Have you been asked to investigate a problem or conduct a special study involving only an SMF / system-log data-subset or possibly a specific focus-area?
With CA MICS, the SPECIAL type unit-database can provide MICS file / time-span activation control which helps optimize / minimize your database update processing elapsed time and CPU resource consumption. This unique MICS feature can be exploited separate from your MICS production (unit database) environment, similar to what you might consider using a TEST unit database for -- except with the additional file/time-span activation control using member prefix.MICS.PARMS(SELFILES). See MICS PIOM Guide, Appendix A, for more information.
And if interested in more details about examples and past experiences, reply to this post to continue the discussion.
Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.