Command quiesce function

One or more Central Processing Complexes (CPC), each with one or more programs being executed, become command initiators by issuing commands requesting an action to be performed by a command responder. The responder is a Structured Electronic Storage (SES) which comprises a coupling facility. The SES receives commands to be executed over a plurality of links interconnecting the CPC's and SES, and returns a response to the program that issued the command. The SES is the focal point for the CPC's to share data, control locks, and manipulate lists or queues. This couples the autonomous CPC's into a System Complex (Sysplex) displaying a single system image. An indicator associated with each of the links is set by SES when it appears to a initiator that problems on the link exist. The set state of any indicator prevents SES from starting execution of any subsequent commands. This preserves the orderly, sequential execution of commands to insure consistent states of data in SES, and allows the program that issued the command to determine exactly how the command ended at SES. Data associated with execution of the command is stored in a status save area of SES for subsequent access by the program.