Configuring a CICS IA system connection

Before you can view any information, you must establish a connection between the CICS® IA plug-in and the DB2® database where the CICS IA Collector stores its data. You must enter the information to connect to the DB2 database and associate the connection with a credential to authenticate that connection.

Before you begin

You must have details of the connection to the DB2 database where the CICS IA Collector stores its data, the correct level of authorization, and be connected to your company's network.

You require a suitable credential, that is, a set of information that you use to authenticate the connection to the DB2 database where the CICS IA Collector stores its data. For details about creating credentials, see Defining connection credentials in the CICS Explorer® User Guide.

Note: System connections can now be secured by using the SSL protocol. For more information, see Using SSL security for Explorer connections, and Managing SSL security and certificates.

About this task

The following procedure describes how to configure a new CICS IA system connection.

Alternatively, you can load or import shared connection definitions from a central location, or connection definitions from another user. For details, see Using shared connection definitions in the CICS Explorer User Guide.

Procedure

  1. On the workbench menu, click Window > Manage Connections. The Host Connections view is displayed.
  2. From the list of connection types, select Interdependency Analyzer, then click Add.
  3. In the Add Interdependency Analyzer Connection window, complete the fields with the details that your system or database administrator provided:
    A screen image of the Add Interdependency Analyzer Connection window
    Option Description
    Name The local name that you give to this database connection. Use this name to distinguish between different database connections.
    Host name The host name or IP address of the z/OS® host system for the DB2 database that the Collector uses.
    Port Number The port number that DB2 is listening on for connections from the CICS IA® plug-in.
    Secure connection (TLS/SSL) Select this check box if the connection uses SSL security.
    Location The name that requesters use to connect to the DB2 database that the Collector uses, for example DB2LOCN.
    Schema (Qualifier) The qualifier of the schema name in the DB2 database that the Collector uses. This name is specified when CICS IA is installed, for example CICSIA51.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • To save the configuration and connect immediately, click Save and Connect. In the Signon window, select the user credentials that you want to associate with the connection and click OK.

      Your new connection is shown in the Host Connections view. The credential that is associated with the connection is shown in brackets after the connection name.

      A screen image of the Host Connections view with an Interdependency Analyzer connection

    • To save the configuration without connecting, click Save and Close.

      Optionally, associate a credential with the connection. Right-click the connection name, click Set Credentials to show the available credentials, then click the credential that you require.

      A screen image of the Host Connections view with the pop-up menu

      If you do not associate a credential with the connection at this time, you will be prompted for the credential when you start the connection.

      To start the connection later, select the connection from the list in the Host Connections view, then click Connect.

Results

If you started the connection and the connection is successful, a message is displayed in the CICS Explorer status bar and the connection icon is green. You can now view and analyze information.

If the connection is not successful, an error message is displayed in the CICS Explorer status bar. Use the information in the message to check the values in the fields and correct any errors, then try to connect again.

What to do next

You can export your connections to back them up or to share them with other users. In the toolbar of the Host Connections view, click the Export Connections to File icon Export Connections to File icon, then enter the required path and file name. The default file type is pref.