News
CICS Portfolio e-Newsletter
May - June 2007
Welcome to the May - June issue. We hope you find this compilation of what's happening in the busy world of CICS and System z useful, informative and enjoyable.
A terrific amount of interest has been shown by IBM customers in the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 open beta program, with over 60 downloads to date. This is the first-ever open beta program for a new release of CICS Transaction Server for z/OS and it has been a resounding success.
The open beta was made available for download on 10 April. It provides a brilliant opportunity for customers to explore great new features in the latest release of CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, and to start thinking about how the new release can benefit their businesses.
Customers who register for the open beta will be able to investigate new features such as enhanced TCP/IP management and control, 64-bit support for channels and containers, and threadsafe user exits and commands.
The download site is "open for beta business" until 29 June but because the code does not expire until 31 August, there will still be plenty of time to take part in the program even if you are late registering.
To find out more go to the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS open beta site, or go directly to the registration page (to register you need a universal IBM ID but this simple process is explained).
Take part in the open beta program and help ensure IBM delivers what customers want and expect!
Dave Andrews,
Director, CICS Development
CICS Scene – Rick Thomas
The recent IBM Impact 2007 event in Orlando was billed as 'The defining SOA event' so this is probably a good time to recap what SOA is all about and where CICS fits into the picture.
From the high-level technology viewpoint, SOA is an architectural approach to IT that uses loosely-coupled services to support the requirements of business processes and users. The resources (applications and data) in an SOA are deployed as independent services that can be accessed without requesters needing to understand details of the underlying platform implementation.
SOA is definitely not just another industry hot topic - SOA implementations in use right now are delivering major competitive advantage for a wide range of businesses. SOA is now recognized by industry leaders and business analysts as a major initiative that delivers real benefits for businesses and customers.
From the CICS viewpoint, the March announcement of CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 and the CICS Tools included a number of new SOA-related enhancements in the areas of CICS application connectivity, CICS application reuse and CICS system service management. For example, CICS TS for z/OS V3.2 supports the WSDL 2.0 standard to enable interoperation with modern tools, infrastructure and service components in the SOA environment. CICS really does continue to put the 'S' in SOA
To find out more, listen to this great webcast.
Richard Thomas,
Program Director, CICS Marketing
Mainframe
CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 Open Beta available for download until 29 June!
Don't miss this great opportunity of trying the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 Open Beta trial software. Click the link to find out more and to get the download.
Have a 'CICS On Demand Seminar' delivered for your people at your location
Order a CICS On Demand Seminars and have a CICS technical specialist visit your location to talk about the amazing features and functions of CICS version 3 including recently-released CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2. To request a CICS On Demand seminar at your site, click the link and send an email.
CICS Tools
CICS Tools download site
The CICS Tools download site is now up and running. Click the link for more information.
Participate in CICS Tools BetaWorks programs
BetaWorks is a global IBM organisation that works closely with selected customers who are given early access to new IBM products, through managed beta programs. These programs allow customers to gain early experience with new IBM products and technologies. Install, evaluate and gain early experience with CICS Tools, influence CICS Tools design, get free-of-charge CICS Tools education, become a valued CICS Tools reference site! Click the link to find out more about the BetaWorks program. Send an email to BetaWorks@uk.ibm.com to register your interest.
Three important CICS APARs recently closed
- CICS Batch Application Control (APAR PK40988) this resolves operational issues discovered during trials and was recently closed. Click the link to obtain the fix. More...
- CICS Configuration Manager (APARS PK32577 and PK32935) these also resolve operating issues discovered during trials. Click the link to obtain the fix. More...
Infrastructure
Briefing for IT managers and developers: 'SOA reuse and connectivity'
For a successful service oriented architecture (SOA) strategy, it is imperative that businesses have the ability to create and connect reusable IT assets and services faster and more efficiently. Being able to do this delivers increased business flexibility as well as reduced development and maintenance costs.
This half day briefing provides a technical, practical overview of SOA reuse & connectivity offerings, including the benefits and importance of an ESB in creating and maintaining a flexible IT infrastructure. To find a location near you and register, click the link.
Webcast: CICS TS V3.2 continues to put the 'S' in SOA!
Listen to IBM Software Engineer Catherine Moxey explain how CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 helps businesses realize new application value as part of modern SOA solutions by quickly enabling proven core business applications. Hear how CICS has evolved to deliver improved connectivity, application reuse and IT service management.
Events
IBM Corporate Technical Recognition Event
At the recent 2007 IBM Corporate Technical Recognition Event, IBM honoured 510 technical professionals for individual and team contributions that make IBM an innovation powerhouse. In recognition of their significant contribution the following people received a corporate award from Sam Palmisano entitled 'CICS Evolution - Providing Core Service Oriented Architecture Technology for Our Clients': Ian Mitchell, Fraser Bohm, Darren Beard, Scott Clee, Geoff Pirie who are all from the CICS team at Hursley Laboratory, and Gary Mazo from the WebSphere Developer for System z team in Santa Theresa.
Workshops: ITSO and System z Security
Security is the hottest topic out there. The sophistication of the threats against IT enterprises grows at an alarming rate each year. It is advisable that as many users as possible understand the basic concepts of computer security, and how they are implemented in a mainframe environment. Have your people attend one of these 4 day workshops entitled: 'Introduction to New Mainframe - Security on System z'. The workshops run 12-15 Jun 2007 in Milan, Italy, and 12-15 July in Markham, Canada.
SHARE a non-stop technology experience
SHARE later this year is in San Diego from August 12-17. SHARE provides what no other conference venue does - a non-stop interactive experience for attendees to address their organization's technological and business needs. New in San Diego, SHARE now provides IBM Certification Testing on System z Mastery and STG and SWG Certification Tests. Click the link to find out more and to register.
Cake bake 'raises' funds for South African building project!
A cake sale was held in Hursley House on 22 May to raise funds for the Building Futures project which will send 21 women to South Africa to work on a house-building project later this year. To find out more about this worthwhile project, email project coordinator Jo Borrett.
Events worldwide in 2007
- August 12-17, SHARE User Group Events, San Diego, US
- October, TPF Users Group, Washington, US
- October, zSeries Expo, Orlando, US
- October, IBM Academy Annual Meeting, Austin, US
- November, Japan TPF Users Group, Tokyo
- November, Transaction & Messaging Conference (T&M), Vienna
Resources
New white paper: 'Managing your enterprise CICS systems now and in the future'
Read this great new white paper which addresses the concerns of CICS system managers, system programmers, developers and testers. The paper provides a high-level overview of CICS enterprise management, the related challenges and how the new capabilities of IBM CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 3.2 help address these challenges. Essentially, the paper helps answer the question "What do I need to consider when managing my systems for CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 3.2?" (IBM publication number WSW11321-UEN-00, author Paul Johnson, IBM CICS System Management Strategy, Planning and Design).
Business Partners: join PartnerWorld and put the power of IBM behind your business!
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Training and development
Addressing the skills problem
Traditional core CICS skills that have been in demand for many years are still relevant in today’s demanding business world. One area where IBM anticipated a possible problem is where traditional CICS applications that were developed a long time ago need to be modernized for use in today’s fast-moving, Web-based business environment. The skills needed to do this are in relatively recent technologies such as Java and Web services. To address this issue IBM has put in place various initiatives with major universities. IBM also offers customers a comprehensive portfolio of CICS skills development activities in application programming, system programming, version-to-version migration and e-business.
Workshops and seminars
- CICS On Demand Seminars. Have CICS developers visit your location to help you get the best out of CICS and help modernize your systems to exploit SOA. Click the link to send an email request for a seminar at your location. More...
- CICS and Web Services workshops. Through a combination of lectures and labs, learn how to use the Web services support provided in CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.1 to expose CICS application programs as Web services and to invoke other Web services.
- IBM business partner workshops: 'Process Integration for Service Oriented Architecture': Learn how to jumpstart your software development of open standards and cross platform applications using IBM business process integration middleware and tools.
- Training: Application Development for e-business. Gain the skills you need to build e-business applications. Learn about the core technologies, processes and tools skills that can improve your productivity. More...
- Training: CICS Skills workshops. Work alongside CICS Redbook authors to develop useful new CICS skills. These courses are delivered in partnership with IBM IT Education Services. More...
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