A profile defines a unique runtime environment, with separate command files, configuration files, and log files. Profiles define three different types of environments: stand-alone server, deployment manager, and managed node.
Using profiles you can have more than one runtime environment on a system, without having to install multiple copies of the WebSphere® ESB binary files.
When you install WebSphere Application Server for z/OS®, you configure the product using the ISPF Customization Dialog, which creates a profile. After you have installed WebSphere ESB, you must augment the profile to define the node either as a deployment manager or stand-alone server for WebSphere ESB. If you have created a deployment manager, you can then create one or more managed nodes. This automatically creates a profile to define the runtime environment for each node.
Every profile in the system has its own directory containing all its files. You specify the location of the profile directory when you create the profile: by default it is in the profiles directory in the directory where WebSphere ESB was installed, for example, installation_file_system_root /AppServer/profiles/default.