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Exits

The z/OS operating system contains many exit points. Most of the major components of z/OS provide exit points so that a data center can tailor the system to meet its unique requirements. Exit points are also provided in most IBM program products and subsystems. Vendors of applications software also typically provide exit points. Although software vendors sometimes supply the exit routine, it is more likely that someone at the data center wrote the exit routine.

CA Auditor recognizes many vendor exits. It identifies the location and length of many of these exits. If CA Auditor finds a condition worthy of audit, it recommends that you review the exit by placing an asterisk (*) next to the exit entry on the z/OS System Exit Display screen. CA Auditor displays the reason for the review recommendation on the System Exit Detail panel.

Systems software often branches to an exit routine when a decision needs to be made. For example, SMF provides an exit that can extend the CPU time allotted to a job after it uses up all of its allocated time. Because some system exits (such as the SMF exit described above) are APF-authorized, it is important to review the system exits to verify that they do not compromise the system’s integrity.