In the not so far past, I spent a lot of my time working with and configuring z/OS or MVS mainframes. Over time, I managed to collect a serious collection of useful MVS-commands. Most of these commands can just be found in the forests of IBM documentation but the keyword in my previous sentence is “useful”. I found it, even as a person who was working for years in z/OS environments always difficult to get the right command for a certain action. The lack of examples and over-theoretical explanations made it, at least for me, not very accessible.
Part 1: MVS commands
Most commands under here can be executed from a console, either a real console or via the HMC. On z/OS, the commands can be executed from the SDSF command line. To execute the commands on a normal console, there is not need to enter the first slash. When executing from SDSF, we need to tell that we want to execute an MVS-command and need to enter the preceding /. In SDSF, you can recall your last used commands by just typing a /.
JES2-commands
JES is the Job Entry Subsystem which is responsible for scheduling, executing and output-related taks regarding jobs on the machine. These commands are mainly job and initiator related.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /$d a | Display all active jobs (started tasks, batch jobs and TSO-users) |
| /$dj(jobname) | Display information about jobs with a certain name |
| /$cj(jobid) | Cancel a job with a specific jobid |
| /$aj(jobid) | Activate a job with a specific jobid that was put on hold (TYPRUN=HOLD in the jobcard) |
| /$pi | Drain (=stop when free) all initiators |
| /$pi [x] | Drain (=stop when free) one specific initiator x |
| /$pi [x-y] | Drain (=stop when free) a range of initiators, from x to y |
| /$si | Start all initiators |
| /$si [x] | Start one specific initator x |
| /$si [x-y] | Start a range of initiators, from x to y |
| /$di | Display the status of all initiators |
| /$di [x] | Display the status of one initiator x |
| /$di [x-y] | Display the status of a range of initiators, from x to y |
| /$da,t | Display the active (TSO) users |
| /$da,x | Show the active tasks |
| /$d spl,all | Show the status of the spool (volumes and percent utilization) |
| /$o jobq,*,all,cancel,a>(days) | Remove entries from the spool that are older than days |
| /$pJES2 | Stop JES2 |
| /$pJES2,abend | Force stop JES2 |
Job and STC related commands
These commands are used to take basic actions on jobs and started tasks. A lot of these commands can be done directly from JES2.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /d r,l | Show open messages on the console (if they scrolled away) |
| /d r,r | Show open requests. These are waiting for a reply with XX, |
| /d j,(jobname) | Get more information about a certain job or started taks |
| /p <stc> | Purge an address space |
| /s <stc> | Start address space (from the proclib) |
| /f <stc>,<option> | Modify address space with a certain option (depends on the address space) |
| /d grs,res=(*,'(dataset)') | Check which job is using a certain dataset. For example when the you get a dataset in use message |
Console control
The following commands are mainly used to control the behavior of a console. Most of them are not relevant when entering MVS-commands via SDSF but are to be used with a real or emulated console (not via HMC).
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /vary cn(*),activate | Activate the console |
| /v xxx,console | Activate a console on a certain device (xxx=address) |
| /d c | Show defined consoles |
| /k s | Show console settings (for example enable roll DEL=RD) |
| /k a,none | Delete the out of line messages (if this fails try /k e,d first) |
| /k a,11,4 | Enable display area (a fixed and scrolling part) 11=bottom part, 4=top part |
| /k e | Clear the console (top part) |
| /k e,d | Clear console display area (bottom part) |
| /k d,f | Continue scrolling in the display area (bottom part) |
System-related
These commands are system related, they give or set information regarding general system configuration or information regarding IPL and authorized datasets.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /d iplinfo | Show the last IPL time, IODF and IEASYS information |
| /d u,iplvol | Show the volume used for IPL |
| /d m | Show machine CPU-information, machine serial and MIFID |
| /d prod,registered | Show the version of z/OS components |
| /d parmlib | Show which parmlib was used during IPL |
| /set prog=00 | Refresh APF using sys1.parmlib(prog00) |
| /d prog,apf | Show the APF-authorized datasets |
| /d prog,exit | Show installed exits |
| /d prog,lnklst | Show the datasets in the linklist |
| /d sms | Show the location of the SCDS and ACDS |
| /f lla,refresh | Refresh LLA |
| /d asm[,all] | Show the status of (all) page-datasets |
| /pa page=xx.yy.zz | Add page dataset with name xx.yy.zz |
| /z eod | End of Day |
| /T CLOCK=15.25.00 | Dynamically change the clock |
Slip traps, logging, dumps and tracing
The next set of commands is related to tracing and troubleshooting with Serviceability Level Indication Processing or SMF.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /d slip[=slip id] | Show more details about a specific slip trap |
| /d slip | Show or list all slip traps |
| /slip mod,enable,id=(slip id) | (Re-)activate a specific slip trap |
| /slip mod,disable,id=(slip id) | Disable a slip trap |
| /slip set | Add a slip trap. For example: slip set,ID=TWSS,ENABLE,msgid=EQQE024I,ACTION=SVCD,JOBNAME=TWSS,SDATA=(ALLPSA,PSA,SQA,LSQA,RGN,LPA,TRT,SWA,SUMDUMP,ALLNUC,GRSQ),end |
| /d trace | Status of the System Trace Table |
| /trace st,xxxK | Enlarge and enable the System Trace Table (default: 256K) |
| /trace st,off | Disable System Trace |
| /d smf | Show the status of the SMF dump datasets |
| /s smfdump,da=xx.yy.zz | Start an SMF-dump for a certain dataset xx.yy.zz |
| /i smf | Swith the active SMF dataset |
VTAM
VTAM is the (legacy) networking system that was providing SNA. Today it is still an important part in the communication between multiple LPAR’s or machines. For example to access applications running on another node you will need to dive into the VTAM configuration.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /d net,vtamopts | Show the options used to start VTAM (for example CONFIG=?? & LIST=??) |
| /d net,majnodes | Show the active VTAM major nodes |
| /d net,id=<majnode>,e | Show the minor nodes and their status in the major node |
| /d net,ee | Show an overview of the Enterprise Extender related settings |
| /d net,aping,id=?? | Do a VTAM-ping to a certain ID |
| /d net,route,destsub=?? | Show the route used to contact a certain subarea |
| /V net,act,id=?? | Activate a VTAM resource (defined in a member in VTAMLST) |
| /v net,act,id=<xca min>,logon=<appl> | Change the logon application for a certain minor node |
| /v net,act,id=<xca mjn>,update=all | Dynamical update of an active XCA major node (z/OS>1.8) |
| /v net,inact,id=?? | Desactivate a VTAM resource |
| /v net,dial,id=<switched majnode> | Activate a switched major node |
| /v net,hangup,id=<switched majnode> | Desactivate a switched major node |
| /s vtam,,,(list=xx) | Start VTAM with another ATCSTRxx member |
TCP/IP
Next to VTAM, TCP/IP is the most important component responsible for communication on z/OS. Most of these commands are related to IP-addresses and OSA devices.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /d tcpip,tcpip,netstat,home | Show the IP configuration (IP addresses and links) |
| /d tcpip,,n,dev | Show the status of the network devices (OSA) |
| /d tcpip,,n,route | Show the routing table |
| /d tcpip,,n,stats | Show TCP/IP statistics (counters, error-rate,…) |
| /d tcpip,,n,stats,protocol=UDP | Show UDP statistics |
| /v tcpip,tcpip,obeyfile,dsn=<DSN> | Dynamically activate an extra TCP/IP configuration |
| /V tcpip,tcpip,stop,<devicename> | Stop an OSA-device (use the name listed with netstat,dev) |
| /V tcpip,tcpip,start,<devicename> | Start an OSA-device (use the name listed with netstat,dev) |
| /q osa active/all | Show the status of all OSA cards |
| /f resolver,refresh | Reload the DNS configuration |
Hardware
The commands under here provide information that is hardware related or can be used to activate and deactivate hardware-related objects like devices, CHPID’s or control units.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /ds qd,vol=<volser> | Find out the device address of a volser (volume name) |
| /d u,vol=<volser> | Find out the device address of a volser (volume name) |
| /d u,,,<address>,<num> | Show basic information for a <num> of devices starting with address <address> |
| /d u,,alloc,<address>,<num> | List what is allocated on a range of DASD |
| /f catalog,restart | Restart the catalog (requires a reply which causes problems in SFSF) |
| /d u,dasd,online | List the DASD devices that are online |
| /d m=dev(<address>) | Show information about a device with address <address> |
| /d m=chp(<chpid>) | Show information about a CHPID <chpid> |
| /d m=cu(<control unit>) | Show information about a Control Unit <control unit> |
| /d m=cpu | Show CPU-related information |
| /cf chp(xx),offline(,force) | Put a CHPID xx offline (optionally force it offline) |
| /cf chp(xx),online(,force) | Put a CHPID xx online (optionally force it online) |
| /v <address>,online(,force) | Put a device with address <address> online (optionally force it online) |
| /v <address>,offline | Put a device with address <address> offline |
| /v <address>,online,uncond | Put a boxed device online with address <address> |
| /v path(devzz,chpxx),offline | Put a path to device devzz from CHPID chpxx offline |
| /v path(devzz,chpxx),online | Put a path to device devzz from CHPID chpxx online |
| /v path((devzz-devyy),chpxx),online | Put a path of a range of devices online |
| /v path((devzz-devyy),chpxx),offline | Put a path of a range of devices offline |
| /d xcf,pi | Show XCF/sysplex path-in-addresses |
| /d xcf,po | Show XCF/sysplex path-out-addresses |
TSO
These commands are related to controlling the TSO address space or TSO-users.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /c u=<userid> | Cancel a user that is logged on |
| /d ts | Show the max number of users (usermax), number of inits and the current number of users logged on |
| /f tso,usermax=1 | Change the max number of users allowed in TSO |
| /se '<message>',user=<tso-user> | Send a message to a specific TSO-user |
| /se '<message>',logon | Broadcast a message to all TSO users that are logged on |
Various
Various commands that don’t really fit in one of the above categories, mainly related to controlling other subsystems.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| /#stop | Stop RACF (# depends on the RACF prefix, default prefix=#, can be checked in parmlib-member IEFSSNxx) |
| /stop acf2" | Stop ACF2 |
| /+dis utility(*) | Display open utils in DB2 (+ depends on the DB2 prefix, can be checked in parmlib-member IEFSSNxx: INITPARM('DSN3EPX,+,S')) |
| /f db2x,thpl kill id=(sessionid) | Kill a DB2 thread |
| /+stop db2 mode(force) | Force stop DB2 (+ depends on the DB2 prefix, can be checked in parmlib-member IEFSSNxx: INITPARM('DSN3EPX,+,S')) |
| /f tsa,INGLIST */APL/*,COMPOUND=^SATISFACTORY | Show all TSA controlled subsystems that aren't having the correct status |
| /F cics1,CEMT P SHUT | Stop CICS address space |
| /f twsc,rfrdest | Refresh TWS destinations (ROUTOPTS). TWSC=TWS controller address space |
| /f twsc,dspdest | Show TWS destinations (ROUTOPTS). TWSC=TWS controller address space |
| /f twsc,rfruser | Refresh TWS users |
Part 2: TSO commands
The commands under here can be used from within TSO. Most of them can be entered directly on the TSO command line by using the prefix tso. Otherwise, they can be entered via the command option (by default option 6 on the Primary Options Panel).
USS
Unix System Services or OMVS-related commands
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| MOUNT FILESYSTEM('/tmp') TYPE(TFS) MOUNTPOINT('/SYSTEM/tmp') PARM('-s 4000') | Mount an in-memory filesystem of 4GB to mountpoint /mnt |
RACF
RACF is the standard security component on z/OS
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| RDEFINE TSOPROC PROCNAME UACC(READ) | Define a new TSO procedure |
| SETROPTS RACLIST(TSOPROC) REFRESH | Refresh the TSOPROC class |
| ADDUSER <username> DFLTGRP(SYS1) OWNER(SYS1) PASSWORD(<password>) NAME('002') AUTHORITY(USE) UACC(READ) TSO(ACCTNUM(ACCT#) PROC(TSOUSR) SIZE(2500) MAXSIZE(15000)) OPERATIONS | Example to add a RACF user and allow the user to login to the system |
ISPF
ISPF-related commands
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| panelid | Show panel names |
| sarea | Show more information about the system |
| hlist dsn(/) mcds ter | Use as a line command to get to know the size of a migrated dataset without recalling it |
| delete X all | Edit/view command to delete all excluded lines |
| tso isrddn | Show datasets allocated to ISPF |
| tso isrfind | Search for members in the ISPF-allocation |
Hopefully, the above list can help some people in order to solve their daily struggles. I do realize that the list is far from complete and would, in a lot of cases, need some more explanation to clearly show what it’s doing. Nevertheless, this list really helped me out in a lot of difficult situations.
It is a very good collection of “useful” z/OS commands. Thanks! I appreciate your time and efforts put in to prepare this list.
Thanks, very useful but the route commands are missing.
Zeer nuttig.
Zelfs nu je niet meer voor …. werkt heb je me kunnen helpen.
Bedankt.
Very nice, I hope you can show related commands to MQ ( to show queues, etc)
Regards
Is there any command to check who is using a particular device in Mainframe?
Ex: If X is using device E00.
How to check, who is X?
really appriciatable.. thanks your wothfuul information.
nice list, thanks :)
D U,,ALLOC,0E00,1