A storage class definition contains both descriptive and access-related information. To identify and refer to storage classes, you assign each one a unique name that contains from one to eight alphanumeric characters. Each storage class definition maintains an owner ID that identifies the storage administrator who originally created or last modified the storage class. Also, each storage class contains an optional 120 character description field for describing its contents.

Perform the following steps to define storage class attributes.

1. Select option 5, Storage Class, from the ISMF Primary Option Menu for storage administrators. This displays the Storage Class Application Selection panel.

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2. Supply values on the Storage Class Application Selection panel:

   CDS Name

   This is the name of an SCDS. ISMF primes the CDS Name field with the last used SCDS name. The default is 'active'. This represents the currently active configuration. You cannot define storage classes for the active configuration.

   Storage Class Name

   This is the name of the storage class. ISMF primes the Storage Class Name field with the name last used within ISMF.

   Option

   Select option 3, Define. This displays the Storage Class Define panel.

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3. Supply values on the Storage Class Define panel.
   The SCDS Name and Storage Class Name fields are output fields that contain the SCDS and storage class names you specified in the Storage Class Application Selection panel.

   Description

   Is an optional 120–character description of the storage class.

   For more information on the storage class attributes, see:

   • Defining performance objectives
   • Defining availability
   • Defining accessibility
   • Defining the guaranteed space attribute
   • Defining guaranteed synchronous write
   • Defining use of the coupling facility for VSAM record-level sharing
   • Defining when to disconnect the sphere

You can leave the Storage Class Define panel at any time without saving the storage class by issuing the CANCEL command.

The following sections describe the storage class attributes you can define.