Sessions
Each MVCA server can start up any number of sessions. A session is simply a source of messages. It can be a CCS session that connects to a mainframe console through CCS, or an HMC session that interacts with an IBM Hardware Management Console.
Watchdog Session
A single administration session called 'Watchdog' is created when the server starts. This session receives messages regarding the status of all other sessions. Rules can be written for the watchdog session that can react to sessions being started or stopped.
Rules
A rule is a set of one or more instructions written using the Rules Definition Language 2 (RDL2). Without rules the Automation server just displays all the console session messages it receives in the Automation Viewer window. Using rules you create, the Automation server can identify messages and do many things with them including changing the display color of important messages, sending in operator commands in response to specific messages, starting external application, and a wide variety of other actions. Rules can also be used to build small scripts that you can execute on demand.
Rules are assigned to sessions on the Rule Assignments page on a session basis. Different sessions can have different rule assignments.
Input Filters
Input Filters operate on operator input, that is, commands an operator enters in the input area of the Console Automation Viewer or from the HMC Commands window launched from the viewer. An Input Filter can accept, reject, or even modify the operator input. Note that for mainframe console sessions, this does not effect operator commands in the emulator, only commands entered in the viewer input area.
Viewers
The Console Automation Viewer is the workbench that an operator uses to view messages, search for message, and enter commands. Viewers are set up using the Viewers page. They are launched as a Java applet, or Java Web Start application from the Automation Viewers page. The viewers are linked to from the MVCM home page.