System Display & Search Facility - SDSF

Here are some basic tips on using the SDSF interface, updated and reprinted from ispf4users.blogspot.com by permission. This IBM utility provides z/OS system equivalents of Windows Task Manager and Printers, or UNIX/Linux ps, top, jobs, lpstat, and lpadmin. Monitor processes in z/OS and z/OS UNIX System Services; manipulate JES input and output queues; issue operator commands, and more.

There are four main options that every SDSF user can access:

    1. DA - Display Active
    2. I  - JES Input queue
    3. O  - JES Output Queue
    4. H  - JES Held output queue
  • Most users will also have access to the ST (status) option which encompasses all four of the basic display options.

    Usage:   ST or ST jobname 
      (jobname masking with an * is valid)

  • Displays are commonly filtered using the PREFIX or OWNER commands. The first is a job name flilter while the latter filters based on the userid that submittted the job. These settings become a part of the SDSF profile data stored on disk.

    Usage:    PRE or PRE jobname 
      (jobname masking with an * is valid)

    Usage:    OWNER or OWNER userid
      (userid masking with an * is valid)

  • For temporary filtering use the S (select) command. You may filter by job name or, where applicable, job number.

    Usage:    S * or S jobname 
      (jobname masking with an * is valid)

  • Use the command SET DISPLAY ON to display all active filters.
  • The command SORT ? facilitates sorting by two columns.
  • The command ARRANGE ? facilitates rearranging and resizing columns.
  • Line commands are used on the displays and can be blocked as they are on a DSLIST.