These example tasks illustrate how you can configure and change
your system connections.
Configuring a system connection
Before you can view any information, you must establish
a connection with your host system by providing details about the
system connection, the system location, and authentication requirements.
By default, connections attempt to use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
protocol. If the SSL connection is not successful, the connection
is retried without SSL.
Configuring an FTP system connection
You must have an FTP or z/OSMF connection to use the views
in the z/OS perspective. By default, the FTP connection uses the secure
forms of the protocols, FTP over TLS. If the secure connection is
not successful, the connection is reattempted without security.
Configuring a proxy server
Service updates for the z/OS Explorer are
available on a pre-configured download site on the internet. Your
organization might require you to connect to the internet through
a proxy server. You can use the Preferences dialog to define a proxy
server.
Configuring a z/OSMF system connection
The z/OS Management Facility (z/OSMF) is a product for
z/OS that provides support for a modern, Web-based management console
for z/OS, and extends the functionality of the z/OS Explorer.
You must have a z/OSMF connection to use the features of z/OSMF. When
you define a z/OSMF system, z/OS Explorer attempts
to create an FTP connection at the same time. z/OS Explorer then
chooses the connection that is most suitable for the task you are
performing.
Defining connection credentials
When you connect to a system your credentials, that is
your user ID and password or pass phrase, are sent to the system for
authentication. When you have defined a credential you can use it
on all systems that share the credential without reentering the details
every time. You must have at least one credential before you can connect
to a system.
Deleting a system connection
If you no longer need one of your system connections, you
can delete it permanently from the z/OS Explorer.
You can delete only connections that you have created or imported
into CICS Explorer. You cannot delete connections that are loaded
from a shared connection definition file.
Disconnecting from a system
If you want to disconnect the z/OS Explorer from
your current system connection, there are two ways of doing it.
Exporting connection definitions
You can export a set of connection definitions that you
have created and share them with other users. The exported file must
have a file type of .pref but the name can be
anything you choose, for example, connections.pref.
If you save the definition file on a shared disk, users can load the
connection details into their CICS Explorer. Any changes you make
to the central definition file are picked up the next time the user
starts CICS Explorer.
Updating a system connection
If any of the system connection settings change, you must
update the connection details in the Host Connections view to reflect
the changes.
Using shared connection definitions
As an alternative to defining your own connection definitions,
you can share a set of definitions that are stored in a central location.
You can either load or import the shared connection definitions into
your copy of CICS Explorer. Sharing connections means that the connection
definitions can be managed centrally, and any changes to the definition
file are picked up the next time CICS Explorer starts.