Usage Note 38526: Placing the WORK library in a UNIX File System (UFS) in SAS® 9.2 and above
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Placing the WORK library in a UNIX file system (UFS) directory eliminates the need to specify the amount of space that is allocated to the WORK library (including client WORK libraries). This feature is particularly valuable for multi-user SAS servers because the space requirements for individual client WORK libraries varies widely and is difficult to predict. When you place your WORK library in a UFS directory, each WORK library uses only the space it actually needs for the files that are created. This space is drawn from all of the free space available in the UNIX file system in which the directory is located.
To use UFS libraries, follow these guidelines:
Specify the path to the directory in which the WORK library (or libraries) will reside, and set the SAS system option WORK as shown in the following example:
Alternatively, set the SAS system option WORK=WORK and specify your WORK DD according to the following example:
Each WORK library (or client WORK library) resides in a subdirectory within the UFS directory that you specify with the WORK option. SAS creates these subdirectories automatically as they are needed.
Note: When WORK resides in UFS, you must specifiy the SAS system option WORKTERM so that SAS removes the WORK library subdirectories and their contents at the end of the SAS session.
WORKTERM is the most appropriate setting when the WORK library resides in a UFS directory because reusing a UFS WORK library from a previous session is not practical. However, NOWORKTERM is the appropriate setting when the WORK library resides in a direct access bound library because either the library resides in a temporary z/OS data set that will be deleted by the system anyway, or the library resides in a permanent data set that might be reused.
SAS recommends that you specify NOWORKTERM in the default options table and not specify it in a CONFIG file or in the SAS invocation options. If you follow this recommendation, SAS automatically selects the appropriate setting during SAS system initialization, based on the type of WORK library.
For additional details, refer to WORKTERM system option in the SAS® 9.2 Companion for z/OS .
Ensure that the specified UFS path corresponds to a directory that has its sticky bit turned on. When the sticky bit is on for a directory, directories that reside within that directory can be removed only by the owner of the directory, by the owner of the directory that is being deleted, or by a superuser. This setting allows multiple SAS users to place temporary directories in the same location without the risk of accidentally deleting one other's files.
Depending on your SAS WORK load, you might need to have a separate directory such as /tmpsas for SAS work. All user IDs that will be using SAS must have write access to the directory. You should not use /tmp because system failures can occur if you fill up the /tmp directory.
Operating System and Release Information
| Product Family | Product | System | SAS Release | |
| Reported | Fixed* | |||
| SAS System | Base SAS | z/OS | 9.2 TS1M0 | |
| Type: | Usage Note |
| Priority: |
| Date Modified: | 2011-05-02 15:30:42 |
| Date Created: | 2010-01-28 10:42:41 |