Function

To deallocate a spool volume after active work completes its current phase of processing (executing, printing, or punching).

Parameters

Volume=volume

The volume serial number of the spool volume.

Authority Required

This command requires system authority. The description of the $T RDRnn command explains how to ensure that the authority of the appropriate MVS™ system command group is assigned. The $T RDI sets the command authority for internal readers.

This command requires control security access authority. For a description of assigning command input authority, see z/OS JES2 Initialization and Tuning Guide, SA32-0991.

Processing Considerations

When you issue the $Z command, no new work is allowed to start and no new space on the volume is allocated. Any currently allocated space remains intact and the volume can be removed without loss of work. The volume status is HALTING until all currently active jobs which have space allocated on the volume are completed. After all active jobs have completed, the volume status is INACTIVE. To bring the volume back into the JES2 environment, issue a $S SPOOL command. When the active work has completed the volume is unallocated, and the $HASP893 message is issued.

If a spool failure occurs, the operator should be instructed to issue a $Z SPL command for each volume that is in error. This will prevent JES2 from trying to allocate more space from that volume, and from being selected for work (i.e. conversion, execution, and printing). For more information on how to recover from a spool volume failure, see z/OS JES2 Initialization and Tuning Guide, SA32-0991.

If an all-member warm start is done without the volumes that had errors on them, then JES2 message $HASP424, VOLUME NOT MOUNTED, will be issued followed by JES2 message $HASP853, REPLY GO, QUIT, or PURGE. If the volume is thought to be recoverable at some time, reply GO. This will cause the volume to come up in an inactive state. The jobs that have space allocated from this volume will not be available for work. JES2 will not attempt to use any space from the volume until a $S SPL command is issued.

If the volume is permanently damaged, reply PURGE to this message. Reply PURGE only if you are absolutely certain that the volume cannot be recovered. Replying PURGE will cause all jobs with space allocated from that volume to be purged. No messages or warnings will be issued indicating that this happened.

You can use the FENCE parameter on the SPOOLDEF initialization statement to define the spooling environment by controlling the partitioning of the spool volumes. This can be a safeguard against spool failure. You use the FENCE parameter to tell JES2 how to partition spool volumes when performing I/O operations. If fencing is turned off then jobs that have already obtained some spool space when fencing was active will not be fenced. The syntax of the FENCE= keyword is changed to FENCE=(ACTIVE=YES,VOLUMES=nnn) to indicate that all space that a job requires will be allocated from "nnn" volumes. (FENCE=(ACTIVE=YES,VOLUMES=1) is equivalent to FENCE=YES in prior releases.) These volumes are determined by JES2 as the first available volume from which this job can allocate space.

Although, FENCE=(ACTIVE=YES,VOLUMES=nnn) indicates that JES2 will fence to nnn volumes in most cases. However, more than nnn volumes may be used in certain situations (when spool volumes fill or if the job obtains spool space on different systems as it goes through different phases.) JES2 will allocate space from a subsequent volume(s) when, and if, the "nnn" becomes full. Refer to the FENCE= parameter on the SPOOLDEF statement in z/OS JES2 Initialization and Tuning Reference, SA32-0992 for how to use this parameter. You may also set the FENCE= parameter using the $T SPOOLDEF command.

JES2 exits 11 and 12 can be used as an alternative method for limiting the volumes from which a job may allocate space.

Scope

MAS-wide. This command has an effect across the entire MAS.

Messages

The $HASP000 message indicates the command was accepted.

JES2 halts SPOOL1 (which is currently active, starting, or draining).