Automated resource management and MVS download
ITEM: RTA000096141
Q:
ABSTRACT: Automated resource management and MVS download
SEARCH ARG: mvs download resources
TOPIC THREAD: PRINT
PSF/AIX
..
The current implementation of MVS download does not include the transfer
of resources from MVS to AIX. This has been highlighed as a concern
by several of my customers that currently use or are considering the use
of MVS download. The main objection is that the implementation returns
resource version control to a manual process, and is contrary to one of
AFPs strengths of central resource control. In fact, customers have
commented that the MVS download implementation is equivalent to having
multiple XEROX printers with the resources needing to be loaded to each
device.
Questions:
1) If we are able to have PSF manage print resources in a TCP/IP
attached printer, why are we unable to manage print resources on
an AIX print server?
2) Is there a technical limitation that prohibits resource version
verification and resource transfer from occuring?
3) Are there future plans to enhance MVS download to provide resource
version control?
4) Would it be possible, thru a services contract, to provide automated
resource version control capability with MVS download?
One last thought: I realize that one solutin is to NFS mount the
resources however my experience has been that customers dislike this
alternative and 'prefer' manual resource control to NFS sharing.
Thanks.......rs
Q:
While waiting for Development to respond, let me add some comments:
1. PSF is able to manage print resources in a TCP/IP-attached
printer because it maintains a two-way IPDS dialog with the
printer. This dialog allows PSF to determine precisely which
resources the printer does and does not have, and respond
accordingly.
In the case of MVS Download, there is no IPDS printer, and no
IPDS dialog. Rather, an enhanced FTP is used to transfer the
data directly from spool to the AIX system. There is no
processing of data in this transfer, and no normal IPDS dialog
takes place that allows MVS Download to even know what resources
are specified with the data - or what resources might be
specified in AFP resources defined in JCL.
Hopefully, you can see this is a SIGNIFICANT difference. In the
case of both RPM V2 and PSF/2 DPF (both of which allow for
automagic resource staging), there is a two-way IPDS dialog
between the host PSF and the server spooler (which is acting as
the printer and receiving a device-specific IPDS datastream). It
is this very dialog that allows for the resource management.
2) I think I've answered what the technical challenge is in
performing resource version verification and resource transfer.
We simply don't have a vehicle today to perform this.
3) The concept of resource version control across platforms (hey -
wouldn't it be nice to automagically updates resources on an
AS/400 as well) is certainly desirable. But I can't speak to
confidential plans here. You really need to raise this via
official IBM channels as a REQUEST.
4) The idea of getting implementing resource version control via
a services contract is great¢ I personally think this is a big
(read expensive) effort - but it wouldn't hurt to ask. The
standard vehicle for this is our Professional Services group.
NFS mounting the host AFP resource libraries is a viable plan
provided the PSF/AIX servers aren't TOO remote, and there is
plenty of bandwidth available to transfer resources as needed.
If the distance is too great, you'll potentially have performance
degradations on the printers, as they spend time waiting for
resources to transfer from the host.
Q:
Q:
I've discussed this item with Development and they agree with my
comments. You can pursue the 'services contract' if you'd like, but I'll
temper things a bit by saying the cost and schedule for delivery may
well be too high and too long.
S e a r c h - k e y w o r d s:
CROSS
WWQA: ITEM: RTA000096141 ITEM: RTA000096141
Dated: 04/1996 Category: XPSF6000
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