The Allocation Control Center (ACC) provides complete control over the creation and placement of SMS-managed and non-SMS data. ACC allows installations to easily define policies which implement standards for dataset naming, device type, volume selection, and space usage. Because the DFSMS ACS routines rely on the existence of well-defined standards, they are a crucial factor in successful implementation of system-managed storage. ACC then goes beyond standards enforcement to provide advanced features that aid administrators and users in making the most effective use the storage subsystem.

Enforce Dataset Standards

ACC allows datasets to be created using existing naming conventions and characterics while warning of potential errors during the transition to new standards. ACC’s extensive SMF recording, messaging, simulation, and logging facilities make it easy to track and report violations while allowing JCL to be modified “on-the-fly” to meet installation requirements.

Control Dataset Placement

ACC can make the datasets go where you want! Whether it is directing small tape files to DASD, establishing disk pools, migrating to new device types, or selecting volumes for use based on performance characteristics or space availability, ACC can place datasets where they are best suited, without the need for users to change JCL or programs.

SMS Extensions

ACC doesn’t stop with improving standards enforcement or controlling dataset creation. Storage and database administrators can benefit from extensions designed to make system-managed storage easier to use.

“Keep-Away” algorithm eliminates the need to use guaranteed-space storage classes to place performance-sensitive SMS-managed datasets such as DB2 tablespaces.

Real-time ACS tracing allows users to answer the question “Why is this dataset on this volume?” by providing a line-by-line trace of the logic used by the DFSMS ACS routines to assign SMS classes.