Chapter 5. Working with files 147
When you define a VSAM space on a volume, you set up a relationship between
that space and a catalog. The space is owned by the catalog. You can define
other spaces on that same volume or a different volume for the same catalog.
Master catalogs and user catalogs
A z/VSE system always has at least one master catalog. If a z/VSE system has a
single catalog, this catalog would be the master catalog and the location entries
for files would be stored in it. A single catalog, however, would be neither efficient
nor flexible, so a typical z/VSE system uses a master catalog and numerous user
catalogs connected to it. Every catalog exists on a single volume. It is
independent of other catalogs and exclusively controls ...