Data set separation allows you to designate groups of data sets in which all SMS-managed data sets within a group are kept separate, on the physical control unit (PCU) or volume level, from all the other data sets in the same group. This reduces the effects of single points of failure. Using the volume level reduces I/O contention.

To use data set separation, you create a data set separation profile and specify the data set name of the profile in the base configuration. DS separation profile is an optional field that provides SMS with the data set name of the provided data set separation profile. Before you can specify this data set name, you must have created a data set separation profile. See Using data set separation to learn how to create a data set separation profile.

You can specify any valid sequential or partitioned member data set name, with a maximum length of 56 characters, with or without quotation marks. For data set names without quotation marks, ISMF will add the TSO user ID prefix of the person who is defining or updating the base configuration.

The default value is blank, which indicates that a data set separation is not requested for the SMS complex.