z/OS Version 2 Release 3 IBM Health Checker for z/OS User's Guide IBM SC23-6843-30 Note Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page 681. This edition applies to Version 2 Release 3 of z/OS (5650-ZOS) and to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions. Last updated: 2019-06-24 © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2006, 2019. US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Figures................................................................................................................ xv Tables................................................................................................................xvii About this information........................................................................................ xxi Who should use this document.................................................................................................................xxi How to send your comments to IBM................................................................... xxiii If you have a technical problem.............................................................................................................. xxiii Summary of changes.......................................................................................... xxv Summary of changes for z/OS V2R3........................................................................................................ xxv Summary of changes for z/OS V2R2 as updated September 2016....................................................... xxvi Summary of changes for z/OS V2R2....................................................................................................... xxvi Summary of changes for z/OS V2R2 as updated March 2016.............................................................. xxvii Summary of changes for z/OS V2R2...................................................................................................... xxvii Summary of changes for z/OS V2R1 as updated September 2014....................................................... xxix Summary of changes for z/OS V2R1 as updated March 2014............................................................... xxix Summary of changes for z/OS V2R1 ....................................................................................................... xxx Exploitation of the Flash Express feature..........................................................................................xxxi Part 1. Using IBM Health Checker for z/OS.............................................................1 Chapter 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3 What is a check?..................................................................................................................................... 4 For more information, see our IBM Redpaper publication....................................................................5 Background for IBM's checks.................................................................................................................5 Chapter 2. Setting up IBM Health Checker for z/OS................................................................................... 7 Stopping and starting IBM Health Checker for z/OS manually............................................................. 7 Sharing critical IBM Health Checker for z/OS information between systems at different levels.........7 Sharing IEASYSxx..............................................................................................................................8 Sharing the HZSPROC procedure..................................................................................................... 8 Sharing HZSPRMxx............................................................................................................................8 Steps for optimizing IBM Health Checker for z/OS................................................................................8 In a rush? Use these basic steps...................................................................................................... 9 Software requirements...........................................................................................................................9 Software requirement for running REXX checks..............................................................................9 Customizing the IBM Health Checker for z/OS procedure ................................................................. 10 Allocate the HZSPDATA data set to save check data between restarts............................................. 10 Monitoring and sizing the HZSPDATA data set...............................................................................11 Optionally set up the HZSPRINT utility............................................................................................... 11 Optionally define log streams to keep a record of the check output..................................................11 Create security definitions................................................................................................................... 13 Setting up security for the IBM Health Checker for z/OS started task..........................................14 Setting up security for the HZSPRINT utility..................................................................................16 Setting up security for IBM Health Checker for SDSF support......................................................19 Create multilevel security definitions.................................................................................................. 19 Create HZSPRMxx parmlib members.................................................................................................. 20 iii Tell the system which HZSPRMxx members you want to use.......................................................20 Assign IBM Health Checker for z/OS to a WLM service class..............................................................22 Obtain checks for IBM Health Checker for z/OS..................................................................................22 Chapter 3. Working with check output ..................................................................................................... 23 Hey! My system has been configured like this for years, and now I'm receiving exceptions!........... 24 Understanding system data issued with the check messages........................................................... 25 Understanding exception messages....................................................................................................26 Evaluating check output and resolving exceptions............................................................................. 27 Customizing check exceptions with dynamically varying severity..................................................... 28 Approaches to automation with IBM Health Checker for z/OS...........................................................29 More automation ideas...................................................................................................................29 Using HZS exception messages for automation............................................................................ 30 Understanding check state and status................................................................................................ 31 User controlled states.....................................................................................................................32 IBM Health Checker for z/OS controlled states............................................................................. 32 Understanding check state combinations: ACTIVE(DISABLED) and INACTIVE(ENABLED)........ 33 Check status....................................................................................................................................34 Using the HZSPRINT utility.................................................................................................................. 34 Example of HZSPRINT output........................................................................................................ 36 HZSPRINT utility completion codes...............................................................................................36 Chapter 4. Managing checks......................................................................................................................39 Making dynamic, temporary changes to checks .................................................................................40 Using SDSF to manage checks....................................................................................................... 41 Managing checks with the MODIFY hzsproc command.................................................................42 Making persistent changes to checks..................................................................................................48 Using WHEN to apply statements conditionally............................................................................ 48 Creating and maintaining IBM Health Checker for z/OS policies........................................................50 How IBM Health Checker for z/OS builds policies from policy statements..................................52 Can I create policy statements