IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi,
Any help guys!!
Can we write a JCL that will send an alert whenever a VPS printer installed in that mainframe system goes down?

Any other means than JCL script that can solve the purpose of alerting VPS printer down is also welcome.


Thanks & Regards
Kalyan

/RANT ON
Once more let us clarify exactly what JCL is.
it is Job Control Language.

By itself it does nothing. It is used to invoke the chosen program and to define which datasets are to be used by the DD names associated with the chosen program.

JCL does not have magical powers that solve all problems, JCL is merely the vehicule for telling the processor which program you want it to execute.
/RANT OFF

So, if you know of a program that will monitor the status of the printer(s) then you can create a batch job that will monitor the status and send an email accordingly.

@expat,

Thanks for the info.. but it is not helping me...

Guys, I need some script that will help me to monitor VPS printer in mainframe, in the way that it send some alert to me with the information that VPS printer is down. I am not narrow to JCL scripts, it may be anything..

I hope u can understand my requirement. It is something I am trying to cut down the operator's activities in mainframe..


Regards
Kalyan

Hello,

Does the computer operator console show some kind of message when one of these printers "goes down"? Are these printers defined as local or as remotes?

Probably, they do not throw any message in console ..
They are remote printers..

Hello,

they do not throw any message in console

Bummer - that could be used to trigger a process to send an e-mail. . .

They are remote printers..

You might talk with the people who do admin for the remote systems and see if something could be detected on the remote system and generate a message from there.

You might also see what happens on the mainframe to the job printing when the printer fails. Does the job show "printing" when displayed?

The printer status goes to either edrained status or wconnect status.

The output remains in the queue showing printing.

Hello,

The printer status goes to either edrained status or wconnect status.

You might implement something that checks printer status and sends an e-mail when this happens.

The output remains in the queue showing printing.

You might implement something that will send an e-mail if a job is "printing" for too long a time. . .

Personally, i prefer that remote printers be watched over by remote staff/users.

Hi,,

,,You might implement something that checks printer status and sends an e-mail when this happens.,,

This is really a good idea.. Can you please give me some guidance about this?

Thanks
Kalyan

Hello,

How do you look at the printer status to see the "drained" or "wconnect" condition?