When you order an IBM® product that packages priced optional features with the base product, IBM supplies a tailored IFAPRD00 parmlib member that enables the product and any optional features ordered with the product. Thus, any feature ordered with the product is enabled during installation when the customer copies the contents of the tailored IFAPRD00 member to an active IFAPRDxx member. If you do not order a feature, it is shipped disabled, but you can enable it at a later time.

For more information about enabling and disabling z/OS® features, see z/OS DFSMS Using Data Sets..

The following general steps provide an overview of how to enable optional features of any IBM product that supports product enablement.

1. Make sure that your asset manager has contacted your IBM representative to alert IBM that you are starting to use the feature on a specific processor.
2. Update IFAPRDxx, the parmlib member that defines the product enablement policy for a system, to include a PRODUCT statement for the feature. For more information, see the description of IFAPRDxx in z/OS MVS Initialization and Tuning Guide.
3. To update the enablement policy dynamically without an IPL, issue the SET PROD operator command to specify the IFAPRDxx member(s) that define the policy. See z/OS MVS System Commands for more information.

   The enablement policy change takes place immediately but does not affect any instances of features that are already executing. Also, activating a new enablement policy does not start any of the enabled features. Those features will only run when explicitly started by some other action, such as a START command.

   Be sure to change the PROD system parameter in IEASYSxx to point to the appropriate IFAPRDxx member(s); the IFAPRD00 member is not activated by default. This change ensures that the next IPL activates the correct policy.

If, after you use the feature, you want to discontinue its use, you must disable the feature — again using the IFAPRDxx member to define the policy change and the SET PROD command to activate the changed policy.

Or, you might decide that the least disruptive way to stop a long-running feature is to IPL the system without the feature.

After you disable a feature, ask your asset manager to contact your IBM representative to alert IBM that you are discontinuing its use on a specific processor.