Prefered method of file-transfering data using the MVS FTP Client program

Topics

• FTP Definition
• Sample Jcl
• Jcl explinations
• FTP Notes

Definition of FTP & why it is used

The only file type that can be processed by FTP on the Mainframe is Physical Sequential datasets. This includes standard PS datasets, GDG (generation data group datasets), and individual members of partitioned datasets. Tape files can not be file transfered; (however Tape Mount Managed datasets can).

The FTP MVS client propgram can also be used for issuing commands to SQL-FTP on one of the SYBASE dataservers. SQL-FTP is a FTP server program, running on a machine supporting a SYBASE datasever, that receives requests from an FTP client, but issues those requests to a SYABSE database.

Suggested JCL for performing a File Transfer

//STEPNAME EXEC PGM=FTP,PARM='host.name (EXIT=8'
//SYSPRINT  DD  SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN     DD  *
userid   password
put 'NCSACS.MVS.SOURCE.DATA.FILE' unix.target.file
get 'NCSACS.MVS.TARGET.DATA.FILE' unix.source.file
quit
/*

or

//STEPNAME EXEC PGM=FTP
//SYSPRINT  DD  SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN     DD  *
host.name  (EXIT=8
userid   password
put 'NCSACS.MVS.SOURCE.DATA.FILE' unix.target.file
get 'NCSACS.MVS.TARGET.DATA.FILE' unix.source.file
quit
/*

FOR SAMPLE JCL USING SQL-FTP- please refer to the SQL-FTP url

Explanations for the above JCL

You are encouraged to use a host name from the following list.

 sybasedev.acs.ncsu.edu
 acsprod1.acs.ncsu.edu
 dras.acs.ncsu.edu
 acs-dds.acs.ncsu.edu
 sybase1.acs.ncsu.edu
 scc.sips.state.nc.us

FTP Notes

Notes:
• SYSIN can be a dataset, a member of a PDS, or inline (as above)
• SYSIN can be larger than FB 80 if the commands (Dataset names) are longer than 80 bytes. (This is more of a problem for SQL-FTP)
• Hostnames must be used instead of IP addresses. IP addresses can and will change.
• A return code of 8 (From the '(EXIT=8' ) will be generated if there are any problems encountered in the transfer.
• Multiple files can be transfered with the same step, but any failure will abort the whole attempt, not just the file in error. This includes any rename commands at the end of the process. Therefore, it is recommended that you place each discrete transfer in a separate step to enhance restartability.