Scenario 3: Multiple systems in a sysplex using different release levels

If your participating group is in a sysplex that runs multiple levels of z/OS, your configuration might look like the one in Figure 2. In that configuration, each system is running a different level of z/OS and, therefore, has different version file system data sets; SY1 has the version file system named OMVS.SYSR9A.ROOT.ZFS and SY2 has the version file system named OMVS.SYSR9.ROOT.ZFS. Figure 1 shows two BPXPRMxx parmlib members that define the file systems in this configuration. Figure 3 shows a single BPXPRMxx parmlib member that can be used to define this same configuration; it uses &SYSR1. as the symbolic name for the two version file system data sets.

Figure 1. BPXPRMxx setup for multiple systems sharing file systems and using different release levels

BPXPRMxx (for SY1)                                     BPXPRMxx (for SY2)

FILESYSTYPE                                            FILESYSTYPE
TYPE(ZFS)                                              TYPE(ZFS)
ENTRYPOINT(IOEFSCM)                                    ENTRYPOINT(IOEFSCM)      
ASNAME(ZFS)                                            ASNAME(ZFS)               

VERSION('REL9A')                                       VERSION('REL9')
SYSPLEX(YES)                                           SYSPLEX(YES)

ROOT                                                   ROOT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.SYSPLEX.ROOT')                        FILESYSTEM('OMVS.SYSPLEX.ROOT')
TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(READ)                                  TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(READ)


MOUNT                                                  MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..SYSTEM.ZFS')                FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..SYSTEM.ZFS')
TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE')        TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE') 
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME')                               MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME')

MOUNT                                                  MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.SYSR9A.ROOT.ZFS')                     FILESYSTEM('OMVS.SYSR9.ROOT.ZFS')
TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(READ)                                  TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(READ)
MOUNTPOINT('/$VERSION')                                MOUNTPOINT('/$VERSION')

MOUNT                                                  MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..DEV')                       FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..DEV')
TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE')        TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE') 
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME/dev')                            MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME/dev')

MOUNT                                                  MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..TMP')                       FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..TMP')
TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE')        TYPE(ZFS)  MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE')  
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME/tmp')                            MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME/tmp')
.
.
.

Figure 2. Sharing file systems between multiple systems using different release levels File systems are shared between multiple systems using different release levels.

File systems are shared between multiple systems using different release levels.

In this scenario, for example, if ls –l /bin/ is issued on SY1, the user expects to see the contents of /bin. However, because /bin is a symbolic link pointing to $VERSION/bin, the symbolic link must be resolved first. $VERSION resolves to /SYSR9A on SY1, which makes the path name /SYSR9A/bin. The contents of this directory will now be displayed. If ls –l /bin/ is issued on SY2, the contents of /SYSR9/bin will display.

From SY2 you can display information on SY1 by fully qualifying the directory.

Example: To view SY1's /bin directory:

ls –l /SY1/bin/

Figure 3. One BPXPRMxx parmlib member for multiple systems sharing file systems and using different release levels

One BPXPRMxx member to define file systems for the entire sysplex
using different releases

FILESYSTYPE
TYPE(ZFS)
ENTRYPOINT(IOEFSCM)
PARM(' ')

VERSION('&SYSR1.')
SYSPLEX(YES)

ROOT
FILESYSTEM ('OMVS.SYSPLEX.ROOT')
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(READ)
MOUNT FILESYSTEM('OMVS.USER.ZFS')
MOUNTPOINT('u') AUTOMOVE
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(READ)

MOUNTFILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..SYSTEM.ZFS')
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE') 
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME.')

MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSR1..ROOT.ZFS')
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(READ)
MOUNTPOINT('/$VERSION')

MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..DEV')
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE') 
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME./dev')

MOUNT
FILESYSTEM('OMVS.&SYSNAME..TMP')
TYPE(ZFS) MODE(RDWR) UNMOUNT PARM('NORWSHARE') 
MOUNTPOINT('/&SYSNAME./tmp')
.
.
.

In order to use one BPXPRMxx parmlib file system member, we have used another system symbolic like &SYSR1. This system symbolic is used in the VERSION parameter and also as a qualifier in the version file system data set name.