Define Volumes as first step in z/OSMF Serverpac Deployment

It would be helpful to provide the capability in z/OSMF, as part of a Serverpac install, to add a step that defines and builds ICKDSF JCL to initialize volume names which will be used in the Deployment Checklist step, to assign datasets to a specific volume. There should be a narrative on why this is necessary and inform the user that a conversation with the Storage Administrator should occur on the amount of space required for each volume and what address it resides on.

Presently when working with the Deployment checklist and modifying a group of datasets, if you specify the VOLSER radio button and the VOLSER does not exist, z/OSMF will not allow you to proceed. The volumes need to be pre-defined in order for z/OSMF to make the assignment. Not really a problem for experienced Sysprog's however for a newbie using z/OSMF this will cause confusion and potentially stall the installation process. Additionally, for volumes that will contain VSAM files like a Master Catalog, User Catalog or SMPE Global and Target zones, or be SMS managed, create an Index VTOC on the volume.

Additionally, if the initializing of volumes for the Serverpac has already been done by a storage administrator, prior to the start of the deployment steps, provide the ability in z/OSMF to enter those volume names prior to the deployment. This way when an inexperienced user of z/OSMF modifies the dataset deployment by VOLSER, they will have the list of volumes in the pulldown.