Layering terms and concepts
The following table describes important terms and concepts that are used in layering.
Table 1. Layering terms and concepts
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Layer object | A special type of object whose status is not managed by TOM. The layering application generates and propagates the layer object definitions, dependencies, and schedule to other systems or sysplexes. For information about the naming convention for layer objects, see Layer-set-naming-conventions. When a layer object is defined, TOM does not start, stop, or manage the layer object’s status. Instead, the layer object’s definition serves as a template for generating similar objects on another system (or on all the systems) in a sysplex. Layer objects are created on the object ADD or EDIT dialog by specifying a pattern name for a layer object in the Pattern field in addition to a name in the Name field. The naming convention of the pattern name uses a combination of mandatory variables and optional user-specified literal characters. The pattern name is used by TOM during replication to create the names of the generated objects that are created from the layer object. |
Layer set | A special type of set that contains only layer objects and layer sets. When a layer set is defined, TOM does not start, stop, or manage the layer set’s status. Instead, the layer set’s definition serves as a template for generating similar sets of objects on another system (or on all the systems) in a sysplex. For information about the naming conventions for layer sets, see Layer-set-naming-conventions. Layer sets are created on the TSET view with the ADD primary command. On the New Name dialog, specify a name for the set and layer pattern set name in the Layer Pattern field in addition to a set name. The naming convention of the layer pattern name uses a combination of mandatory variables and optional user-specified literal characters. The layer pattern name is used by TOM during replication to create the names of the generated sets that are created from the layer set. |
System layers | A grouping of both layer objects and layer sets that can be applied as a single entity to a sysplex (or another system), eliminating the need to add each layer object or layer set to a sysplex separately. System layers allow you to logically group similar layer objects together. For example, during your layer object planning phase, you can group all the layer objects that represent CICS objects into one system layer and all the WebSphere objects into a separate system layer. This grouping will make it easier to maintain similar layer objects and sets over time. System layers are also helpful if you want to group together a collection of the basic objects that are common to every system across multiple sysplexes. This system layer is used to quickly and easily populate new systems that are added to one or more sysplexes. |
Sysplex Layers | Contains system layers. By having well organized system layers, you have more options when managing the sysplex layer. For example, you can update all the layer objects that represent CICS objects by collecting all those objects in a single system layer. Then, with these objects collected in one system layer, you can include only that system layer in a sysplex layer and update all the CICS objects in a sysplex at once. In addition, you can include multiple system layers in a sysplex layer and by applying the sysplex layer, update many types of objects and sets with a single action. |
Layer ID | An identification number assigned to each system within a sysplex. The format of the layer ID is &SYSnnnn where nnnn is a number from 1 to 9999. Assigning layer IDs to all systems in the sysplexes simplifies the process of creating layer object definitions. The layer ID represents a virtual system name that is resolved during the attachment and propagation processes. |
ATTACH | A command that lets you select from available layer systems or sysplexes, and based on your selection, generates the objects, sets from objects, sets defined in system layers that are members of sysplex layer for each selected layer system or sysplex. |
DETACH | A command that lets you select from available layer systems or sysplexes, and based on your selection, deletes the objects and sets that were generated by the ATTACH command. |