Last Updated: 28 October 2024
z/VM How to videos
The z/VM How to video series takes you through various z/VM tasks in an easy-to-follow video format narrated by members of the z/VM Development team. If you are following along on your own z/VM system, remember to pause the video to allow for time to enter the commands and study the output.
October 25, 2024 - z/VM: How to Use VMARC
This video explains how to use the z/VM VMARC utility. VMARC is a separate downloadable z/VM module that allows you to compress and group a series of z/VM files. The feature is similar to a Windows ZIP file or a Linux TARball. The video demonstrates how to extract files from a VMARC file, and some common troubleshooting steps to fix a VMARC file that was transferred incorrectly.
Highlights:
Presentation:
0:00 - Introduction
1:40 - VMARC - Where to get it
2:38 - Troubleshooting
Demonstration:
5:25 - Listing the contents of a VMARC archive: VMARC LIST /
6:15 - Unpack single file from archive: VMARC UNPACK fna fta fma fnb ftb fmb
10:50 - Convert VMARC to proper FIXED format: PIPE < / | FBLOCK B0 | > fn ft fm F
11:53 - Conclusion
Materials referenced:
VMARC Help and Download
February 13, 2024 - z/VM: How to Process a CP DUMP Using DUMPLD2
This video will demonstrate how to process a z/VM CP Dump using DUMPLD2, and how to prepare it for transmission to IBM support. We will take you through a system failure, re-IPL, checking for the CP dump in spool, processing it using DUMPLD2, confirming the dumps integrity with VMDUMPTL, and properly compressing the dump in preparation for file transmission to IBM.
Highlights:
Commands used from OPERATOR:
0:50 - SYSTEM RESTART - This command, when issued first level is the equivalent of the HMC "PSW Restart" function. It will create a SVC002 Restart Dump of your 2nd level system.
1:18 - QUERY RDR ALL CLASS D - Show all Class D spool files on the system.
1:43 - QUERY CPLOAD - Display information about the current CP Nucleus, parm disk, and most recent IPL.
Commands used from OPERATNS:
2:13 - QUERY RDR - Show local (current userid) RDR files
2:20 - ATTACH 252 * - Attach 252 disk to self
2:21 - ACC 252 B - Access 252 disk as filemode B
2:30 - DUMPLD2 SPOOL OUTFILE RESTART TO B - Use DUMPLD2 to process the most recent dump in spool, and output it to THE B disk as RESTART MDMP0001
3:48 - VMLINK MAINT 193 - Link and access the MAINT 193 disk.
3:50 - VMDUMTPL RESTART MDMP0001 B - Open RESTART MDMP001 with VMDUMPTL
4:07 - DISCARD - to discard of unneeded dump files.
4:13 - COPY / = = = (PACK - this was shorthand in the filelist view for COPYFILE RESTART MDMP0001 B (PACK.
Materials referenced:
DumpLD2 Documentation
Instructions for transmitting data to IBM
Video: How to estimate & monitor z/VM Dump Space
July 3, 2023 - z/VM: How to Use GETSHOPZ
z/VM GETSHOPZ is a graphical user interface that allows you to easily download service shop IBM Shopz and upload to your z/VM system. The servlink files will be automatically detersed. If you don't use Shopz you can still take advantage of the transfer options provided by the GETSHOPZ tool.
Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction and Overview
0:56 - Shopz Direct-to-Host Service Transfer
1:46 - Configuring the GETSHOPZ Interface
3:03 - Starting and Using the GETSHOPZ Interface
5:25 - Servicelink Information
5:41 - Using the Workstation Upload Function
6:25 - Summary and Outro
Materials referenced:
z/VM GETSHOPZ Information (Chapter 16, section Changing the Name of the Target System)
Using the GETSHOPZ utility (z/VM Service Guide - Chapter 2)
November 4, 2022 - z/VM: How to Change Your System Name
A demonstration of how to change your non-SSI z/VM system's name. This process does NOT apply to a z/VM system that is a member of an SSI.
Highlights and commands:
0:00 - Introduction
1:31 - Edit the VM SYSPINV file
3:05 - Edit the SRVPROD files
4:45 - Edit the VM SYSSUF file
5:28 - Edit the SYSTEM CONFIG file
6:25 - Edit VMSERVR's DMSPARMS file
STOP
FILESERV CRRLOG 306 307
7:44 - Update ownership of page and spool volumes
VMLINK PMAINT 551
CPFMTXA rdev volid OWNER NOSSI system_name
9:24 - REIPL system
Books referenced:
z/VM CP Planning and Administration (Chapter 16, section Changing the Name of the Target System)
September 21, 2022 - z/VM: How to Customize RACF
A demonstration of basic customization made to a z/VM RACF environment. The configuration shown in this video is for demonstration purposes only. Changes to your z/VM RACF environment should be based off the security policy for your company.
Highlights and commands:
0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - Edit the RPIDIRCT SYSUT1 file
8:11 - Create RACF localmods for passphrase usage
VMFSETUP SERVP2P RACF
*Copy ICHPWX11 TEXT to the 2C2 disk at filemode E*
VMFREPL ICHPWX11 ASSEMBLE SERVP2P RACF ( $SEL LOGMOD L0001 OUTM LOCALSAM
VMFREPL ICHPWX11 TEXT SERVP2P RACF ( $SEL LOGMOD L0002 OUTM LOCALSAM
LOCALMOD RACF RPIBLLPA EXEC
10:54 - Rebuild RACF
SERVICE RACF BUILD
PUT2PROD
11:09 - Work with IRRPHREX SAMPLE
13:02 - Configure the DIRMAINT-RACF connector
15:21 - REIPL with RACF-enabled CPLOAD MODULE
16:27 - Initialize the RACF database
ACC 29E D
ACC 305 C
ACC 192 B
CP TERM MORE 0 0
RPIBLDDS
SET PF12 RETRIEVE
RAC ALTUSER security_admin_userid SPECIAL
RAC ALTUSER DIRMAINT SPECIAL
RAC ALTUSER service_userid OPERATIONS
RAC ALTUSER BLDSEG OPERATIONS
RAC ALTUSER BLDRACF OPERATIONS
RAC ALTUSER BLDNUC OPERATIONS
RAC ALTUSER BLDCMS OPERATIONS
RAC ALTUSER MIGMAINT OPERATIONS
RAC SETROPTS CLASSACT(VMMDISK)
RAC SETROPTS CLASSACT(VMSEGMT)
RAC SETROPTS CLASSACT(SURROGAT)
20:48 - Logon to security admin userid
RAC ALTUSER IBMUSER REVOKE
RAC ALTUSER IBMUSER NOOPERATIONS NOSPECIAL
23:15 - Create HCPRWA localmod
25:42 - Bring up primary RACF server RACFVM
Books referenced:
z/VM: RACF Security Server Security Administrator's Guide (Chapter 1)
z/VM: RACF Security Server System Programmer's Guide (Chapter 6 section Modify Full-Part ASSEMBLE and TEXT files, Appendix D)
z/VM: Directory Maintenance Facility Tailoring and Administration Guide (Chapter 3 Step 5)
z/VM: RACF Security Server Macros and Interfaces (Section SYSSEC Macro)
September 19, 2022 - z/VM: How to Enable RACF
Before RACF can be used on z/VM it must be enabled and have it's databases prepared. This video demonstrates this process, which is documented in Program Directory for RACF Security Server for z/VM, Chapter 6: Installation Instructions. How to develop a z/VM RACF security policy.
Highlights and commands:
0:00 - Introduction
1:51 - Enable RACF to VMSES: SERVICE RACF ENABLE
2:25 - Backup non-RACF CPLOAD MODULE:
CPREL A
LINK MAINT CF1 CF1 MR
ACC CF1 Z
RENAME CPLOAD MODULE Z CPNORACF MODULE Z
REL Z(DET
CPACC MAINT CF1 A SR
3:00 - Build RACF: SERVICE RACF BUILD
3:12 - Place RACF into production: PUT2PROD
5:44 - Link to the two RACF databases and utilities disk:
LINK RACFVM 200 200 MR
LINK RACFVM 300 300 MR
VMLINK RACFVM 305
6:09 - RACDSF utility
6:42 - RACALLOC utility
7:07 - RACINITD utility
8:27 - Access disk housing RPIDIRCT: ACC 651 E
8:42 - Set screen clear time to one second: CP TERM MORE 1 0
8:49 - RPIDIRCT utility: RPIDIRCT fn_directory ft_directory fm_directory fm_out
Materials:
Book referenced - Program Directory for RACF - Chapter 6
Recommended reading - z/VM: RACF Security Server Security Administrator's Guide
June 6, 2022 - z/VM: How to Dynamically Add a Paging Volume
Paging space is needed for when real storage becomes over-committed. Underestimating your paging space can result in a system outage (PGT004 abend). If the CP QUERY ALLOC PAGE command shows your usage over 75% consider adding additional space.
Highlights and commands:
0:00 - Introduction
1:38 - Get current paging space and usage: CP Q ALLOC PAGE
1:48 - Get amount of real storage: CP Q STOR
2:20 - Link and access disk housing CPFMTXA utility: VMLINK PMAINT 551
2:32 - Attach a device to your virtual machine: CP ATT rdev *
5:12 - Get your SSI's name: (mentioned only) CP Q SSI
5:37 - Get available CP slots: PIPE CP Q CPOWNED | NOLOCATE /Reserved/ | CONS
6:18 - Add a volume to the CP-owned list: CP DEFINE CPOWNED SLOT slot# vol_label
6:41 - Detach a device from your virtual machine: CP DET rdev
6:46 - Attach a volume to SYSTEM: CP ATT rdev SYSTEM
7:06 - Link and access the disk the SYSTEM CONFIG resides on: LINK PMAINT CF0 CF0 MR #ACC CF0 fm
Setup:
Running a second level system or first level. The maint user has the following statement in the user directory
MDISK CF0 3390 000 END parmdiskname MR ALL ALL ALL
The system config has a USER_VOLUME_LIST statement for the parm disk so the disk is mounted at initialization.
Sample tools used:
The DRAWLOGO sample program is shipped with a file type of SAMPEXEC. The X$DRWL$X sample XEDIT macro has a file
type of SAMPXEDI. By default these files are loaded onto the CP samples disk, 2C2, owned by user MAINTvrm (where
vrm is the z/VMB. version, release, and modification level) if z/VM was loaded to minidisk. It is on
VMPSFS:MAINTvrm.CPDV.SAMPLE, if z/VM was loaded to filepool.
To use the DRAWLOGO utility, you must change its file type from SAMPEXEC to EXEC and change the file type of X$DRWL$X from SAMPXEDI to XEDIT.
Books referenced:
z/VM 7.2 CP Planning and Administration - Chapter 23 - Adding DASD Space to a Running System
March 31, 2022 - z/VM: How to Customize Your Logon Screen
This video describes how to update your z/VM logon screen. Learn how to add a custom logo, and how to edit the online messages and input area.
Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
0:20 - Setup
2:28 - Edit the status message area
4:23 - Editing the online message
8:17 - Editing the input area
16:11 - Editing the logo area
20:39 - Outro
Setup:
Running a second level system or first level.
The maint user has the following statement in the user directory
MDISK CF0 3390 000 END parmdiskname MR ALL ALL ALL
The system config has a
USER_VOLUME_LIST statement for the parm disk so the disk is mounted at initialization.
Commands used:
To link/access your parm disk to write the logo changes. It's usually accessed as file mode R after this command - but use the file mode returned by this command for the remainder of the video. This allows the parm disk to be readable/writeable from CMS.
VMLINK MAINT CF0 ( WRITE
To release the file mode and detach the parmdisk link so you can make it accessible to CP
RELEASE R ( DETACH
Access the parm disk so it's available to CP
CPACCESS MAINT CF0 B
Refresh the logo config used by CP which resides on the CF0 parm disk
CP REFRESH LOGO LOGO CONFIG
Release the disk for CP access so you can make it accessible to CMS again
CPRELEASE B
Copy a file from my A disk to a VMLINK'd parm disk as filemode R
COPYFILE TARDIS LOGO A = = R
Sample tools used:
The DRAWLOGO sample program is shipped with a file type of SAMPEXEC. The X$DRWL$X sample XEDIT macro has a file type of SAMPXEDI. By default these files are loaded onto the CP samples disk, 2C2, owned by user MAINTvrm (where vrm is the z/VMB. version, release, and modification level) if z/VM was loaded to minidisk. It is on VMPSFS:MAINTvrm.CPDV.SAMPLE, if z/VM was loaded to filepool.
To use the DRAWLOGO utility, you must change its file type from SAMPEXEC to EXEC and change the file type of X$DRWL$X from SAMPXEDI to XEDIT.
Books referenced:
z/VM 7.2 CP Planning and Administration Guide - Chapter 6: The System Configuration File and Chapter 7: The Logo Configuration File
December 15, 2021 - z/VM: How to estimate and monitor dump space
Dump space is spool space allocated exclusively to store dumps, which are large data collections of your system at the time of encountering an irrecoverable problem. Dumps are crucial to IBM solving your problem, therefore ensuring your z/VM system has enough dump space at all times is of critical importance.
Introduction (0:00)
Query your system's real storage (3:53):
CP Q STOR
Check dump space in real time (4:19):
CP Q DUMP
Query system spool and dump volumes (4:38):
CP Q ALLOC SPOOL
Query available CP slots (5:21):
PIPE CP Q CPOWNED | NOLOCATE /Reserved/ | CONS
Add a dump volume to the CP-owned list (7:03):
CP DEFINE CPOWNED SLOT slot# vol_label DUMP
Attach a volume to SYSTEM (7:45):
CP ATT rdev SYSTEM
Query for existing dumps (9:19):
Q RDR CL D ALL SHORTD
Set default dump parameters (9:55):
CP SET DUMP DASD FRMTBL DEFAULT PGMBKS DEFAULT
Books referenced:
z/VM 7.2 CP Planning and Administration - Chapter 23
September 3, 2021 - z/VM: How to use the basics of Centralized Service Management (CSM)
An introduction and demonstration of z/VM Centralized Service Management, a new functionality introduced with z/VM 7.2. Setup steps needed for z/VM CSM are not shown in this video. See the Part 2 of the z/VM Service Guide for more details.
What is z/VM CSM?
With z/VM CSM, you can manage distinct levels of service for a specific group of traditional z/VM systems, locally or remotely, from one central system.
Introduction (0:00)
Initialize z/VM CSM, creating the principal system (2:31):
SERVMGR INIT release_level
Create a z/VM CSM service level (4:30):
SERVMGR SRV ADD release_level name BASEDON basedon_service_level ESM/NONESM DESC description
Add service to a z/VM CSM service level (6:20):
SERVMGR SRV SERVICE release_level service_level components servlink_fn
Review z/VM CSM command output (7:21):
VMFVIEW CSM
Access disks of a z/VM CSM service level (8:24):
SERVMGR SRV VMFSETUP release_level service_level component
Prepare a z/VM CSM service level to be sent (9:20):
SERVMGR SRV PACKAGE release_level service_level
Add another eligible z/VM system as a z/VM CSM managed system (9:48):
SERVMGR SYS ADD release_level sys_name service_level ESM/NONESM HOSTNAME ip_address
Lock a z/VM CSM service level (12:40):
SERVMGR SRV SETLOCK release_level service_level ON/OFF
Send a z/VM CSM service level to a managed system (12:50):
SERVMGR SRV SEND release_level service_level sys_name
To place service into production on a managed system (13:39):
SERVMGR SYS PUT2PROD release_level sys_name
Books referenced:
z/VM Service Guide - Part 2
June 11, 2021 - z/VM: How to add SFS space
The procedure for adding space to a CMS file pool on a z/VM 7.2 system as documented in chapter 9 of CMS File Pool Planning, Administration, and Operation.
Introduction (0:00)
Set your current file pool (0:52):
SET FILEPOOL filepool_name
View your current file pool (1:02):
Q FILEPOOL CURRENT
View general information about your file pool (1:37):
Q FILEPOOL OVERVIEW
View disk capacity by storage group for your file pool (2:33):
Q FILEPOOL STORGRP
To backup the file pool's control data (3:35):
FILEPOOL CONTROL BACKUP DISK fn ft fm
To get userid of file pool server (4:35):
Q RESOURCE filepool_ID
View individual server minidisk information (7:55):
Q FILEPOOL MINIDISK
Add space to file pool (9:50):
FILEPOOL MINIDISK filepool_ID fn ft fm ( FORMAT
-fn ft fm is that of the minidisk definition control statement file
Books referenced: z/VM 7.2 CMS File Pool Planning, Administration, and Operation - Chapter 9
May 27, 2021 - z/VM: How to remove service
The procedure for removing a PTF (program temporary fix) on z/VM 7.2 as documented in chapter 5 of the z/VM Service Guide.
Introduction (0:00)
Access VMSES disks for wanted component (1:06):
VMFSETUP SERVP2P component
Remove the PTF (2:20):
VMFREM PPF SERVP2P component PTF pdf# ( UNREC
Build changes that have been applied but not yet built (3:24):
SERVICE component BUILD
Put changes into production (4:06):
PUT2PROD
Books referenced: z/VM 7.2 Service Guide - Chapter 5
May 6, 2021 - z/VM: How to rebuild segments
Saved Segments is a concept in z/VM where an image of memory containing data or code can be saved. A Saved Segment can be shared across a number of virtual machines as a single copy. In z/VM, the two main types of Saved Segments are NSS (Named Saved System) and DCSS (Discontiguous Saved Segment). Saved Segments live in the spool system of z/VM and are used by CMS and other components or projects. If lost for some reason, they will need to be rebuilt.
Check connection with service file pool (1:30):
Q FILEPOOL CONNECT FOR userid VMPSFS:
Rebuild the CMS and z/CMS segments (2:15):
PUT2PROD SAVECMS
See all current segments (2:41):
CP Q NSS
Rebuild all segments (3:28):
PUT2PROD SEGMENTS ALL
See all virtual machines using a segment (4:12):
CP Q NSS USERS segment_name
Rebuild specific segment (4:49):
PUT2PROD SEGMENTS segment_name
Books referenced: z/VM 7.2 Saved Segments Planning and Administration - Chapter 3