IBM XCF

{{short description|Component of the z/OS operating system}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{notability|date=April 2018}}

{{More sources needed|date=April 2018}}

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In IBM mainframes, a Cross-system Coupling Facility, or XCF, is a component of z/OS that manages communications between applications in a sysplex.{{Cite book |last1=Eade |first1=Arndt |url=https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg248420.pdf |title=IBM CICS and the Coupling Facility: Beyond the Basics |last2=Frerking |first2=Randy |last3=Jackson |first3=Rich |last4=Mathis |first4=Kellie |last5=Redbooks |first5=I. B. M. |date=2018-02-21 |publisher=IBM Redbooks |isbn=978-0-7384-4304-1 |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos-basic-skills?topic=sysplex-cross-system-coupling-facility-xcf|title=Networking on z/OS - Cross-system Coupling Facility (XCF)|publisher=IBM}}{{cite web|url=https://documentation.softwareag.com/wcpmf/6.6.1/en/webhelp/wcpmf-webhelp/wxf/wxf_ov.htm|title=Entire Net-Work XCF Option 6.6.1 - XCF Overview|publisher=Software AG}}{{cite web|url=https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-mainframe-software/traditional-management/ca-mim-for-z-os/12-5/programming/ca-mim-programming/ca-mim-advanced-topics/xcf-as-the-initial-communication-method.html|title=MIM for z/OS 12.5 - XCF as the Initial Communication Method|publisher=Broadcom Inc.}}{{cite book|url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSLTBW_2.4.0/pdf/ieai600_v2r4.pdf|title=z/OS V2R4 - MVS Programming: Sysplex Services Guide|publisher=IBM|date=2020-09-22}} Applications may be on the same system or different systems.

Systems communicate using messages transported by one of two mechanisms:

• Dedicated channel-to-channel links (CTC links).
• Structures in a Coupling Facility, only available in Parallel Sysplex, not in base sysplex.

In a parallel sysplex decisions about which of these two transport mechanisms to use for routing a specific message are made dynamically.

Within a single z/OS system messages are transported using cross-memory services, rather than being routed through either of the physical transport mechanisms.

Applications join specific groups as individual members. On joining a group a member can send or receive messages. Individual messages are assigned to specific transport classes, based on the message's size. Each transport class owns input and output buffers. Routing decisions are made at the transport class level.