Using generic resources, VTAM® allows an application program to be known by a generic resource name. An application specifies its generic resource name on the GNAME operand of the NIB macroinstruction. The application establishes its association with the generic resource name on the SETLOGON OPTCD=GNAMEADD macroinstruction. VTAM uses RACF® class VTAMAPPL to validate the generic resource name.

For any particular generic resource name, an LU can initiate a session using the generic resource name or the application program network name of the generic resource member, as shown in the following sections. For more information about how VTAM establishes sessions using the generic resources function, see z/OS Communications Server: SNA Programming.