June 30, 2026
Syncsort Storage Management – Release Notification
Precisely announces the release of Syncsort Storage Management enhancements, designed to improve your product performance through automation and optimization. To implement these improvements, you will need to install Syncsort Storage Management 7.2.3. This release provides an updated installation from all previous releases of the Syncsort Storage Management or former DTS Software products.
Summary of Enhancements
Allocation Control Center – DEFRAG Functions
This release adds new DEFRAG functions that help reclaim unused space and reduce fragmentation for physical sequential and partitioned datasets. These functions are available in the Allocation Control Center (ACC) and build on the defragmentation capabilities introduced in version 7.2.2.
Idle Space Release
Releases allocated-but-unused space within PS and PO datasets at the time of deallocation (typically at end of step). This recovers space that has been allocated to a dataset but is not actively being used.
Note that VSAM datasets are not supported in this release; this may be addressed in a future release.
Extent Consolidation
Merges adjacent extents within PS and PO datasets into a single extent at the time of deallocation. Note that native z/OS DFSMS already performs extent consolidation for VSAM datasets; this function extends equivalent capability to non-VSAM PS and PO datasets.
These DEFRAG functions offer several advantages over traditional volume-level defragmentation:
- No JCL or application changes are required. Idle space release and extent consolidation are controlled entirely through ACC policy rule changes.
- Defragmentation occurs at the dataset level when each dataset is deallocated, spreading the work over time rather than concentrating it in periodic volume-level jobs run by tools such as DFSMSdss or FDRCPK.
- With more space recovered and extents consolidated continuously, datasets are more likely to have space available for growth and to occupy fewer DASD extents overall - reducing the frequency and scope of volume-level defragmentation runs.
- The functions are automatically bypassed where appropriate, including for linklist datasets, datasets without a secondary space allocation specified, and multivolume datasets.
These functions are available in ACC only and are activated through ACC pool definitions. New messages provide before/after statistics for each idle space release and consolidation operation, and the SMF reporting program has been updated to include the new function records.
RACF User Containment and Revoke Support (z/OS 3.1+)
New policy rule variables across all Syncsort Storage Management products that allow sites to detect and respond to users whose RACF status is CONTAINED or REVOKED. This capability leverages a DFSMS enhancement introduced for z/OS 3.1 and later (RACF APAR OA67286 and SAF APAR OA67288).
A new DIF rules variable, &RACF_U_STATUS, is now available across all products. It can be tested in ACC, SRS, MONitor, and other DIF-based policy rules whenever a user performs a DASD function (create, update, extend, rename, etc.):
- A = ACTIVE - the user is in normal active status
- R = REVOKED - the user's RACF ID has been revoked
- C = CONTAINED - the user has been placed in a contained state via RACF
Policy rules can test this variable to determine the appropriate action - for example, failing the job, writing a message, generating an SMF record, or taking other site-defined actions. This gives security and storage teams a consistent, policy-driven mechanism to control DASD activity for users whose access has been restricted, without requiring changes outside of ACC policy definitions.
SMSDebug – ACS Variables Updated
Updates to SMSDebug bring ACS variable support on par with recent DFSMS releases. Several new variables have been added to DFSMS ACS routines over the past releases that were not previously included in the SMSDebug trace output or in the SMSDebug test case generation facility.
This release delivers the following SMSDebug improvements:
- Updated SAMPLIB member ACSTESTR (policy rules for writing ACERO variables to the DIF log) to include all current ACS read-only variables
- Updated SAMPLIB member ACSTESTX (REXX exec for ACS test case generation) to include all current ACS read-only variables
- Updated ACS routine logic trace (SMSDEBUG=YES or ACSTRACE=) to display all current ACERO variables - including DSNTYPE - immediately prior to the ACS routine trace
These updates ensure SMSDebug accurately reflects the current DFSMS environment, providing more complete diagnostic and testing capability.
CMM (Cobol Migration Manager) - Reporting
Report output has been enhanced to include commas in large numbers to improve readability. Report output previously printed large numbers as a simple string.
Additional Features, Fixes, Functions, and Improvements
Dataset Size Calculation Corrected for EATTR=OPT Datasets (Defect Fix)
A defect has been corrected that caused incorrect size calculations for datasets allocated with EATTR=OPT on EAV volumes. Previously, F9 DSCBs - and any F3 DSCBs chained to them - were not properly processed. As a result, the following rules variables returned values reflecting only the F1 DSCB extents, undercounting the actual space occupied by EATTR=OPT datasets:
- SIZE-T and SIZE-T-ALL (total size)
- SIZE-M and SIZE-M-ALL (allocated size)
- Any other variables derived from the #DSSIZE macro
This correction primarily benefits the MONitor product but also affects ACC and SRS. The fix is included in version 7.2.3 and subsequent releases. Customers on an earlier version who need an interim fix should contact Precisely Support.
Access to Software Downloads
Precisely Data Experience
Precisely Data Experience allows customers to access their licensed products for download. To access the software, you must have a Precisely (Customer or Partner) Community account established and have license entitlement. To download the software: Use the Precisely Data Experience link.
If you are licensed to Syncsort Storage Manager and do not see that product in the list, please contact Precisely Support by opening a case at https://support.precisely.com/contact/.
Improved Access to Storage Management Documentation
Storage Management product documentation is available in a new online format in the Precisely Help Center.
The Precisely Help Center provides a modern experience to help you quickly locate content, personalize your experience, and provide feedback. The Help Center enables you to:
- Search for help across the entire documentation set
- Bookmark topics and create a personalized content library
- Save your searches and get alerts when content is added or changed
- Print selected topics
- Share a link with a colleague
- Send us your feedback and rate content
To access the Precisely Help Center:
- Go to the Precisely Help Center (https://help.precisely.com)
- Click on Syncsort Storage Management
- Log in using your Precisely Support login (if you don't have a login, create one in the Customer or Partner community)
- Filter, click, or enter search terms to begin
Contact Information
If you would like technical assistance, please contact the Precisely Global Support team at Precisely Support.