Software provides application transformation.
Press Release Summary:
CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS® features capabilities that allow CICS-based applications to be integrated with Service Oriented Architecture. HTTP capabilities are offered as part of CICS Web support, moving level of specification supported to HTTP 1.1. Software includes threadsafe CICS Web API commands, mechanism for inter-program data transfer, extended Open Transaction Environment, and batch update mechanism for CICSPlex SM data repository.
Original Press Release:
IBM CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.1 Offers Improved Integration, Application Transformation, and Enterprise Management
Overview
This new version of CICS® Transaction Server (CICS TS) for
z/OS® introduces a range of major enhancements, which fall into three main areas.
Access to CICS
A group of functions is introduced to enhance access to CICS. Major new support is provided for Web services, by an evolution of the functions previously provided as the SOAP for CICS optional feature. These capabilities allow CICS-based applications to be integrated with a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), enabling them to be exposed as Web services.
Distributed transaction coordination is provided for partners complying with the WS-Atomic transaction specification. Message-level security function that complies with the WS-Security specification will be provided later in this release.
New HTTP capabilities are offered as part of CICS Web support, moving the level of specification supported to HTTP 1.1, and adding outbound HTTP function. Security enhancements are provided to the existing support for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), including support for the TLS 1.0 protocol.
Application transformation
The second important group of enhancements to CICS TS provides
new capabilities for the generation of new applications, and the
development of existing applications, using contemporary programming languages and techniques. Support is introduced for totally Language Environment®-enabled Assembler application programs.
A new mechanism is provided for inter-program data transfer, which offers an alternative that is not subject to the 32-KB restriction of the COMMAREA mechanism. All the EXEC CICS Web API commands have been made threadsafe. Support for the XPLink feature of z/OS enables improved performance of applications written in C/C++.
More efficient use of z/OS multiprocessor capabilities is
enabled by extension of Open Transaction Environment (OTE)
support to use open TCBs.
The Information Center is provided as a plug-in to the Eclipse platform. It brings benefits through commonality with this framework now being employed by many other IBM products.
Enterprise management
The third area of enhancements is to the systems management
capabilities of CICS TS V3.1. Many improvements are made to the
CICSPlex® SM Web User Interface, both providing new functions and enhancing its usability. This makes it the interface of choice for all systems management actions. A new interface is provided for the CICSPlex SM data repository batch update facility. With these enhancements, CICSPlex SM can be configured, set up, and run without involving the TSO or CAS
components, saving time and effort for both existing and new users.
Key prerequisites
CICS TS for z/OS V3.1 requires z/OS V1.4 (5694-A01), or later.
Planned availability date
March 25, 2005
At a glance
CICS TS V3.1 focuses around an important range of new functions.
They fall into the following groups:
o Access to CICS. Major new capabilities are provided in the
areas of Web services, HTTP function, and security.
o Application transformation
- C/C++ capability is enhanced by support for XPLink.
- CICS Web API commands are now threadsafe.
- OTE function has been extended.
- Language Environment-enabled Assembler applications are supported.
- A new mechanism is provided for inter-program data transfer.
- The Information Center has moved to the Eclipse platform.
o Enterprise management
- Functional and usability improvements are provided to the CICSPlex SM Web User Interface, enabling systems to be fully managed without the TSO End User Interface
- New batch update mechanism is provided for the CICSPlex SM data repository
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