Inactive backup data sets

In general, when a system joins a sysplex RACF® becomes active only when all data sets in the primary database and their backups are successfully allocated and opened. However, there is one exception: if a backup data set is inactivated (by the RVARY command) before a system's attempt to join the sysplex, the system successfully joins as a member of the sysplex with RACF active. RACF marks the backup data set inactive and deallocated.

An RVARY with the LIST option shows information similar to the following for an inactive, deallocated backup data set called RACFDB.BACK1 and a successfully allocated and opened primary data set called RACFDB.PRIM1:

      IRRA011I (@) OUTPUT FROM RVARY:
ICH15013I RACF DATABASE STATUS:
ACTIVE   USE    NUMBER   VOLUME     DATASET
------   ---    ------   ------     -------
 YES     PRIM      1     D79PK4     RACFDB.PRIM1
 NO      BACK      1     *DEALLOC   RACFDB.BACK1

After the system joins the sysplex, a subsequent RVARY to activate RACFDB.BACK1 causes RACF to allocate and open RACFDB.BACK1 on all systems in the sysplex.