Did PAC/MASTER have an API?

PAC/MASTER primarily used batch jobs submitted through JCL (Job Control Language) on z/OS. There were no known APIs for external integration.

What was the main system component of PAC/MASTER?

The core component was likely a COBOL or Assembler program running on z/OS. It would directly access and manipulate ISAM datasets.

What databases or storage mechanisms did PAC/MASTER use?

PAC/MASTER directly accessed ISAM datasets on z/OS. It did not use external databases or storage mechanisms beyond the standard z/OS file system.

How did PAC/MASTER handle security?

The software likely used standard z/OS security mechanisms for dataset access. This would involve RACF (Resource Access Control Facility) or similar security products.

What was the primary business value of PAC/MASTER?

By optimizing ISAM dataset space utilization, PAC/MASTER helped reduce storage costs and improve system performance. This was achieved by reclaiming wasted space and reducing I/O operations.

How did PAC/MASTER contribute to cost savings?

The software helped manage and extend the life of existing storage infrastructure by making it more efficient. This could delay the need for additional hardware purchases.

How did PAC/MASTER improve application performance?

By reducing fragmentation and improving data contiguity, PAC/MASTER could improve the speed of data access, leading to faster application response times.

What access control model was used?

The access control model was based on z/OS dataset security. Users needed appropriate permissions to access and modify ISAM datasets.

What encryption was used?

PAC/MASTER did not provide encryption. Security depended on the underlying z/OS security infrastructure.

What audit/logging capabilities existed?

Audit and logging capabilities were provided by z/OS. PAC/MASTER would generate standard z/OS SMF (System Management Facilities) records.

What administrative interfaces were available?

PAC/MASTER was administered through JCL and z/OS console commands. There was no dedicated GUI or web console.

How was user management handled?

User management was handled by z/OS security systems like RACF. PAC/MASTER used the existing z/OS user accounts and permissions.

What were the main configuration parameters?

Configuration parameters were set within the JCL jobs used to run PAC/MASTER. These parameters controlled the analysis and reorganization processes.

What monitoring/logging capabilities existed?

Monitoring and logging were performed through standard z/OS facilities, such as SMF records and system logs. These provided information on job execution and resource usage.

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PAC/MASTER

Name: PAC/MASTER
Availability: InStock

CGA Not Supported z/OS

Administration Files and Datasets

Vendor

CGA

Product Overview

PAC/MASTER was a z/OS software solution designed to optimize the space efficiency of ISAM disk datasets. The architecture consisted of a core program, likely written in COBOL or Assembler, that directly accessed and manipulated ISAM datasets on z/OS. Users interacted with the system through JCL (Job Control Language) to submit batch jobs for analysis and reorganization.

The software relied on z/OS security mechanisms, such as RACF, for authentication and authorization. Key components included the analysis module, the reorganization module, and the reporting module. These components communicated through standard z/OS system calls and data access methods.

Given that PAC/MASTER is no longer supported, organizations should consider migrating to alternative solutions like IBM Db2 Utilities Suite, Broadcom CA Storage Management Solutions, BMC AMI Storage, or Innovation Data Processing FDR suite. These alternatives offer modern architectures, APIs, and integration capabilities. The migration process involves a detailed assessment of the existing architecture, identifying equivalent components in the new solution, and planning a phased transition to minimize disruption.

Proper documentation and testing are crucial for a successful migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary function of PAC/MASTER?

PAC/MASTER was designed to analyze and improve the space efficiency of ISAM disk datasets on z/OS systems. It provided tools to identify fragmented or underutilized datasets.

How did users interact with PAC/MASTER?

PAC/MASTER used a command-line interface (CLI) for most operations. Users would submit jobs with specific commands to analyze and reorganize datasets.

What specific problems did PAC/MASTER address?

The software analyzed ISAM datasets, identified wasted space due to fragmentation or poor allocation, and provided recommendations for improvement. It could then reorganize datasets to reclaim space.

Who were PAC/MASTER's main competitors?

PAC/MASTER competed with other z/OS storage management tools, such as those from CA Technologies (now Broadcom) and IBM. These tools offered similar functionality for analyzing and optimizing disk space usage.

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