If you are migrating from an MVS/ESA SP Version 4 system, and you intend to use one or more policies or install more than eight systems in the sysplex, then you must reformat the sysplex couple data set using the OS/390® format utility.

Policy specifications cannot reside in the sysplex couple data set.

To specify the size requirements for your sysplex couple data set, both for your current needs and to provide for future growth, add up all the XCF groups that multisystem applications need, as well as all the XCF groups MVS components need. Then, to the total number of XCF groups, add a contingent number for future growth. The minimum number of groups that you can specify is 10, the maximum is 2045.

Then, determine which group has the largest number of members and specify this number. This maximum number includes all of the group's members that can exist on all systems in the sysplex. The minimum number of members that you can specify is 8, the maximum is 2047. Group Names and members for MVS components and subsystems includes a list of MVS components, their sysplex group names, and how to determine the number of members in each group.

Message IXC700E alerts you when the sysplex couple data set is filling up.