There are two types of system messages issued during a console session:

Solicited message

Any message issued in response to an MVS™ system or subsystem command

Unsolicited message

Any message that is not a direct response to an MVS system or subsystem command (for example, a message sent from another user)

If the user of the CONSOLE command has specified that messages (solicited and/or unsolicited) are not to be displayed, you can use GETMSG to retrieve messages that have been routed to the user's console. You can request to retrieve:

• A specific solicited message (response to a specific command)
• The oldest solicited message
• The oldest unsolicited message
• The oldest message (regardless of whether it is solicited or unsolicited)