The RACF® database contains records whose format is controlled by a set of database templates. The templates map out how profiles are written on the RACF database. RACF ships the templates in a CSECT named IRRTEMP2. The format of the database templates is documented in z/OS Security Server RACF Macros and Interfaces and z/OS Security Server RACROUTE Macro Reference.

IBM® makes changes to the templates to add new segments to the RACF database, or to add new fields to existing segments. The templates include level information that allows RACF to compare two sets of templates and determine which has the later set of definitions. The level information consists of a 7–character FMID or APAR level, an 8–digit release level, and an 8–digit APAR level. Each new RACF release increments the release level, and each APAR that ships templates increases the APAR level. RACF initialization and the IRRMIN00 utility use this level information to determine the relationship between the different copies of the templates on the system.