Overview

This chapter includes information about Expanded Retention Option (ERO) table statements, assigning SYSOUT IDs based on embedded text, tape consolidation of reports (SARPAC), SARPAC reports, and running SARPAC.

The initialization parameters NGEND and NGENT specify how many generations of each SYSOUT remain on disk and tape.

The ERO allows you to specify particular SYSOUTs as having expanded retention. These SYSOUTs can be given separate retention criteria.

When a SYSOUT has expanded retention, you can specify how long to keep the SYSOUT in the database (the retention period) by the number of generations to be kept, the number of copies to be kept, or the number of days the SYSOUT is to remain on the database. By appropriately setting your NGEND and NGENT parameters, then assigning selected SYSOUT to have expanded retention, you can set up a minimum archival retention period for all SYSOUT, and then selectively archive desired SYSOUT for longer periods.

The ERO gives you the added flexibility of assigning, at archival time, SYSOUT IDs based on text strings found within the SYSOUT (PTEXTn parameters).

The SARPAC utility is part of the ERO. SARPAC consolidates backup tapes, copying only current reports to new tapes.