Installation overview

What is it?

The Installation section walks you through the z/OS Agent installation process from start to finish. Each phase has its own page:

• Checklist — pre-installation worksheet covering file allocations, communications, parameters, security, SMF, performance, TSO/ISPF setup, and the IVP schedule import.
• Process — step-by-step installation procedure, from extracting the XMIT file through running STAGE1 and STAGE2.
• Verifying — post-installation verification: start the agent, verify storage, add the machine to OpCon, import the IVP schedules, and run the IVP jobs.

note

SMA supplies the agent Started Task OPCON01 for the installation process; however, the task name can be user-defined. If the task name is changed, adapt the installation procedures accordingly.

Installation method

The z/OS Agent is installed with XMIT and TSO RECEIVE, followed by the BUILDJOB, STAGE1 and STAGE2 jobs described in Process. It is not installed with SMP/E, and it does not define an FMID, ship SYSMODs and PTFs, or supply HOLDDATA.

This is a deliberate choice, made on feedback from the earliest z/OS Agent customers, who preferred the simpler receive-and-run path. The trade-off is a straightforward one:

• There is no consolidated software inventory (CSI) to allocate and maintain, and no SMP/E zone to define, manage, or keep in step with the rest of the software estate.
• Maintenance is applied by installing a new release of the agent rather than by receiving and applying SYSMODs, so the SMP/E APPLY, ACCEPT and RESTORE facilities are not available for it.

Sites with a standard that requires all products to be installed under SMP/E should take this into account when planning the installation.

For information on installing and configuring multiple agents on a single z/OS system, refer to Customization process.