Operating VTAM under TSO

A TSO operator is defined as any TSO user with the authority to use the CONSOLE command. MVS™ or subsystem operators running under TSO are treated as extended multiple consoles. Authorized users can establish a console session with MVS console services. After the session is active, users can enter MVS and subsystem commands and obtain solicited and unsolicited messages.

By representing all consoles and operators as a 4-byte console ID, multiple console support (MCS) can extend its current command and message services to TSO operators. This allows TSO operators to send VTAM® commands and receive VTAM messages.

To enable this function, you need to grant individual users CONSOLE command authority, so that they can use the MVS CONSOLE command. There are three ways that you can give CONSOLE authority to users:

Using RACF® facilities (RACF RDEFINE and RACF PERMIT commands)
Using the TSO logon preprompt exit routine
Using the TSO CONSOLE exit routine

For information about giving CONSOLE authority, the levels of authority, and the CONSOLE command, see z/OS TSO/E Customization.

A TSO operator can use the MVS Message Service (MMS) to retrieve translated messages, including VTAM, logon manager, and TSO/VTAM messages for network operators. The TSO operator can select a language using the PROFILE command with the PLANG operand. For information about how MMS translates messages, see Message translation using the MVS Message Service. For details on defining translated network operator messages, see the z/OS Communications Server: SNA Resource Definition Reference.