SYSOUT
![]() | It has been suggested that this article be merged into OS/360 and successors, Attached Support Processor, Houston Automatic Spooling Priority, OS/VS1, OS/VS2 (SVS), Job Entry Subsystem 1, Job Entry Subsystem, Grasp (spooler) and IBM POWER (software). (Discuss) Proposed since July 2025. |
In OS/360,[1][2] System Output (SYSOUT) datasets are spooled direct-access storage device (DASD) data sets managed by the operating system. They are despooled by system output writers, which typically write to printers and card punches, although they can also write to magnetic tape. The support in OS/VS2 R1 (SVS) is essentially the same. The programs Attached Support Processor (ASP) and Houston Automatic Spooling Priority (HASP)[3] usurp the spooling functions of OS/360 and SVS, maintaining SYSOUT datasets with their own SPOOL mechanisms.
In OS/VS1, SYSOUT datasets are managed by Job Entry Subsystem 1 (JES1), retaining many of the same operator commands but replacing the SPOOL mechanism.
In MVS, OS/VS2 R2 and later, SYSOUT datasets are managed by a Job Entry Subsystem (JES2 or JES3), retaining many of the HASP or ASP operator commands and providing their own SPOOL mechanisms.
DOS does not support spooling, but several spooling programs are available for it, e.g., Grasp, POWER.
References
[edit]- OS360OpRefOS
- IBM System/360 Operating System: Operator's Reference - OS Release 21 (PDF). Systems Reference Library. IBM. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
Citations
[edit]- ^ OS360OpRefOS, pp. MFT-001–MFT-076, Systems With MFT.
- ^ OS360OpRefOS, pp. MVT-001–MVT-074, Systems With MVT.
- ^ "SYSOUT Data" (PDF). OS/VS2 HASP II Version 4 User's Guide - Program Number 370H-TX-001 - VS2 SVS Release 1.7 (PDF). Systems. IBM. p. 21. GC27-0052-0. Retrieved August 1, 2025.