ARCHIVER

The ARCHIVER architecture comprises several key components: the ARCHIVER control program, the backup module, the restore module, and the dataset access module. These components work together to provide backup and restore functionality for PDS and PDS/E datasets on z/OS. The ARCHIVER control program coordinates the overall process, interpreting JCL control cards and managing the execution flow.

The backup module handles the creation of backups, including incremental backups, which back up only the changes since the last backup. The restore module handles the restoration of datasets from backups. The dataset access module provides the necessary interfaces to read and write data to the datasets.

Communication between these components is managed internally within the batch job. Configuration is primarily managed through JCL control cards. For example, the BACKUP command is used to initiate a backup operation, and the DATASET and OUTPUTDS parameters specify the input and output datasets, respectively.

Security is integrated with z/OS security features, such as RACF, to control access to datasets. The SYSPRINT DD statement in the JCL provides logging information, including error messages and warnings. ARCHIVER stores backups in a dedicated PDS or PDSE, ensuring organized storage.

Compared to other backup solutions, ARCHIVER offers specialized functionality for PDS and PDS/E datasets, making it suitable for environments needing this specific capability.