Managing a VSE Console Under VM from a Remote Location

BY DAN ASKEW Managing a VSE Console Under VM From a Remote Location

hen working remotely, it is sometimes necessary to make changes to the system or talk an W operator through a problem. Using the techniques presented here, you can manage a VSE console under VM.

you ever tried to talk an operator through a VSEPROD. You can display the virtual machine name by HAVE problem from a remote site and thought to issuing the following commands. yourself, “If I could only see the console”? As this article will This command redisplays the last 20 lines from partition BG: examine, there are several ways you can do this if you are VSECMD VSEPROD RED 20L,BG running VSE under VM. The first method I will examine allows you to communicate with the VSE con- This command displays the last line from sole in a crude line mode. The other two the console: methods allow you to actually “steal” the VSECMD VSEPROD RED existing console away from the operator. Have you ever tried to This command displays the last 20 METHOD #1 talk an operator through occurrences of EOJ: VSECMD VSEPROD RED 20l,’EOJ’ The first method I tried used a problem from a remote IBM’s VMCF modules supplied by The syntax of these commands is VSE. ICCF Library 59 contains a site and thought to as follows: member named SKVMVSE. The yourself, “If I could only VSECMD (VSE machine name) comments at the beginning of the RED (number of lines (default is member provide you with the installa- see the console”? 1)), (redisplay command) tion instructions. You first remove the comments from this job stream and then This method can be used to not only issue edit the file supplying the correct data. This redisplay commands but also to issue any program requires that the VMCF be initialized dur- valid AR command. You could easily shut down an ing the IPL. By default, VSE, while running under VM, will entire system given enough patience and time. I even toyed automatically initialize the interface. The console message with the idea of writing a shut down EXEC in REXX to cycle “VMCF10I” indicates that VMCF was successfully initialized. the system from VM! I ran the job stream SKVMVSE and punched the output to This method is not without its problems, however. First, all my VM userid. During the receive of the member (to my VM messages are returned in reverse order; the newest message is minidisk), the modules SUBVSE and VSECMD were displayed first and the oldest message is displayed last. automatically loaded onto my minidisk. The first program, Second, the redisplay command ends after execution, so you SUBVSE, is used to submit jobs from CMS to VSE. The second cannot continue to redisplay unless you issue another command. program, VSECMD, is used to communicate with VSE and The last and most dangerous problem with this interface is view the console in a crude way. (For this article I will stick that the commands do not show up on the master console. with only viewing the console.) This means that a user could indeed shut down the system To view the console with VSECMD, you will need the and/or issue console commands without being detected. These VSE virtual machine name. The examples presented here use commands and their output can be viewed along with the user

TECHNICAL SUPPORT • APRIL 2001 ©2001 Technical Enterprises, Inc. Reproduction of this document without permission is prohibited. ID by going into redisplay mode. Please be VSECMD VSEPROD * CP DET 028 The following command defines the console aware of who has access to the VSECMD as a virtual GRAF so that you can dial in to module, as it does pose a security risk. This command redefines the GRAF as a it from VM: non-dialed terminal: METHOD #2 #CP DEF GRAF 028 VSECMD VSEPROD * CP DEF GRAF 028 Similar to method #2, bring up another VM The second method is my preferred Next, simply bring up another VM session session and dial in to VSE as 028. Remember method. I have used this method from home and dial in to VSE as 028 using the fol- that the console may have to be re-queried. You or a remote location to roll out operating lowing command. can do this by pressing PF3 and then Enter. system changes as well as software Once you are doing your work, you can DIAL VSEPROD 028 upgrades. By using the VSECMD program put the console back into place. Press PF4 from CMS, you can “steal” the console You may have to re-query the device depend- from the console to detach yourself from the from the operator even if the device is ing on the terminal model that is being used console, and then enter either of the following dedicated. Note that this method will work for the console. To do this, simply press PF3 three commands. only after the machine has been IPL’d to the and then Enter. Congratulation you now have Enter this command, which detaches the point of initializing the VMCF interface. (I the VSE console! console from VSE: will discuss another way to steal the console The steps required to restore the console CP DET 028 in case of a bad IPL later.) to its original location will be the same for both the second or third method. I will Or, enter this command from a VM userid: explain how to do this at the end of the article. VSECMD VSEPROD * CP DET 028 By using the VSECMD METHOD #3 Or, enter this command from the VSE virtual machine: The third method can be used in rare cases program from CMS, you #CP DET 028(from the VSE virtual machine) when the VMCF interface did not initialize, can “steal” the console perhaps due to a bad IPL deck or third-party Next, enter the following from a VM userid: software such as Computer Associates’ or BI from the operator even if VSECMD VSEPROD * CP ATT 03F VSEPROD 028 Moyle’s FAQS. (Most shops have FAQS the device is dedicated. configured to use VMCF. FAQS can be Or, enter the following from the VSE vir- configured to use IUCV. See the FAQS install tual machine: manual for details.) In VM, you will log on as #CP ATT 03F VSEPROD 028 the virtual machine and enter basically the To steal the console, you must know the same commands. (To find the userid and Remember the real device address you copied real device and the virtual device number of password for the virtual machine, check the down previously? You will need it now to the console. You can find this out either by VM directory (MAINT’s 2C2 minidisk). rededicate the device to its original state. looking in the VM directory (Maint’s 2C2 The following command will keep the The previous command reattaches the con- minidisk) or by using the following newly VSE running if it goes into a CP read after sole for the operator. Please note the operator installed modules. logon. (A “CP READ” will be displayed in may have to re-query the console once he has The following command will display the the lower right hand corner of the screen): it back (press PF3 and then enter). virtual graphic devices defined for the VSE The previous commands should be used B machine: with caution. They can be also issued from Now, you need to find out which terminals an IUI console or any other third-party VSECMD VSEPROD * CP Q V GRAF are defined to the system, similar to what console product (provided they have a CP you did before. You can do this using the fol- The console will usually be the first GRAF interface). I have used this method many lowing command. Remember to write down device defined to the system. The response times to roll out new versions of software both the real and virtual device numbers. will look similar to the following: and PTFs remotely. #CP Q V GRAF AR 0015 CADS335I GRAF 0028 ON GRAF 003F The response will look similar to the following: SUBCHANNEL AR 0015 CADS335I = 0017 Dan Askew is a systems programmer working GRAF 0028 DIALED ON GRAF 003F GRAF 0017 NOT DIALED SUBCHANNEL = 0005 with both VSE and VM. He is currently Copy down the device that is defined as the employed by Dowling Consulting in Hudson, console for the VSE machine, as you will Again, the following command will remove Ohio, and can be contacted via email at need this later. In the example the virtual the console from the operator: [email protected]. GRAF is 0028 and the real device is 003F. #CP DET 028 Issue the following command, which will detach the virtual GRAF from VSE: