IMS/VS Data Compression Facility

The IMS/VS Data Compression Facility's architecture centered around its integration with the IMS database management system on z/OS. The main components included the compression and decompression routines, which were integrated within the IMS database I/O processing. These routines intercepted database I/O operations.

When data was written to the database, the facility compressed it before storage. When data was read, it decompressed the data before it was presented to the application. The facility used proprietary compression algorithms to reduce the size of data segments within IMS databases.

Configuration was managed through IMS system definition and database definitions. There were no external APIs. The facility did not have its own administrative interface; administration was performed through IMS system and database definitions.

The facility relied on the security features of the IMS database system and the z/OS operating system. The product is not supported. Users should migrate to a supported compression solution like IMS Compression Extended.

This migration involves reconfiguring the IMS system and databases to utilize the new compression features. The facility's primary function was to reduce the storage footprint of IMS databases, leading to potential cost savings and improved performance.