When a VTAM® node loses its link to an MNPS structure and no system failure management (SFM) policy is in effect, it initiates a structure rebuild to attempt to rebuild the MNPS structure on another coupling facility to which all VTAM nodes have access. If an SFM policy is in effect, VTAM will be directed by MVS™ to either disconnect or start a rebuild. If the rebuild was started by VTAM because no SFM policy was in effect, the rebuild can be stopped by a peer node that is either unable to connect to, or loses its connection to, the new version of the MNPS structure. A rebuild started by MVS because of SFM policy is never stopped by VTAM.

If the MNPS structure is rebuilt to a coupling facility that is not accessible by all nodes, any VTAM that has no connectivity to the current version of the MNPS structure disconnects from the structure. Other VTAMs will mark all applications owned by the disconnected VTAM as suspect. This indicates that the MNPS data is not up to date. When the failed link is repaired, the disconnected VTAM attempts to reconnect to the MNPS structure. If the connection is successful, the reconnecting VTAM will refresh all MNPS data for applications it owns from local data and reset the state to indicate the current persistent state of the application program as enabled or disabled.