Scenario QCF11: Converting an ICAT runtime environment to PARMGEN

If you have existing runtime environments (RTEs) that were configured using ICAT (the previous version of the configuration software) and you want to replicate the product set and RTE properties, you can convert the RTEs to PARMGEN. If you want to upgrade the products in an ICAT RTE to versions that do not support ICAT, you must convert the RTE to PARMGEN.

About this task

The PARMGEN configuration software uses the ICAT batch mode parameter file for an RTE to create the corresponding PARMGEN RTE. If you do not already have a current batch mode parameter file for the RTE you want convert, you must generate one. For instructions on generating a batch mode parameter file, see Extracting the Configuration Tool parameters.

You do not need to convert the ICAT RTE "in place". You can change the high-level qualifiers either in the ICAT batch parameter member or during when you set up the work environment for the converted RTE. Changing the high-level qualifiers leaves the ICAT environment available for staged upgrades. You can continue to maintain both RTEs, for example while you test the new PARMGEN RTE. However, you cannot upgrade the products in the ICAT RTE.

If you want to upgrade the products in the new PARMGEN RTE, or even add products that were not configured in the ICAT RTE, make sure that the RTE is pointed at the target libraries that have the upgraded SMP/E package installed.
Important: If you are converting and upgrading by pointing to new SMP/E target libraries, make sure that the installation package includes any non-upgraded versions already installed in the RTE that is being converted. If you clone your SMP/E environment (see scenario SMP/E installation scenario A in the upgrading topics), you do not have to install all the products. You can use CBPDO and include just the upgraded products.

After you convert an RTE to PARMGEN, you should use the PARMGEN-generated started tasks. Using the new started tasks is preferable in part because of changes (such as DD names) introduced by new versions of the products or framework. If you are using variables, you must use the PARMGEN-generated started tasks. However, if you are not using variables, and you want to continue using the ICAT started tasks, identify the new DD names brought in by new started task versions in the RTE WKANSAMU lbraries and copy those DD names into the existing ICAT started tasks.

Tip: You can find cross-references to the equivalent ICAT jobs in the JCL comments of the PARMGEN jobs. You can also find them listed in the online help for the jobs listed on the Submit Batch Jobs to Complete PARMGEN Setup panel.