Querying Your PowerMax Devices in z/VM
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:26:50 -0000
|Read Time: 0 minutes
If you are running the IBM z/VM hypervisor, you can install, and run, and manage various operating systems on it. When managing PowerMax devices on z/VM (called minidisks), you use a Unit Control Block (UCB) as a virtual device identifier. This is important to know when assigning and working with the devices in z/VM and the guest operating systems.
With PowerMax and VMAX, there are Symmetrix IDs associated with a device. My customers ask how to translate a given UCB on the z/VM hypervisor that deduces the Symmetrix ID. Dell Technologies created a ‘freeware’ program called SYMMQRY that enables you to:
- Run a command on z/VM with the UCB as input
- Use the SYMMQRY command, which provides z/VM with the Symmetrix ID for users of that device
The use case is that a customer who is using Solutions Enabler to execute commands against their PowerMax or VMAX needs the Symmetrix ID to complete the execution. Leveraging the SYMMQRY command on z/VM provides the information needed to get the Symmetrix ID to execute the needed Solutions Enabler command(s). I’ve outlined a process below that explains:
- Notes and hints about the SYMMQRY program
- A summary of the SYMMQRY program
- How to get the command
- Installing the command
- Using the command
Notes and hints about the SYMMQRY program
- This program is considered ‘freeware’ as described in this KB article.
- Although the source indicates that there is an ‘ALL’ option, it currently only works on a single device.
- Because the program is freeware, you have access to the source. If you have someone proficient with assembler, then they can modify it to meet their needs.
Summary
Dell Technologies provides the freeware program SYMMQRY to translate between a UCB and a SYMMID. When unpacking SYMMQRY, you get two files: the source and module files. For more information, see the KB article.
Getting the SYMMQRY program
- Read the KB article.
- In the Attachments section of the article, download the SYMMQRY.VMARC file.
Installing the SYMMQRY program
- If you don’t have VMARC (the IBM utility to unpack VMARC), download VMARC and install it.
- Upload the SYMMQRY.VMARC file to z/VM
- During the FTP process, ensure that the transmission to z/VM is done in BINARY.
- To ensure that you are uploading the SYMMQRY.VMARC file in FIXED format, open a CMS window and use the FTP quote subcommand.
- On the z/VM user where SYMMQRY VMARC is, unpack the file (assuming the file is on my ‘A’ Fm)
- I used ‘VMARC UNPK SYMMQRY VMARC A’
- After unpacking the SYMMQRY VMARC file, you should see the following output:
SYMMQRY ASSEMBLE A1... <bytes in and out information>
SYMMQRY MODULE A1… <bytes in and out information>
The source code file is called SYMMQRY ASSEMBLE. The module file is called SYMMQRY MODULE.
Using the SYMMQRY program
- While in CMS, attach a UCB to the z/VM userid that you want to query.
- Execute the SYMMQRY command against that device.
a. USERID JBASTIN, Device - 7700
q 7700
DASD 7700 CK7700
b. Ready;
att 7700 *
DASD 7700 ATTACHED TO JBASTIN 7700 WITH DEVCTL
c. Ready;
q 7700
DASD 7700 ATTACHED TO JBASTIN 7700 R/W CK7700
d. Ready;
symmqry 7700
DASD RDEV SYMMQRY :CAP(CYL/MB) UCODE SYMM-SER/ALPHA
7700 7700 032E 10017/8514 5978 0001976-00191/AWCTY
Output format
UCB = 7700
RDEV = 7700
SYMMQRY = 032E (this is the SYMMID you requested)
:CAP(CYL/MB) – Capacity information
UCODE: PowerMax Operating System level
SYMM – Symmetrix Serial Number
Alpha – If you look in Unisphere this is the SPLIT ‘Alpha Serial #’. This is just another way to identify the split. Here is a screen shot of what mine is in Unisphere:
In conclusion, the SYMMQRY is a freeware program that offers z/VM you additional insight into your PowerMax/VMAX investment. Customers who are knowledgeable about Assembly language can modify SYMMQRY and customize it for their needs.
Author: Justin Bastin