Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
On Tuesday, 05/05/2009 at 05:19 EDT, Steve Harman steve.har...@mutualofomaha.com wrote: We have a vm 5.2 system (yes, now unsupported) running RSCS v3.2. I've been told that we need to be off the old release of RSCS by the end of June or we'll incur a monthly fine. Apparently you discontinued your license to use RSCS v3.2 a bit too early. RSCS is now packaged with the base OS. Packaged, yes, but you still have to license the RSCS feature to use the NJE/RJE functions. Seems like ProgDir shouldn't use it [HLASM] in the examples. It is getting more and more difficult to maintain compatibility with Assembler F. We feel justified in using z/Architecture features and functions, as well as things as simple as long variable names or mixed case. This is especially true of things that talk to CP. None of that, not even AMODE/RMODE, are understood by Assembler F, yet AMODE/RMODE are important in virtual machines 16MB. If you write exits for IBM products, you need to seriously consider a modern assembler. As others have noted, HLASM isn't your only choice. Am I headed in the right direction, or am I wasting a lot of my time? If I get my exits assembled, how do I get the FL540 RSCS to hook them in? Appeal to your IBM rep. If you have licensed the RSCS feature of z/VM 5.4, then they may be willing to let you run RSCS v3.2 (unsupported, of course) for a reasonable migration period. Or perhaps you are already at the end of an agreed-to migration period? Alan Altmark z/VM Development IBM Endicott
Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
If is very probably the local RSCS exits were written long enough ago that an older assembler will work just fine. Since you were able to assemble cleanly this is most likely the case. And yes, you do need to reassemble the older exits with RSCS FL530 or FL540 otherwise they will abend. I hope you are still licensed for RSCS 3.2 and have obtained an RSCS FL540 license as well. Best Regards, Les Geer IBM z/VM and Linux Development Yes, we are fully licensed for RSCS. I realize that the timing could have been better, but I didn't order the new release. That was done by my predecessor, who quit suddenly. For legal reasons I can't contact that person. Regardless, I am now in the situation I'm in. In looking back on our old system, I don't think the exits were re-assembled; rather they were re- linkedited. The TEXT files have a pretty old date, but the EXITLIB LOADLIB is much more recent. The option to use the new FL540 of RSCS came from IBM from an ETR I opened. Not their first piece of advice. This morning I compared my newly-created TEXT files from my assemble and except for the date they are the same, so the assembler seemed to work. I'm fairly certain these exits are in use. I used a tool called Track to look at RSCS virt storage on our 5.2 system, because I was also curious about that. It shows: Base= Real address=0001B2F99400 Vaddr Offset Hex Ebcdic 4400 +004400 1000 C5E7C9E3 D3C9C240 * EXITLIB * 4410 +004410 D3D6C1C4 D3C9C240 *LOADLIB * The EXITLIB LOADLIB is the customized library. Dave, thanks for pointing me to the Exit manual. I did manage to find the correct PROFILE GCS on the 5.2 system and it does indeed point to EXITLIB. I'm new enough that I still have trouble locating proper files. The Exit manual also mentions the HLASM several times. Alan, I understand the reasoning behind using modern assemblers, but I spent more time than I needed to trying to figure out why I couldn't use the one specified in the manual. Thanks again for your responses. I'll let you know if I have any sort of success.
Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
Well, HLASM is a separately orderable and rather expensive Licensed Program Product. If you did not order it, it won't be on you tape. You _may_ be able to Assemble it using and older assembler after some source code changes. Or, you might consider purchasing a much less expensive ISV HLASM-compatible assembler (ask if you are interested, I have the name at work). Also, while RSCS is shipped and installed, AFAIK use of anything other than the LPR printer line drivers requires a paid up license for the full RSCS product. Off the top of my head (again, details at work), any IBM product that need to be ENABLED (usually done in SYSTEM CONFIG) requires a specific product license (aside from the RSCS LPR printer line drivers?). You'd think it wouldn't be that hard to include a bright neon warning about license requirements in the doc for the command that ENABLEs the product. Mike Walter Hewitt Associates (Sent from the wee keyboard on a Blackberry.) - Original Message - From: Steve Harman [steve.har...@mutualofomaha.com] Sent: 05/05/2009 04:17 PM EST To: IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU Subject: I need to assemble RSCS exits I'm a newbie. I know next to nothing about VM, so please understand my = goofy questions are not from laziness, it's sheer ignorance on my part. I am the primary vm sysprog at our site, or I'd go ask our experienced = person. We have a vm 5.2 system (yes, now unsupported) running RSCS v3.2. I've = been told that we need to be off the old release of RSCS by the end of Ju= ne or we'll incur a monthly fine. RSCS is now packaged with the base OS. I've ordered and sort of installe= d VM5.4 on a 2-lvl guest system. I will not have it to a point where I can= put it on our production system before the end of June because of my inexperience. I feel safer running on an unsupported version than trying= to migrate 5.4 before I'm ready. IBM has offered some suggestions on getting the FL540 version of RSCS fro= m the 2-lvl guest to our production system. One thing I need to do is assemble some exits and rebuild the RSCS loadlib using the FL540 maclibs.= I sent the source assemble files, the lkedctrl file, and a cntrl file to = the 5.4 system's 5vmrsc40 191 disk. To most of you, I'm sure that sounds simple. I've been going through the= RSCS ProgDir trying to figure out how to assemble exits and rebuild the = load lib. The problem is, when I try to do a VMFHLASM command as shown i= n the example, it fails because it can't find HLASM MODULE. I browsed the = VMFHLASM exec and it calls VMFASM EXEC. Looks like it falls thru looking= for HLASM MODULE because it can't find ASMAHL MODULE. I guess we don't have the hi-lvl assembler, it must be a cost feature. = Seems like ProgDir shouldn't use it in the examples. So, I found the CMS assemble command. After a little trial and error, I = got one of the exits to assemble (with a few IFO012 errs, haven't figured= that out yet). I had to do a 'global maclib DMTMACV3 GCTGPI HCPGPI HCPOM1 DMSGPI DMSOM' = to get what I think are the required macro libs. Am I headed in the right direction, or am I wasting a lot of my time? If= I get my exits assembled, how do I get the FL540 RSCS to hook them in? = Thanks for any suggestions. The information contained in this e-mail and any accompanying documents may contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message, including any attachments. Any dissemination, distribution or other use of the contents of this message by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. All messages sent to and from this e-mail address may be monitored as permitted by applicable law and regulations to ensure compliance with our internal policies and to protect our business. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, lost or destroyed, or contain viruses. You are deemed to have accepted these risks if you communicate with us by e-mail.
Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
Hi, Steve. Steve Harman wrote: I'm a newbie. I know next to nothing about VM, so please understand my goofy questions are not from laziness, it's sheer ignorance on my part. Not a problem, you've come to the right plan, then. I am the primary vm sysprog at our site, or I'd go ask our experienced person. We have a vm 5.2 system (yes, now unsupported) running RSCS v3.2. I've been told that we need to be off the old release of RSCS by the end of June or we'll incur a monthly fine. OK RSCS is now packaged with the base OS. I've ordered and sort of installed VM5.4 on a 2-lvl guest system. I will not have it to a point where I can put it on our production system before the end of June because of my inexperience. I feel safer running on an unsupported version than trying to migrate 5.4 before I'm ready. The migration process isn't all that difficult.check the list archives for some really good hints and tips on the process. IBM has offered some suggestions on getting the FL540 version of RSCS from the 2-lvl guest to our production system. One thing I need to do is assemble some exits and rebuild the RSCS loadlib using the FL540 maclibs. I sent the source assemble files, the lkedctrl file, and a cntrl file to the 5.4 system's 5vmrsc40 191 disk. To most of you, I'm sure that sounds simple. I've been going through the RSCS ProgDir trying to figure out how to assemble exits and rebuild the load lib. The problem is, when I try to do a VMFHLASM command as shown in the example, it fails because it can't find HLASM MODULE. I browsed the VMFHLASM exec and it calls VMFASM EXEC. Looks like it falls thru looking for HLASM MODULE because it can't find ASMAHL MODULE. I guess we don't have the hi-lvl assembler, it must be a cost feature. Seems like ProgDir shouldn't use it in the examples. Nope, you don't have the HLASM product installed. Unlike RSCS (and DIRMAINT, RACF, etc.) it doesn't come preinstalled in z/VM 5.4. You have the following options: 1) order HLASM form IBM and install it. 2) see if another VM site that has HLASM installed already won't assemble your exits for you. I don't think this violates the IBM HLASM license terms and conditions, but I'm not a lawyer, either. 3) consider a cross assembler, like the one Dignus offers (http://www.dignus.com/); this might be a cheaper approach. So, I found the CMS assemble command. After a little trial and error, I got one of the exits to assemble (with a few IFO012 errs, haven't figured that out yet). This bothers me a bit..using the old assembler might work or it might not, and in any case, there might be IBM support issues involved as well. I had to do a 'global maclib DMTMACV3 GCTGPI HCPGPI HCPOM1 DMSGPI DMSOM' to get what I think are the required macro libs. Am I headed in the right direction, or am I wasting a lot of my time? If I get my exits assembled, how do I get the FL540 RSCS to hook them in? Thanks for any suggestions. How to combine the assembled TEXT files for RSCS to use is covered in detail in the RSCS Customization manual, available online at the IBM VM web page. Hope this helps. -- Dave Jones V/Soft www.vsoft-software.com Houston, TX 281.578.7544
Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
Warning: It's been a year and a half since I last supported a VM system, so take what I say with a grain of salt, not as Gospel truth. Or, take this as an invitation to step back and look at the larger picture. On May 5, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Steve Harman wrote: We have a vm 5.2 system (yes, now unsupported) running RSCS v3.2. I've been told that we need to be off the old release of RSCS by the end of June or we'll incur a monthly fine. RSCS is now packaged with the base OS. RSCS was packaged with z/VM 5.2 as well, even with z/VM Version 4 systems. It might be functionally very similar to RSCS V3, but it should have been an option to license (if needed) the RSCS feature instead of the RSCS program product with z/VM 5.2. Obviously, there's some reason you think you're running RSCS V3 R2, so there might have been a good reason to do so (an old OTC license?), but it'd be an odd configuration. One thing I need to do is assemble some exits and rebuild the RSCS loadlib using the FL540 maclibs. Are you sure? I don't mean to be flip about this, but, a) are you sure you need these exits? b) are you sure the exits assembled under z/VM 5.2 won't run with the z/VM 5.4 level of RSCS? c) how'd they get assembled under z/VM 5.2, anyway? Did someone supply them to you already assembled? If so, do they have 5.4 levels as well? Given your short deadlines and your lack of VM knowledge in house, it might even be worth your employer's money to bring in a consultant to make this happen for you, studying the exits in place and seeing if they're needed or how to assemble them for your z/VM 5.4 system.
Re: I need to assemble RSCS exits
z/VM 5.3.0 was the first release to have an RSCS feature. Prior to that, RSCS was a separate program product. It came preinstalled on the z/VM distribution, at least as far back as the z/VM 5.1 DVD, but it was a separate product which required a separate license. A special bid was required to license RSCS on an IFL, which may have contributed to IBM's decision to make RSCS a priced feature of z/VM. No special bid is required for the RSCS feature, but you do have to license it. The rest of Nick's post asks some good questions. Dennis O'Brien If I'd only followed CNBC's advice, I'd have $1 million today, provided I'd started with $100 million. -- Jon Stewart -Original Message- From: The IBM z/VM Operating System [mailto:ib...@listserv.uark.edu] On Behalf Of Nick Laflamme Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 18:58 To: IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU Subject: Re: [IBMVM] I need to assemble RSCS exits Warning: It's been a year and a half since I last supported a VM system, so take what I say with a grain of salt, not as Gospel truth. Or, take this as an invitation to step back and look at the larger picture. On May 5, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Steve Harman wrote: We have a vm 5.2 system (yes, now unsupported) running RSCS v3.2. I've been told that we need to be off the old release of RSCS by the end of June or we'll incur a monthly fine. RSCS is now packaged with the base OS. RSCS was packaged with z/VM 5.2 as well, even with z/VM Version 4 systems. It might be functionally very similar to RSCS V3, but it should have been an option to license (if needed) the RSCS feature instead of the RSCS program product with z/VM 5.2. Obviously, there's some reason you think you're running RSCS V3 R2, so there might have been a good reason to do so (an old OTC license?), but it'd be an odd configuration. One thing I need to do is assemble some exits and rebuild the RSCS loadlib using the FL540 maclibs. Are you sure? I don't mean to be flip about this, but, a) are you sure you need these exits? b) are you sure the exits assembled under z/VM 5.2 won't run with the z/VM 5.4 level of RSCS? c) how'd they get assembled under z/VM 5.2, anyway? Did someone supply them to you already assembled? If so, do they have 5.4 levels as well? Given your short deadlines and your lack of VM knowledge in house, it might even be worth your employer's money to bring in a consultant to make this happen for you, studying the exits in place and seeing if they're needed or how to assemble them for your z/VM 5.4 system.
