Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand the purpose and benefits of TURNOVER® Distribution Queues for FTP distributions in multi-system environments.
- Configure and set up distribution queues, including global defaults, job descriptions, and starting worker jobs.
- Manage queue operations, such as starting/stopping queues, monitoring jobs, and troubleshooting common issues.
- Apply best practices for optimizing queue performance based on system resources and network constraints.
- Recognize how queues enhance FTP efficiency compared to linear processing or SNADS.
This summary condenses the 10-page supplement (v101, September 2018) into modules for administrators handling large-scale distributions. It applies to TURNOVER® Release 5.3 (March 2004+) and later, addressing FTP's inline limitations by enabling parallel processing. As of October 24, 2025, no newer public version of Supplement #55 was found via searches on UNICOM or SoftLanding sites; the feature is likely integrated into modern TURNOVER® Lifecycle Manager (Release 2.100+), but confirm with support for updates to queue handling in current releases.
Key Concepts
- Distribution Queues: Background worker jobs that parallelize FTP sends, reducing time for multi-system distributions (e.g., from hours to minutes for 100 systems).
- Comparison to SNADS: Unlike SNADS (multi-threaded background), FTP was linear; queues mimic background processing without system-specific ties.
- Worker Jobs: Configurable number of jobs (e.g., 10 for balance); run in TSERVER subsystem under TURNOVER profile.
- Setup: Global defaults for queue count; commands like STRTODQ, ENDTODQ for management.
- Prerequisites: TURNOVER® v5.3 (March 2004 tape+); FTP configured (*IFSFTP or *FTP); sufficient CPU/memory/network.
Module 1: Overview and Requirements
Why Distribution Queues?
- FTP distributions process sequentially, delaying large lists (e.g., 100 systems at 2.5 min each = 4+ hours).
- Queues enable simultaneous sends: Start multiple workers to handle queue entries in parallel.
- Not like SNADS queues: Generic background jobs, scalable to needs.
Requirements
- TURNOVER® Release 5.3 (March 2004+).
- For *IFSFTP: Supplement #26; for *FTP: Supplement #8.
- Resources: Balance queue count with system load (e.g., 10-20 for most).
Module 2: Configuring Distribution Queues
Global Defaults Setup
- TURNOVER 1 > F22 > Utilities > 3 (Global Defaults) > F10 (Network) > Set "Number of distribution queues" (e.g., 10).
- Job Description: Default TURNOVER in SOFTTURN; customize for library list, INLASPGRP if needed.
Starting and Stopping Queues
- Start: STRTODQ command (prompt with F4); specify count or *DFT (from defaults).
- End: ENDTODQ; ends all worker jobs.
- Autostart: Add to QSTRUP or TSERVER startup for automatic initiation.
How Queues Work
- Form submission: Adds entries to queue file (SOFTTURND/TODQFILE).
- Workers: Poll queue, process FTP sends; log to spools/job logs.
- Processing: Sender adds to queue; workers FTP save files; target receives/installs.
Module 3: Managing and Monitoring Queues
Monitoring
- WRKTODQ: Work with queues; shows status, jobs (e.g., TODQnnnnn).
- Job Logs: In TSERVER subsystem; check for errors.
- Queue File: TODQFILE records entries; clear old with CLRTODQ.
Troubleshooting
- Stuck Jobs: End/restart specific workers via WRKTODQ Option 4.
- Errors: FTP failures (e.g., connection); check QSYSOPR messages, TOFTPLOG.
- Performance: Adjust queue count; monitor CPU/network usage.
- Cleanup: Use CLRTODQ for failed/stale entries.
Best Practices
- Start with low count (5-10); scale up.
- Dedicate subsystem if high volume.
- Test: Distribute small form to multiple remotes; time vs. linear.
Assessment and Next Steps
- Quiz Ideas: Benefits of queues over linear FTP? Command to start queues? How to monitor worker jobs?
- Practice: Set global queues to 5, start with STRTODQ, distribute a test form to 3+ remotes, monitor via WRKTODQ.
- Further Learning: Supplements #8 (*FTP), #26 (*IFSFTP), #14 (Change Process); Administrator’s Guide (Release 2.100) for distributions. Contact UNICOM support (tech.support@unicomsi.com or +1-603-924-8818) for 2025 optimizations or integration with modern protocols.