IT Management

Jun 14 ’10

CICS and Web 2.0

by Scott Clee & Nick Garrod in z/Journal
3 Pages

The CICS Management Client Interface is a RESTful interface for CICS system management. HTTP client applications can use it to manage CICS and CICSPlex System Management (SM) resources and resource definitions. It’s also the primary interface CICS Explorer uses for its system management. The CMCI connects to either a CICSplex environment or a single region with the System Management Single Server (SMSS) service enabled.

Using the HTTP 1.1 protocol, the CMCI supports these commands:

  • DELETE: Discard installed resources, or remove resources from the CICSPlex SM data repository or CICS System Definition File (CSD) 
  • GET: Retrieve information on installed resources or from the CICSPlex SM data repository or CICS CSD
  • POST: Create resources in the CICSPlex SM data repository or CICS CSD
  • PUT: Set attributes and perform actions on installed resources, CICSPlex SM resources, or CICS CSD resources.

A CMCI request is made in the form of a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) containing the name of the CICS or CICSPlex SM resource. Further parameters are then used to refine the scope and nature of the query. This new programmatic interface to CICS SM further demonstrates CICS’ involvement in RESTful technology.

Dynamic Scripting

IBM recently released the CICS TS and WebSphere Application Server (WAS) feature packs for dynamic scripting. These feature packs help enterprises address situational application needs by providing a Web-oriented programming model focused on agility through the use of Web 2.0 and dynamic scripting technologies. Based on WebSphere sMash, the feature packs for dynamic scripting deliver PHP and Groovy dynamic scripting languages and an innovative Web 2.0 programming model. The built-in Zero Resource Model (ZRM) provides a simplified way to create RESTful resource handlers with a data store that can be mapped to IBM DB2 for improved resilience, security, and performance.

The CICS TS feature pack for dynamic scripting contains these features:

  • Executes both PHP and Groovy scripts using JVM-based technology, which is eligible for execution on System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP) engines
  • Can be used to quickly and simply Web-enable existing CICS applications
  • Lets new PHP and Groovy programmers quickly build their CICS skills
  • Enables creation of reports, dashboards, and widgets
  • Provides a robust, managed environment for situational applications with built-in, scalable CICS TS V4 JVM server technology.

The feature pack helps companies become more agile and productive through the use of situational applications. These are the types of applications that are often less critical and used by a relatively small number of users, but when deployed in numbers can provide significant value to the enterprise. This agile, collaborative development programming model will assist in reducing application backlog and improve customer satisfaction with fast, cost-effective development of situational applications. It provides improved control and governance with a managed environment for tactical computing and helps Line of Business (LOB) knowledge workers meet their own application needs.

Summary

Powerful Web 2.0 technologies are currently available in CICS TS. The CICS Web 2.0 roadmap started with the SupportPacs delivered in 2008 with CICS TS V3.2; further integration occurred in CICS TS V4.1. As technologies such as Groovy and PHP are adopted in the mainstream, you can expect to see major players in enterprise computing adopt and exploit them. 

References

  • CA8K: CICS TS for z/OS: Delivering Atom feeds from CICS: www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1083&uid=swg24018619
  • CA1S: REST support in CICS using PHP for use with CICS TS for z/OS V3: www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1083&uid=swg24021196
  • Dynamic Scripting announcement letter: www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=AN&subtype=CA&htmlfid=897/ENUS210-144&appname=USN  
  • CICS TS 4.1 InfoCenter: https://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/cicsts/v4r1/index.jsp
  • IBM Education Assistant–CICS TS for z/OS V4.1–Atom feed support: http://tiny.cc/cicsatom
  • PHP on CICS with SupportPac CA1S: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtyHRAQROnw.

3 Pages