IBM CICS Configuration Manager for z/OS V2.1

IBM® CICS® Configuration Manager for z/OS V2.1 is a tool for administering and maintaining CICS resource definitions, which also provides comprehensive reporting and optional change management control facilities. It can be used by all who build, manage, and deploy complex mainframe CICS applications.

CICS CM is an attractively priced, one-time charge product, which can help CICS clients reduce the cost of ownership of the System z platforms and further leverage their investment in System z infrastructure.

For large and small companies with CICS systems programmers who need to manage numerous CICS regions with both similar and differing system parameters, CICS Configurartion Manager provides the ability to manage and deploy system definition files automatically and dynamically, with or without the use of CICSPlex SM, from a single point of control.

IBM's offering:

• Provides Day 1 support and exploitation of CICS TS V4.1

• Provides a plug-in for the CICS Explorer, that integrates with the CICS run-time and other CICS Tools, and simplifies use by developers and other less-technical CICS staff

• Provides a flexible and modular tool, so your client does not need to start using all the functionality it provides at once. Instead, your client can take a staged approach, and integrate CICS CM into your client's processes gradually

• Support for new and updated resources in CICS Transaction Server (CICS TS) V4.1, including ATOMSERVICE, BUNDLE, and IPv6 addresses

• Support for the CICS Explorer, including powerful query and search plus smart resource editors

• Deployment Analysis batch reports

• Support for full-function BAS objects

• Significant functions delivered by PTF since CICS CM V1.2

The new version also introduces a wide range of other technical and operational capabilities, including requirements raised by individual customers and user communities. See the Announcement Letter for details.

CICS Configuration Manager enables you to

• Manage CICS resource definitions in CSDs within your enterprise from a single point of control

• Manipulate definitions seamlessly across CSD files and CICSPlex System Manager data repositories

• Create, edit, compare, copy, move and remove definitions, individually or in groups

• Edit definitions whether the CICS regions that use them are active or inactive

• Migrate multiple definitions in a single step with the option to transform definitions automatically to match the target environment

• Use the audit trail to generate reports and back out changes to any previous version of the definitions

• Create reports to identify redundant definitions, analyze resource definition status, relationships and history, across any combination of CSD files and data repositories

• Take advantage of the optional change control capability where approval is required from authorized users before migrating definitions

• Use an XML SOAP API and batch facility for scripting and integration with your existing applications

• Improve productivity of day-to-day CICS system management and administration

• Improve change control and auditability

• Reduce the cost of maintaining complex CICS environments by simplifying administration

• Provide automated and less error-prone capabilities to CICS systems programmers to manage CICS systems

• Provide CICS application programmers with more direct control over test systems

• Simplify managing new application development through test and deployment

• Get less-skilled staff started faster and make specialists more productive using the CICS Explorer plug-in

• Free highly skilled CICS systems programmers for other tasks

• Support change control and problem management using the history database

The CICS Explorer and the CICS Configuration Manager plug-in are available for download from the CICS Explorer Download page.

CICS CM runs on z/OS.
The CICS Explorer requires a Windows or Linux (Intel) workstation.

Hardware requirements
CICS CM V2.1 can run on any IBM eServer® zSeries® machine on which a required operating system and other required software are installed and running.

Software requirements
CICS CM V2.1 requires System Modification Program/Extended (SMP/E) of the supported z/OS® system for installation and maintenance. It operates with the following CICS configurations:

• CICS TS for z/OS V4.1 (5655-S97)

• CICS TS for z/OS V3.1, and V3.2 (5655-M15)

The following products are also required:

• z/OS V1.8 or later (contains SMP/E) (5694-A01)

• z/OS V1.8 DFSORT feature or later, or an equivalent sort product

The CICS Explorer is supported on the following platforms:

• Microsoft Windows Vista

• Microsoft Windows XP (32-bit)

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and 2008 (32-bit)

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux V5 (Intel®) (32-bit)

Details relating to service and support for the CICS Explorer are available at
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1083&uid=swg21380083