Network Tracking System › NTS Database

NTS Database

All information logged to the NTS database is session-related and is stored under the session partner names. Together, the two network-qualified session partner names form a session name pair and each session logged in the database is termed a session incidence. For each session name pair, there exists a master and a cross-reference record, both of which are created when the first session for the name pair is logged to the database.

Session Keep Counts and Database Slots

The session incidence count for any given session name pair is restricted by the session keep count. The default session keep count is 10, but this can be modified. This value is stored as part of the master record when the first session incidence for a session name pair is logged.

Each session incidence is allocated a single slot in the database. When a new session is due to be logged, the master record is checked to determine whether the number of slots used for the session name pair has reached the session keep count. If it has, the oldest session incidence data is overwritten; otherwise, a new database slot is allocated.

The advantage of database slots is that the key used to access session incidence data can be reused, which means that database maintenance is minimized. For example, if the database contains as much data as it is required to hold, then it can be used for session logging indefinitely without requiring reorganization. However, it takes some time before the database reaches such an ideal state.

More information:

NTS Storage Estimates

Connect and Disconnect the NTS Database

For historical recording purposes, NTS session awareness data can be logged to the NTS database.

The SAWLOG parameter group lets you stop and start SAW logging on an ad-hoc basis, without needing to stop and start normal SAW processing.

Connect the NTS Database

To connect the NTS database

1. Enter /PARMS at the prompt.

   The Parameter Groups panel appears.

2. Enter U beside the SAWLOG parameter group.

   The SAWLOG - Session Awareness (SAW) Logging panel appears.

3. Enter Yes in the Logging Active? field, to start logging SAW records at any time after initialization. For more information about the fields, press F1 (Help).
4. Press F6 (Action).

   The entries are actioned.

5. Press F3 (File).

   The settings are saved.

Disconnect the NTS Database

To disconnect the NTS database

1. Enter /PARMS at the prompt.

   The Parameter Groups panel appears.

2. Enter U beside the SAWLOG parameter group.

   The SAWLOG - Session Awareness (SAW) Logging panel appears.

3. Enter No in the Logging Active? field to stop logging SAW records at any time after initialization. For more information about the fields, press F1 (Help).
4. Press F6 (Action).

   The entries are actioned.

5. Press F3 (File).

   The settings are saved.

Error Handling

If an error occurs in the NTS database during output processing, the NTSLOG file ID is released. NTS continues to function normally without a database, apart from the fact that it cannot perform database logging until you allocate and open a new database. In the case of a file full condition, you can use the NTSDBMOD command to delete unwanted data.