Restricted State Utility Overview

The Robot Save Restricted State Utility (RSU) allows you to schedule commands to be run unattended while your system is in a restricted state. The utility takes care of warning users that the system will be entering restricted state, ends the system, runs the specified commands, and restarts the system.

Some commands can be run only while the system is in a restricted state (for example, the Robot Save SAVSYS and NONSYS functions, or when you save the entire system). In the past, you’ve always needed an operator available at the console when you ran these commands. Now, the restricted state utility lets you schedule them on Robot Schedule and run them unattended.

Putting the Console in a Ready State

The RBSRSURDY command puts the console in a ready state enabling the restricted state utility to begin its work. The command must be entered at the console.

Notes:

  • The system value QINACTITV should be set to *NONE when you use RSU. The system value determines the time-out period for an inactive job and could end your RSU session if it is set to a value other than *NONE.

  • The message queue being monitored cannot be in break mode. The message queue should not be used by other jobs and should be clear of old messages. You should not use the QSYSOPR message queue.

  • You can run restricted state TCP/IP using the RSU. For more information, see "Set Up Restricted State TCP/IP" under the Robot Self-Service Support tab on our website.

Ending the Restricted State Prior to Completion

If you need to end RSU prior to completion, enter a valid user ID and password at the console. If the console doesn’t respond, use System Request 2 to enter a valid user ID and password. When you enter the user ID and password, a message is sent to QSYSOPR, and the RSU job starts the controlling subsystem, creates a job log, and then signs off the system.

If a Problem Occurs

If a problem occurs during any step in the process, the utility sends a pager message (if you have Robot Alert) or calls the Error program you specified. Problems that could cause an error include a tape drive running out of backup tapes or the system not being able to enter the restricted state.

If you specify both a pager message and an Error program, the pager message is sent before the program is called. The restricted state utility then uses the parameters specified on the RBSRSUEND command to restart the system, signs off, and prints a job log.

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