New Function | Description |
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Clone an unmanaged CICS region | Cloning regions and provisioning environments is one of the key features of CICS DA. It helps you to consistently generate JCL that conforms to corporate standards, and create data sets that are appropriate to the level of CICS being provisioned. In the previous release of CICS DA, CICS regions can be cloned only if they were already part of a CICSPlex® SM environment. This version extends this capability by providing the function to clone an unmanaged region. Limitation: If the unmanaged region has a CMCI port that is configured, then the CMCI port must be configured manually in the region that is created by the clone process before CMCI can be used with the new region. Limitation: CICS DA does not support all the new features of JCL that are introduced in z/OS® 2.1 If you have upgraded to z/OS 2.1, and have changed your jobs to include the new features , then the clone operation might not be successful. For more information about the clone function, see Cloning a CICS region |
Externalized API | During discovery, CICS DA gathers a vast amount of Sysplex and topology information. The externalized API provides you with the ability to extract this data by using standard mechanisms that are available within web and Mobile technologies, as well as being available to other z/OS-based applications. The external RESTful API provides access for external tools and automation to use the Sysplex data that is discovered by the CICS DA server. Limitations:
For more information about the API, see The CICS DA external API |
Region Comparison User interface | Using the comparison feature, you can compare two CICS regions that CICS DA discovered. The comparison information is presented in a side-by-side editor within the CICS DA client plug-in, with an extra panel that lists the attributes that are different. This information helps you to analyze whether two regions are similar enough to be considered for consolidation; thus reducing the number of running CICS regions and in turn, reducing the overhead costs. The feature can also help you to identify
why a certain transaction abends in one region and not another, or
to check whether two regions are similar; for example, whether a test
region is a fair reflection of a production region. The comparison
function is started in the CICS DA
client plug-in by selecting two regions, and then right-clicking and
selecting Compare with each other from the menu. The regions that
can be compared are as follows:
This function is similar to the function that is available in the IBM® CICS Configuration Manager. The regions can be selected from the DA Explorer view, the Connections view or from the main Visualization view. The request gathers data about the two regions that is held in CICS DA, and presents the information in a new side-by-side editor. An extra panel lists the attributes that are different for the two regions. The information can be used to help you determine any differences between region topology. This information can help with tasks such as region consolidation, problem determination, and comparable region validation. Limitations:
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Discovery of TCP/IP ports | The discovery operation now identifies the TCP/IP stacks and port numbers that are in use in a z/OS system. A list of the TCP/IP stacks and port numbers, along with the port type, host name, and job name, is shown in the TCP/IP Port Usage tab z/OS System editor. For more information about the z/OS System editor, see z/OS System editor |
Support for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP800-131a security standard. | CICS Deployment Assistant Version 5.2 can connect to CICS systems by using the SP800-131a security standard. The SP800-131a standard requires longer key lengths and stronger cryptography than other standards. There are no changes to the CICS DA plug-in. Your keystore and truststore details are listed in the Security and certificate management page, which is available by clicking Window > preferences > Explorer > Certificate Management, as they are today. The CICS DA server environment variables file, CPHENVAR, now includes new variables for SSL. You must ensure that your CICS DA server is started with the correct variables file if you are using the SP800-131a security standard. |
Changed Function | Description |
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New options when cloning a CICS region | The Clone Managed Region wizard has been
extended to provide more options when you clone a CICS region. You can set the following options
from a new page in the wizard:
For more information about the clone function, see Cloning a CICS region |
Miscellaneous enhancements | Various extra enhancements are included in this release. They are as follows:
|