1. What is meant by Catalog?

A catalog is a data set that contains information about other

data sets. It provides users with the ability to locate a data set by name,
without knowing where the data set resides. By cataloging data sets, your
users will need to know less about your storage setup.

2. What is meant by Multiple User Catalog?

Multiple user catalogs contain information about user data sets,
and a single master catalog contains entries for system data sets and user
catalogs.

3. What is the purpose of CAS?.

Catalog Management has one address space for itself named
Catalog Address Space (CAS). This address space is used for buffering and
to store control blocks, together with code.

4. Define ICF:
The modern catalog structure in z/OS is called the integrated
catalog facility (ICF). All data sets managed by the storage management
subsystem (SMS) must be cataloged in an ICF catalog.

5. What are the types of datasets in Catalogs?

A catalog consists of two separate kinds of data sets:

 A basic catalog structure (BCS) - the BCS can be
considered the catalog.
 A VSAM volume data set (VVDS - the VVDS can be
considered an extension of the volume table of contents
(VTOC).

6. What is Basic catalog structure?

The basic catalog structure (BCS) is a VSAM key-sequenced
data set. It uses the data set
name of entries to store and retrieve data set information. For VSAM data
sets, the BCS contains volume, security, ownership, and association
information. For non-VSAM data sets, the BCS contains volume,
ownership, and association information. When we talk about a catalog, we
usually mean the BCS.
7. What is VVDS?
The VSAM volume data set (VVDS) is a data set that describes
the characteristics of VSAM and system-managed data sets residing on a
given DASD volume; it is part of a catalog.

8. What are the types of Catalog based on functionality?

a) Master Catalog
b) User Catalog

9. Define User Catalog:

The difference between the master catalog and the user catalogs
is in the function. User catalogs are to be used to contain information about
your installation cataloged data sets other than SYS1 data sets. There are no
set rules as to how many or what size to have; it depends entirely on your
environment.

10. What are the three entries in Master Catalog?

a) List of all Alias
b) User Catalog Connection
c) System Data Sets

11. What are the factors affecting Catalog Performance?

 The main factors affecting Catalog performance are the
amount of I/O required for the Catalog and the
subsequent amount of time it takes to perform the I/O.
 Sharing the Catalog between system also affects
performance.

12. Define Shared Catalog:

A shared catalog is a basic catalog structure (BCS) that is
eligible to be used by more than ne system. It must be defined with
SHAREOPTIONS (3 4), and reside on a shared volume.

13. Explain the way of Defining Data Sets:

There are many ways to define a data set. To “define” means to
create in VTOC and to atalog in an ICF catalog (BCS plus VVDS).
Examples are using IDCAMS DEFINE CLUSTER to reate a VSAM data set
or using a JCL DD statement to define a non-VSAM data set. If you efine a
VSAM data set or an SMS-managed non-VSAM data set, then an entry is
created in the BCS, in the VTOC, and in the VVDS.

14. What is the command to delete the Alias?

To simply delete an alias, use the IDCAMS DELETE ALIAS
command, specifying the alias you are deleting. To delete all the aliases for a
catalog, use EXPORT DISCONNECT to disconnect the catalog. The aliases
are deleted when the catalog is disconnected. When you again connect the
catalog (using IMPORT CONNECT), the aliases remain deleted.

15. What are the VVDS Entries?

 VVR(VSAM Volume Records)
 NVR(Non VSAM Volume Records)

16. What is Migrated Data Set?

A migrated data set is a data set moved by DFSMShsm to a
cheaper storage device to make room in your primary DASD farm.

17. What is the purpose of SCRATCH Command?

This means that the non-VSAM data set being deleted from the
catalog is to be removed from the VTOC of the volume on which it resides.
When SCRATCH is specified for a cluster, alternate index, page space, or
data space, the VTOC entries for the volumes involved are updated to reflect
the deletion of the object.

18. What is the purpose of NOSCRATCH Command?

This means that the non-VSAM data set being deleted from the
catalog is to remain in the VTOC of the volume on which it resides, or that it
has already been scratched from the VTOC. When NOSCRATCH is
specified for a cluster, page space, alternate index, or data space, the VTOC
entries for the volumes involved are not updated.

19. What are the types of Caches available for Catalogs?

Two kinds of cache are available exclusively for catalogs. The
in-storage catalog (ISC) cache is contained within the catalog address space
(CAS) in main storage. The catalog data space cache (CDSC) is separate
from CAS and uses the MVS VLF component which stores the cached
records in a dataspace. Both types of cache are optional, and each can be
cancelled and restarted without an IPL.
20. What is the Procedure for Defining Aliases for a User Catalog?
To use a catalog, the system must be able to determine which
data sets should be defined in that catalog. The simplest way to accomplish
this is to define aliases for the catalog. You can define aliases for the catalog
in the same job in which you define the catalog by including DEFINE
ALIAS commands after the DEFINE USERCATALOG command. You can
use conditional operators to ensure the aliases are only defined if the catalog
is successfully defined. After the catalog is defined, you can add new
aliases or delete old aliases.