The Vary Configuration (VRYCFG) command varies on or off one or more configuration objects, with the capability of also varying on the downline attached configuration objects. The VRYCFG command also optionally resets the input/output processor (IOP) associated with the specified object.

The configuration objects that can be varied on or off are network server, network interfaces, lines, controllers, and devices. This command applies to all network interfaces, lines, controllers and devices on the system.

For the configuration object type of media library resource, this command can be used to reset the drives within a tape media library device or change the allocation of drives within a tape media library device or an optical media library device. To determine the current allocation of drive resources, use the Work with Media Library Status (WRKMLBSTS) command.

External LAN TCP/IP interfaces attached to network server objects of type *WINDOWSNT are automatically started by default and can optionally be controlled with the Start TCP/IP interfaces (STRTCPIFC) parameter.

Downline attached objects can be varied on or off along with the specified object by specifying the value *NET for the Range (RANGE) parameter. Downline attached objects of a network interface description are all the lines attached to the network interface, all the controllers attached to the lines, and all the devices attached to the controllers. Downline attached objects of a line are all the attached controllers and all the devices attached to the controllers. Downline attached objects of a controller are all the attached devices. Devices do not have downline attachments. The RANGE parameter has no affect when varying devices.

Varying on network interfaces, and lines synchronously or asynchronously can be controlled by the Vary on wait (VRYWAIT) parameter. This applies only to Token-Ring, Ethernet, X.25, or switched SDLC, IDLC, BSC, and Async line descriptions. The value specified for the VRYWAIT parameter determines how long the system will wait until either the object goes to varied on before completing the vary on command, or until the timer expires.

The VRYCFG command can also be used to reset input/output processors. An IOP can be a communications controller, a local work station controller, or a magnetic media controller. An IOP reset is valid only when the following are being varied on:

• Network Interface Descriptions
• Lines (except twinaxial data link control (TDLC) lines)
• Local work station controllers
• Tapes

A network server object of type *ISCSI cannot be varied on:

• Until the Network Server Host Adapter Device Description is varied on.

A line cannot be varied on:

• Until the Network Interface Description is varied on, in the case of IDLC lines.
• Until the Network Server Description is varied on.
• Until a dial connection has been completed, in the case of switched lines.

A controller cannot be varied on:

• If the line to which it is attached is varied off, in the case of nonswitched lines.
• Until a dial connection has been completed, in the case of switched lines.

A device cannot be varied on:

• If the controller to which it is attached is varied offline. In the case of some tape devices, they are not attached to a controller, so this restriction does not apply.

A network server cannot be varied off:

• Until all attached devices and controllers are varied off. Varying off the server also varies off the attached line descriptions.
• If any system clients have files open on the server.

Note: Use the Work with Network Service Status (WRKNWSSTS) command (available from Work with Configuration Status display) to determine the status of network server sessions with other clients.

A network interface description cannot be varied off:

• Until all attached lines, controllers and devices are varied off.

A line cannot be varied off:

• Until all the attached controllers and devices are varied off.

A controller cannot be varied off:

• If it is being used, or is allocated for use.
• Until all the attached devices are varied off.

A device cannot be varied off:

• If it is being used, or is allocated for use.

A network server host adapter device cannot be varied off:

• If any network server description that is using it is varied on.

When the RANGE parameter is used:

• For devices: The value *NET to vary on or off downline attached objects has no effect. Devices do not have downline attached objects.
• For switched lines: The value *NET, only when varying on, has no effect. The value *NET, when varying off, will vary off the line and its downline attached objects.
• For Network Interface Descriptions: When varying on, the value *NET varies on all nonswitched attachments, and when varying off, *NET varies off all nonswitched attachments.

When the VRYWAIT parameter is used:

• The time to vary on a line or network interface is the time it takes to put tasks in place to manage the line, the time to activate the communications I/O processor (IOP), including download of the IOP program, the time to establish communications with the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE), and so on.
• Line or network interface vary on time does not include telephone dialing time; however, a powered off modem may prevent vary on completion and cause the wait time to expire. If the timer expires, an informational message will be sent to the QSYSOPR message queue. This will be followed by the vary on completion message.
• If the VRYWAIT parameter is specified on the VRYCFG command for a line description that is not Token-Ring, Ethernet, X.25, or switched SDLC, BSC, or Async, the parameter is accepted but ignored.

When the Reset system (RESETSYS) parameter is used:

• For Network Server Descriptions: When varying on, the value *YES will force IBM Director to interface with the xSeries system and validate the xSeries is available for activity.

Parameters

Keyword	Description	Choices	Notes
CFGOBJ	Configuration object	Single values: *ANYNW, *APPN, *PRVCFGTYPE Other values (up to 256 repetitions): Generic name, name	Required, Positional 1
CFGTYPE	Type	*NWS, *NWI, *LIN, *CTL, *DEV, *MLBRSC	Required, Positional 2
STATUS	Status	*ON, *OFF, *RESET, *ALLOCATE, *UNPROTECTED, *DEALLOCATE	Required, Positional 3
RANGE	Range	*NET, *OBJ	Optional
VRYWAIT	Vary on wait	15-180, *CFGOBJ, *NOWAIT	Optional
ASCVRYOFF	Asynchronous vary off	*NO, *YES	Optional
RESET	Reset	*NO, *YES	Optional
RSRCNAME	Resource name	Single values: *ALL Other values (up to 16 repetitions): Name	Optional
FRCVRYOFF	Forced vary off	*NO, *YES, *LOCK	Optional
SBMMLTJOB	Submit multiple jobs	*NO, *YES	Optional
JOBD	Job description	Qualified object name	Optional
	Qualifier 1: Job description	Name, QBATCH
	Qualifier 2: Library	Name, *LIBL
GENPTHCERT	Generate path certificate	*NO, *YES	Optional
RESETSYS	Reset system	*NO, *YES	Optional

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Configuration object (CFGOBJ)

Specifies the configuration objects to be varied.

This is a required parameter.

Single values

*ANYNW

All controller descriptions that specify a link type of *ANYNW will be varied on or off. This value is only valid if CFGTYPE is *CTL.

*APPN

All objects that use Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) will be varied on or off. This value is only valid if CFGTYPE is *CTL or *DEV.

*PRVCFGTYPE

Process all objects that were processed the last time this command was run in this job for the specified configuration object type.

Other values (up to 256 repetitions)

generic-name

Specify a generic name of the configuration objects to be varied.

Note: A generic name is specified as a character string that contains one or more characters followed by an asterisk (*). If a generic name is specified, then all objects that have names with the same prefix as the generic object name are selected.

name

Specify the name of the configuration object to be varied.

Type (CFGTYPE)

Specifies the type of object to be varied.

This is a required parameter.

*NWS

The network server is varied on or off.

*NWI

A network interface description is varied on or off.

*LIN

A line description is varied on or off.

*CTL

A controller description is varied on or off.

*DEV

A device description is varied on or off.

*MLBRSC

The status for drives within a media library is changed.

Status (STATUS)

Specifies whether to vary the object on or off.

This is a required parameter.

*ON

The object is varied on.

*OFF

The object is varied off.

*RESET

The drive resources of the tape media library device are reset.

Note: The drive resources must be specified for the Resource name (RSRCNAME) parameter.

The media library device must be varied on before this value can be specified.

*ALLOCATE

For tape, the drive resources of the tape media library device are allocated for use only by this system. If the library device is shared by multiple systems, other systems cannot use these drives while this device description is varied on. For optical, the drive resources of the optical media library device are allocated for use. The drive resources are only available for use by this media library device.

Note: The drive resources must be specified for the Resource name (RSRCNAME) parameter.

*UNPROTECTED

The drive resources of the tape media library device can be used by all systems that share this library device.

Note: This value is not recommended. When the drive resources are in unprotected mode, each system can access the resource at the same time. Unpredictable results can occur.

*DEALLOCATE

For tape, the drive resources of the tape media library device are deallocated for this system. If the tape media library is shared by multiple systems, the drives cannot be used by this system, but can be used by other systems. For optical, the drive resources of the optical media library resource are deallocated for the media library resource. The drives are not available for use by another optical media library device.

Note: The drive resources must be specified for the Resource name (RSRCNAME) parameter.

Range (RANGE)

Specifies what configuration elements are varied.

*NET

All downline attached configuration elements are varied.

*OBJ

Only the specified object is varied.

Vary on wait (VRYWAIT)

Specifies whether the object is varied on asynchronously or synchronously. For synchronous vary on, specifies how long the system waits for the vary on to complete.

*CFGOBJ

The system uses the value specified for the Vary on wait (VRYWAIT) parameter in the network interface or line description.

*NOWAIT

Do not wait for vary on completion. The network interface or line will vary on asynchronously.

15-180

Specify the number of seconds to wait. The system will wait until either the timer expires or until the line or network interface goes to varied on, before completing the VRYCFG command.

Asynchronous vary off (ASCVRYOFF)

Specifies whether the object is varied off synchronously or asynchronously.

*NO

The object is varied off synchronously.

*YES

The object is varied off asynchronously.

Reset (RESET)

Specifies if a reset is to be done for the IOP associated with the object.

*NO

The associated IOP is not reset.

*YES

The associated IOP is reset.

Resource name (RSRCNAME)

Specifies the drives within the media library device to be reset or reallocated.

Single values

*ALL

All drives within the media library device are to be reset or reallocated.

Other values (up to 16 repetitions)

name

Specify the name of the drive within the media library device to be reset or reallocated.

Forced vary off (FRCVRYOFF)

Specifies whether inquiry messages for active jobs will be issued. This parameter is not allowed when STATUS(*ON) is specified.

Notes:

1. This parameter is valid for STATUS(*DEALLOCATE) only when a tape media library object is specified for the Configuration object (CFGOBJ) parameter.
2. For any value other than *NO, the ability to reject the vary request through a user exit program is revoked. See the QIBM_QDC_VRYEXIT exit point documentation in the iSeries Information Center for additional information on vary configuration exit point processing.

*NO

Inquiry messages for active jobs will be issued.

*YES

Inquiry messages for active jobs will not be issued and the jobs will be ended.

*LOCK

For devices other than APPC, Intra, NWSH, and MLB an attempt will be made to get a lock on the device description no matter what its current status might be. If the lock is successfully obtained, it will be transferred to the system job assigned to hold the device description lock when the device is in a varied off state. If the device is in a state other than varied off, an attempt to vary off the device description will also be made.

Submit multiple jobs (SBMMLTJOB)

Specifies whether or not to submit multiple batch jobs to vary the specified network server or auxiliary storage pool (ASP) device description objects. This parameter is valid only when *NWS or *DEV is specified for the Type (CFGTYPE) parameter.

*NO

All specified network server or auxiliary storage pool (ASP) device descriptions will be varied synchronously in the job under which the original VRYCFG command was issued.

*YES

A new VRYCFG command will be submitted in batch for each network server or auxiliary storage pool (ASP) description specified.

Job description (JOBD)

Specifies the job description to which multiple VRYCFG commands will be submitted in batch. This parameter is valid only when CFGTYPE is *NWS or *DEV and SBMMLTJOB is *YES.

Qualifier 1: Job description

QBATCH

Job description QBATCH is used as the job description of the submitted job. Note that the QBATCH job description, as shipped with the system, specifies job queue QBATCH which is configured to allow a maximum of 1 job to run at a time.

name

Specify the name of the job description used for the submitted job. In order to run several varies in parallel a job description could be created to pass jobs to the job queue QSYS/QUSRNOMAX which is shipped with no maximum on the number of active jobs:

CRTJOBD   JOBD(QSYS/QUSRNOMAX)  JOBQ(QSYS/QUSRNOMAX)

Other considerations are that the subsystem that allocates the job queue should not have the queue in a held state and the system should not be in a restricted state.

Qualifier 2: Library

*LIBL

All libraries in the library list for the current thread are searched until the first match is found.

name

Specify the name of the library where the job description is located.

Generate path certificate (GENPTHCERT)

Specifies whether to generate a new set of certificates on a remote network server system. This parameter is valid only when CFGTYPE is *NWS and the network server description is of type *ISCSI and the STATUS is *ON.

*NO

The set of certificates is not generated.

*YES

The set of certificates is generated.

Note: You must have input/output system configuration (*IOSYSCFG) special authority to use this parameter value.

Reset system (RESETSYS)

Specifies whether to force a reset of the remote network server system, regardless of its current power state. This is an advanced function, caution is advised when this option is selected. This parameter is valid only when CFGTYPE is *NWS and the network server description is of type *ISCSI and the STATUS is *ON.

*NO

The system is not reset.

*YES

The system is reset.

Note: You must have all object (*ALLOBJ) special authority to use this parameter value.

Examples

Example 1: Varying On the Network Interface and Downline Attachments

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(NWI1)  CFGTYPE(*NWI)  STATUS(*ON)

This command varies on the network interface and all downline attachments.

Example 2: Varying Off the Line and Attached Downline Objects

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(LINE1)  CFGTYPE(*LIN)  STATUS(*OFF)

This command varies off the line and all attached downline objects. The RANGE parameter took the default value of *NET.

Example 3: Varying on the Controller

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(CONTROLLER1)  CFGTYPE(*CTL)  STATUS(*ON)
         RANGE(*OBJ)

This command varies on only the controller.

Example 4: Varying on the Device

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(DEVICE1)  CFGTYPE(*DEV)
         STATUS(*ON)  RANGE(*NET)

This command varies on only the device. Note the RANGE parameter value has no effect on devices.

Example 5: Varying on the Line and Resetting the IOP

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(LINE1)  CFGTYPE(*LIN)  STATUS(*ON)
         RANGE(*OBJ)  RESET(*YES)

This command varies on only the line and resets the associated IOP.

Example 6: Using Line Description Value for Wait Time

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(LINE1)  OJBTYPE(*LIN)  STATUS(*ON)
         RANGE(*OBJ)  VRYWAIT(*CFGOBJ)

This command varies on only the line and uses the vary wait time value specified in the line description for LINE1.

Example 7: Using 80 Seconds as Vary Wait Time

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(LINE1)  CFGTYPE(*LIN)  STATUS(*ON)
         RANGE(*OBJ)  VRYWAIT(80)

This command varies on only the line using 80 seconds as the vary wait time value.

Example 8: Varying on a Network Server

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(SERVER1)  CFGTYPE(*NWS)  STATUS(*ON)

This command varies on the network server description named SERVER1 and its attached line descriptions. The vary on wait value specified in the network server description is used. Note that the RANGE and RESET parameters are ignored for network servers if they are specified.

Example 9: Resetting Drives Within a Media Library

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(MYLIBRARY)  CFGTYPE(*MLBRSC)  STATUS(*RESET)
         RSRCNAME(TAP01 TAP02)

This command resets the drives TAP01 and TAP02 within the media library device MYLIBRARY. The device MYLIBRARY must be varied on to perform this action.

Example 10: Deallocating Drives Within a Media Library

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(MYLIBRARY)  CFGTYPE(*MLBRSC)
         STATUS(*DEALLOCATE)  RSRCNAME(OPT02)

This command deallocates drive OPT02 within the media library device MYLIBRARY. The device MYLIBRARY must be varied on to perform this action.

Example 11: Varying On Multiple Network Servers in Parallel

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(IPCS*)  CFGTYPE(*NWS)  STATUS(*ON)
         SBMMLTJOB(*YES) JOBD(*LIBL/QBATCH)

This command submits a separate batch job to perform the vary on for each network server which has a name that begins with IPCS. The number of jobs that run in parallel depends on the configuration of the subsystem being used.

Example 12: Reset Certificates when Varying On Network Server

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(SERVER1)  CFGTYPE(*NWS) STATUS(*ON)
         GENPTHCERT(*YES)

This command will vary on the network server and request that a new set of certificates are generated during the vary on.

Example 13: Restart Remote Network Server at Vary on of Server

VRYCFG   CFGOBJ(SERVER1) CFGTYPE(*NWS) STATUS(*ON)
         RESETSYS(*YES)

This command will vary on the network server and request a reset of the remote network server during the vary on of SERVER1.

Error messages

*ESCAPE Messages

CPF26AF

Status of drive resources in device description &1 not changed.

CPF26B6

Initialization program has ended with a hard error.

CPF26B7

Initialization program ended with soft error.

CPF262E

Error occurred during vary on at IPL processing.

CPF262F

QDCTRF stopped due to failure.

CPF2640

Vary command not processed.

CPF2659

Vary command may not have completed.