IMAGE Focus is powerful OS/390 system management software that provides the user with complete access to applications, without the requirement of having VTAM, JES and/or TSO running. Using the Image Access Facilities of IMAGE Focus, the user can have direct access to a variety of applications, including OS/390 Image Inspection, ISPF (including other vendor ISPF products and services), and user-defined applications. The Image Access Facilities of IMAGE Focus runs in its own environment and provides direct access to the following applications:

OS/390 Image Management

Simply stated, the Image Inspection application performs a "Virtual IPL" of any OS/390 image. By specifying an IPL address and loadparm value, it will systematically inspect the hundreds of critical points in an OS/390 System Image in the same manner as during an IPL. During analysis, OS/390 Image Inspector will determine if there are any problems with system definitions, warn about failures and compile a complete report on the components of the image. This automated procedure identifies errors in critical datasets, documents the location and catalogues of the datasets required for an IPL. Once a problem is found, full ISPF is available to make corrections or changes.

Why you should consider Image Management?

It is common for large system installations to maintain several OS/390 systems. Often these systems and their related images exist across shared DASD or multiple LPARs. Their testing and maintenance has become increasingly complex. Difficulties arise during the image development or problem analysis phase. It is likely that identical member names, containing different specifications, will have been used to define various images. Without IMAGE Focus, or a user’s specific knowledge, these members would appear to differ only by their physical residence or logical volume. If the wrong member is edited, time is lost and further testing or maintenance is complicated by a newly introduced error.

IMAGE Focus methodically inspects the hundreds of critical "OS/390 Inspection Points" found in an OS/390 System Image. These inspections can be performed proactively as part of a standard system test, or used when the worst of system conditions occurs. Since a member defines the content of specific system images, diagnosing which member relates to which system image is critical to image management.

Inspection Points are the individual system elements, represented by a keyword or statement within the members IEASYMxx and IEASYSxx. These members are accessed by pointers derived from statements found within LOADxx, which originates from operator input. The inspection process begins with a confirmation that text exists on the IPL volume and that the SYS1.NUCLEUS dataset can be opened. Every intersecting element represents the network of dependencies needed for a successful OS/390 IPL – and thus is an "OS/390 Inspection Point".

OS/390 Inspection Points, at the highest level include:

• • Validate Operator Input
  • Confirm the location and availability of critical resources
  • Read, Syntax Check and Process Filters for LOADxx
  • Locate exact member and data set
  • Read, Syntax Check and Process Filters of IEASYMxx
  • Read, Syntax Check and Process for IEASYSxx
  • Final Results of all Static System Symbols
  • Read, Syntax Check and Process for SMF -IEASMFxx
  • Read, Syntax Check and Process for COUPLExx

For more details on OS/390 Inspection Points, please refer to our companion piece "OS/390 Inspection Guide"

FULL ISPF ACCESS

Basically, IMAGE Focus’s Image Access Facility gives you access to real ISPF for repairing problems when MVS is up but VTAM, JES and/or TSO are unavailable. For example, if you desire to quickly edit a single dataset with ISPF, why require a VTAM sign-on, JES to start a new address space and a TSO logon with all its commands to be processed? The objective is to edit with ISPF quickly. IMAGE Focus provides that capability by allowing the user to access ISPF directly – no additional sign-ons, no additional address spaces created by JES and no TSO logon proc to execute. Just ISPF edit quickly.

Additionally, ISPF and ISPF-based applications and capabilities including other vendors’ products and services as well as user-defined applications are available to the user.

Why you need a Sub-System Recovery Tool?

IMAGE Focus, through it’s Image Access Facilities gives you access to the real ISPF for fixing problems when MVS is up, but VTAM, JES and/or TSO are unavailable. IMAGE Focus runs its own address space independent of the MVS Sub-Systems JES, TSO, and VTAM and provides an actual ISPF session with access to ISPF and ISPF based applications and capabilities. It allows fast access to critical routines and tools (such as REXX, CLISTs, pdsTools, RMF Monitor II).

IMAGE Focus allows users to consolidate their ISPF tools into a single interface, without needing VTAM, JES, or TSO running. Many large installations consolidate their system management tools (for example, system management software for performance monitors) into IMAGE Focus thus assuring high availability and application functionality under even the most adverse of system conditions. Applications inherit the attributes of the Image Access Facility, therefore access to ISPF is assured, and the need for a dedicated console (if any) is eliminated as all applications running in the Image Access Facility share a single console. The Image Access Facilities also allow use of other vendor’s ISPF products during an IMAGE Focus/ISPF session. Currently, the following program products are supported: CLISTs, REXX, SDSF, ISPF, SMP/E, RMFMON, ISMF, RACF, and HCD.

In a test environment, IMAGE Focus allows an isolated environment where REXX and CLIST routines can be tested without risk of affecting other TSO/ISPF users. This reduces the amount of work required to identify a problem. User created applications can also be accessed through the Image Access Facilities of IMAGE Focus.

Note: Click below for additional on recovery functionality available when OS/390 is down.
More about SAE.

What are the Benefits of IMAGE Focus?

A better way to test and manage your OS/390 Images

It is common for difficulties to arise during the image development, problem analysis, and/or image maintenance phase. If the wrong member is edited, time is lost and further testing or maintenance is complicated by a newly introduced error. The OS/390 Image Inspector application of IMAGE Focus is designed for Image Management.

Rapid Availability and Access of ISPF

With IMAGE Focus, it is not necessary to wait until all the subsystems have been started to log into TSO. By placing a start up command for IMAGE Focus in the IPL procedure before the start of VTAM or JES, it is now possible to provide access to ISPF during the start up process through the Image Access Facility. Then if one of the subsystems have a problem starting, or other changes need to be made, you would have access to ISPF and all of its’ capabilities to make the needed corrections or adjustments.

Most customers find it beneficial to provide an IMAGE Focus/ISPF terminal at the help desk instead of a normal TSO/ISPF terminal. An IMAGE Focus/ISPF terminal provides ISPF to the operators and support staff sooner during IPL and can function as a normal ISPF terminal during regular operations and provide a more reliable workstation at times of system problems or slow downs.

For creating and maintaining a Test System

Test systems are used to find and correct problems. This makes the test system less stable and more prone to have a requirement for products and tools that help in the determination and correction of problems. IMAGE Focus helps with both.

IMAGE Focus can provide an isolated environment where REXX and CLIST routines can be tested without the risk of affecting other TSO/ISPF users. In this environment changes can be tested and problems identified without the presence of VTAM, JES or TSO. This reduces the work needed to determine where a problem exists, either with the code or the subsystem.

Image Access Facilities allows you to execute other vendors ISPF products during an IMAGE Focus/ISPF session. This means greater availability and access to these products and, in some cases can provide dedicated terminal support for that product without VTAM or BTAM. IMAGE Focus also provides a way of sharing products on a single locally attached terminal. An example would be using IMAGE Focus in conjunction with a performance monitor.