Use of REPROMC to clone master catalogs

We regularly make use of REPROMC to clone master catalogs - copying entries from a live master catalog into an inactive empty target.

Typical job as follows:
//STEP15 EXEC PGM=CSLMAIN
//STEPLIB DD DSN=SYSMECH.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
REPROMC ALL,
INCCAT=SYSCAT.PLEXS1.MASTER4,
TARGETCAT=SYSCAT.PLEXS1.MASTER3,
NOMERGE,NOVVDSUPDT,NOENQ,
EXCDSN=SYS1.ZFS.**,
EXCDSN=SYSIBM.RDZ.**
/*

We have used this technique for some years; however in light of a recent catalog hang incident, we are now a bit wary of using this. The REPROMC in that incident was only copying individual entries, but was targetting an active master catalog.

This "catalog clone" scenario is different in that we are targeting an empty, inactive catalog, although I understand the active source catalog (and its VVDS?) still need to be exclusively enqueued.

I guess it goes without saying that this should be run at a quiet time, but I would be interested in any views on: -
- Whether this is a valid method to use for cloning master catalogs
- Whether it's a safe method?
- Is there a better way?

Any views or tips appreciated.

Cheers
Martin Arnold

Responses(2)

A

Anonymous

5 Practitioner

•

274.2K Posts

0

November 2nd, 2009 12:00

** Note ** Following reply made on behalf of Dave Yates, who is currently unable to access this forum.

Cheers to you as well Martin!

Welcome to the EMC Forums, you've raised a great question for a first posting.

You probably know this already, but Catalog Solution has it's own web-support page at https://support.emc.com/products/CatalogSolution

Much of the wisdom accumulated over the years for CSL is listed there, including manuals, maintenance, link to this very forum

and the newly revised search function. If you use the top right corner search, using "REPROMC" you'll get a search on powerlink restricted to Catalog Solution, that will turn up various knowledgebase entries, this discussion, manuals - anything that mentions "REPROMC" in the realm of Catalog Solution. The results will be much cleaner & a better signal to noise ratio.

I've done some preliminary research & found 8 relevant entries on our knowledgebase. In direct answer to at least one of your questions, yes this is a legitimate use of REPROMC in as much as we document it on our knowledgebase anyway:

http://csgateway.emc.com/primus.asp?id=emc49108

Additionally, you can use Dump/Rebuild -
http://csgateway.emc.com/primus.asp?id=emc36552

There have been a few instances of an import connect error subsequent to REPROMC cloning a master catalog. Documented in http://csgateway.emc.com/primus.asp?id=emc199895, you can workaround this by issuing a command which opens the source (copied from) catalog like LISTCAT ALL CAT(catalog.name) etc.

"Is there a better way". Better is relative, so let's see what we can turn up for you. You are correct that picking a quiet time, or making quiet time so that you can successfully clone the catalog is the best answer. Even if you use Rebuild. So this is a start, I have a feeling you will get more feedback here...

Thanks,

Dave Yates
EMC²
PREM, Technical Support Engineer 3
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Davidy8s

154 Posts

0

November 13th, 2009 11:00

Martin,

We discussed your question internally, and I think we have all the bases covered here. Let us know if there any follow up questions.

Dave Yates
EMC TSE3
Benevolent Host S/W & Mainframe Forum Moderator
"Il Moderatore Benevolo"

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Use of REPROMC to clone master catalogs