As shown in Designing a ring complex, the design of the global resource serialization complex is a critical factor in the successful operation of the complex. However, the procedures you provide for the operators of the systems in the complex are also important.

Educate the operators and prepare operator procedures for operating the global resource serialization complex. These procedures, often called a run book or an operations workbook, describe how your operators build and operate the complex. When the sysplex matches the complex, there is little need for any operator action. When you are operating a mixed complex, however, you will need to provide explicit instructions tailored to your installation's needs.

Your operating environment determines how you plan for operation. If all of the systems in your global resource serialization complex belong to the same sysplex, see Operating a complex that matches a sysplex. If you are operating a mixed complex (at least one system in your global resource serialization complex is not a part of the sysplex), then you must make precise, detailed plans for operations — how your operators build the complex, keep an eye on its normal operation, and respond to the problems that automatic recovery does not handle. See Operating a mixed complex (complex does not match sysplex) for those considerations.