A communication management configuration (CMC) simplifies network management. One VTAM® in the network acts as the CMC host and owns all resources except applications, which are predominately owned by other hosts called data hosts. With this configuration the entire network can be controlled by a network operator at the CMC.

A CMC configuration can also be used to enhance routing. The CMC handles session establishment and termination. The data hosts then spend more time doing application processing and less time doing session establishment and routing.