SAR Operation Requirements

Naturally, SAR requires a processor (CPU, CPC, or LPAR) on which to operate. That processor must be idle (ready to IPL).

SAR requires these I/O devices:

  • The IPL device
  • An operator console
  • A hard copy device
  • A tape drive
  • A DASD volume.

All of these devices must be physically addressable by the processor, enabled and ready. Tapes must be offline to all other CPUs. If no hard copy device is available, SAR can run without one, but if problems occur, diagnosis may be more difficult. If SAR is executed on an LPAR, all these devices must be accessible from that LPAR.

IPL requirements

SAR can be IPL’d from a tape, DASD, or card reader (including VM virtual card readers).

SAR can also be IPL’d from a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) on the HMC (Hardware Management Console).

For efficiency and convenience, the SAR program should be copied to a DASD or unlabeled tape using the program FDRSARLR. For more information, see Stand-Alone-Loader-Utility.

IEBGENER can also be used to copy the SAR program file to an unlabeled tape.

Console requirements

By default, SAR attempts to use as the operator console the first device that presents an ATTENTION interrupt after IPL is completed. Normally, you do this by simply pressing ENTER on the desired console. For the SCLP console, see the SCLP Console instructions.

If you have other display terminals (such as TSO terminals) attached by non-SNA 3x74 control units, it is possible that another user presses ENTER before you do, and suddenly gets the SAR menu on his screen. There are other devices (such as CTC adapters and 37x5 communication controllers) that also present ATTENTION and may confuse SAR. If you are unable to prevent such false interrupts by resetting these devices or putting them physically offline, you can preconfigure SAR with the addresses of your consoles (up to 5) with FDRSARLR and SAR attempts to use one of them without waiting for an ATTENTION.

Once SAR identifies the console, the processing options and their defaults are displayed on the screen and the cursor is positioned to the first modifiable option. A default value may be accepted by pressing ENTER; the cursor is then positioned to the next option line. If you need to override the defaults shown on a line, type over the data on that line and press ENTER. If the override is not accepted, a message is issued and the cursor is repositioned on the invalid entry. If the override is accepted, the cursor is positioned to the next entry. Where applicable, SAR displays a list of acceptable values for the current option at the bottom of the screen.

SAR is not a true full-screen processor. You cannot use the cursor keys to move to a line other than the current one, enter multiple parameters without pressing ENTER, press the ERASE EOF key or go back to correct a previous parameter.

It is always necessary to press ENTER once for each option line, whether the defaults are accepted or overridden.

SCLP console

In complex hardware configurations, especially Sysplex configurations, there may not be a 3270-type console available for use with SAR on the IPL’d CPU. In this case, there is a software console facility built into almost all systems that can be used to operate SAR; it is called the “SCLP console” function. It is accessed through the hardware console, called the HMC (hardware management console) on almost all systems.

Since these console functions are not full-screen 3270-type consoles, SAR treats them much like printer-keyboard consoles, displaying one message at a time and waiting for replies to be entered.

On an IBM HMC

Double-click the icon for “Operating System Messages”. This opens a window for the SCLP console function. If necessary, select the tab for the image on which SAR is running. This window has a SEND COMMAND button and a RESPOND button; you may click either to send replies to SAR, but SEND COMMAND is preferred.

Trailing blanks are not sent to SAR. This is a problem mainly when you wish to enter 6 blanks for the VOLUME SERIAL= reply; to accommodate this, SAR also accepts a VOLSER reply of an asterisk (*) as equivalent to 6 blanks. It is also a consideration when you are replying with a tape data set name; you cannot reply with a name shorter than the name found on the tape.

There is no ATTENTION function. To cause SAR to recognize that you want to use the SCLP console, enter a null message with SEND COMMAND; the SAR messages should then start to appear. At the end of SAR operation, to restart SAR without needing a reIPL, use the same procedure.

 

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