Managing OUTQ`s and SPOOL Files

All the spool files created by the user as well as system goes into a OUTQ. QPRINT is the default outq of the system. Administrator can set default outq for each user so that the spool files created by that users goes to that outq only.

To work with all the outq use following command,
WRKOUTQ

The Work with Output Queues (WRKOUTQ) command allows the user to display and work with either the overall status of all output queues or all output queues that match the qualified generic name specified and to which the user is authorized, or the detailed status of a specific output queue. The status of the queues may change while the command is being run.

To clear the outq use the following command  ,
CLROUTQ  < outq name >

The Clear Output Queue (CLROUTQ) command removes spooled files from the specified queue. The Clear Output Queue (CLROUTQ) command removes all spooled files on the specified output queue if they are waiting to be written on an output device, including files that are in the hold state. Spooled files that are currently being produced by programs or that are being written to an output device are not removed from the queue.

To work with spool files created by particular user use following  command,
WRKSPLF  < user id >

The Work with Spooled Files (WRKSPLF) command displays a list of all the spooled files on the system or a selected list from them. You can choose to change, hold, delete, display, or release any or all of the entries that are displayed. 

You can do following activities with the spool file,
1. DELETE
2. HOLD
3. RELEASE
4. CHANGE
5. SAVE

User can change the outq of the spool file.Spool file is assign to a printer to print.User can print the spool file pagewise as per the the requirement.

Message Handling

Message is a means of communication between system and user. These are system messages & User Message. 

In User Messages users can send their own messages.
System Messages and Users Messages are put in the user’s message queue. Messages may be
a) Informational (No reply Needed)
b) Inquiry (Reply Needed)

Even users can send messages to each other using following commands,
1.  SNDBRKMSG (Break messages is used to interrupt the user’s work)
2.  SNDMSG (F4) 
         TOUSR(< user profile >)  or
         TOMSGQ(< Workstation name >)

By default every message given to the administrator goes into QSYSOPR message queue. Administrator can change this default message queue.

To see the messages of any message queue use following command,
DSPMSG       

To check system operators message queue use,
DSPMSG  QSYSOPR
 

System Operations

An administrator continuously requires to Monitor following on the system.

1.  % ASP USAGE OF THE SYSTEM:
To find out the Percentage ASP utilized use following command:
WRKSYSSTS

2. CHECKING ACTIVE JOBS:
Use following command to check active jobs as well as CPU utilization,
WRKACTJOB

3. CHECKING SUBSYSTEM STATUS:
Use the following command to check all the active subsystems,
WRKSBS

4. TO CHECK THE LOG:
Use following command to find out the log on the system.
DSPLOG
You can use same command to find log of a fixed time span.

5. TO CHECK STATUS OF *LIN,*DEV,*CTL :
Use following commands to find status of Lines, Devices and Controllers respectively,
WRKCFGSTS  *LIN
WRKCFGSTS  *DEV
WRKCFGSTS  *CTL

6. CHECKING DISK STATUS :
Use following command to check the disk status,
WRKDSKSTS

7. WRKJOBQ – Display all job queues status and list of jobs in the queue.

8. WRKDEVD – Display and manage device description


9. WRKJOBSCDE – Display all  job schedule entries for the system

Job Management

On AS/400 Job is a Unit of Work Done. When a job is started, system creates a set of resources for the job. These resources are destroyed automatically by the system, when the job ends. The AS/400 assigns a unique identifier to each AS/400 job. The job identifier consists of three parts :  a system assigned job number ; the user profile of the user associated with the job and a general job name. Thus a Job is identified by a Job name, a User and a Job Number (6 digits). Valid job names are
    024671/Nishar/DSP01
    345678/Ahamed/MONTHEND

There are 2 types of user jobs

        1. Interactive
        2. Batch
       
Interactive jobs require constant interaction between the user and the computer. Interactive jobs usually involve typing information into a display screen and waiting for the computer to respond.

Batch job runs in the background without interaction with user. Ends when all programs that are part of batch jobs are terminated. Have lower priority when compared to Interactive Jobs.

There are 3 types of system jobs
        1.Prestart
        2.Autostart
        3.Communication
       
User can do the following activities with the job.
        1.END
        2.HOLD
        3.RELEASE
        4.CHANGE
       
Every job is having priority to run on the system.1 is highest priority and 9 is lowest priority. 5 is the default priority. Administrator can change the priority.


1.  Use following command to track a particular user’s jobs,
        WRKUSRJOB

2. Use following command to find out jobs in JOBQ,
        WRKJOBQ

3. Use following command to find scheduled jobs
        WRKJOBSCDE

4. To submit a job in batch use following command.
        SBMJOB

5. To find total number of active jobs on the system use the command as,
        WRKACTJOB

6. To find jobs running in particular subsystem use,
        WRKSBSJOB