoidable outages, and there is a reduction in the recovery and
restart times from any outages. This leads to greater system
availability.
- Centralizing operations at one system. One system can be
set up as a focal point to monitor other system activity at other
sites.
- Removing constraints for system growth. The complexity
of operating various systems is reduced. Automation and standardization
help alleviate these constraints.
- Increasing reliability. There are more uniform responses
to error situations.
Automated operations relieve the operator of many mundane day-to-day
tasks. TPF system can be automated in various ways, through its console
interface.
The TPF system's implementation of automated operations allows for the
filtering, suppression, and reformatting of select system messages.
These select system messages can then be passed to an outboard automation
platform where command processors and/or command lists can interpret the
message and determine the appropriate command response based upon the message
received.
Operators can respond faster to situations, while being able to focus on
the real problems without having to worry about extraneous information, or
having to issue trivial commands. In effect, the operator can now
become a specialist in a streamlined data processing environment.
Additional operator benefits include:
- Simplifying operator tasks
- Increasing operator productivity
- Improving message traffic, and
- Decreasing human error.
Message filtering allows you to suppress trivial or informational messages
so that the operator only sees messages that require operator intervention and
action.
Messages may be reformatted for:
- Easier reading
- Easier interpretation
- Greater identification about where the messages are coming from, and
- Routing of the messages to the appropriate terminal.
You should read this section to become familiar with the following terms
and concepts.
- Term/Concept
- Definition
- automated operation
- In a generic sense, an automated operation is a computer program designed
to assist a computer operator in the management of daily tasks.
Automated operations help in the human interaction with any event coming from
any system or network component.
- automation procedure
- A sequence of commands that can be a command list or a command processor
written in a high-level language such as REXX.
- command list
- This is a sequential list of commands and control statements designed to
perform a specific function. When the name assigned to this list is
invoked as a command, the commands in the list are executed.
- command processor
- This is a high-level language program that is written to run under
NetView. The function of this program is to perform an operation
specified by a command (similar to a command list), but with much higher speed
and flexibility.
- external automation
- When the target system is down, external automation is used to allow
another computer system to perform an initial program load (IPL) and restart
the target system. The TPF system is the target system being
controlled.
- focal point system
- The controlling system where Target System Control Facility (TSCF)
(5688-139) runs. (TSCF is described on page "Target System Control Facility (TSCF)".) The focal point system is an MVS system that
includes the NetView program. Contrast with target
system.
- internal automation
- A situation where automation consists of programs inside the target
system. Internal automation is only valid if the target system is
functioning. When the target system is down, internal automation is
also down.
- non-steady state
- The point in time when the operating system is being restarted when normal
communications facilities are not available (only primitive console operations
are available). For the TPF system, this is from IPL until the system
reaches NORM or computer room agent set (CRAS) state.
- SNA character string
- The System Network Architecture (SNA) character string (SCS) is a data
stream used by logical unit (LU) type 1 sessions. This data stream
consists of EBCDIC control characters optionally mixed with end user
data.
- steady state
- Normal system operations, along with full communication facilities
running. This is when message volumes may require a high-performance
communications link to the focal point.
- target system
- This is the computer system being monitored and controlled. In our
scheme of things, the target system is the TPF system.
- Terminal Access Facility
- The Terminal Access Facility (TAF) is an option of NetView that allows a
NetView operator to emulate a CICS, TSO/E, or IMS SNA LU type 1 or type 2
terminal.