CICS Transaction Server for z/OS overview

CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS® provides general-purpose transaction processing software for z/OS. CICS is a powerful application server that meets the transaction-processing needs of both large and small enterprises.

By using the CICS support that is provided in IBM® Integration Bus you can deploy CICS applications into a service-oriented architecture (SOA). This support keeps your business logic intact and requires little or no change to CICS and CICS applications.

The following diagram shows the layers of communication between IBM Integration Bus and CICS.
The diagram shows how IBM Integration can connect to CICS Transaction Server for z/OS.
You can use the following methods to connect to CICS:
  • CICSRequest node support

    IBM Integration Bus includes a CICSRequest node that supports connectivity to CICS by using the IP InterCommunications (IPIC) protocol, which is available in CICS Transaction Server for z/OS. To review the latest supported version of CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, see IBM Integration Bus system requirements

    Support includes the following connection methods:
    • A direct connection to CICS (two-tier).
    • A connection to CICS through CICS Transaction Gateway (three-tier).
      • CICS TG

        CICS TG is a high-performing, secure, and scalable solution that provides workload management and high-availability options for access to CICS. By using standards-based interfaces, CICS TG deliver access to new and existing CICS applications.

    For further information about the CICSRequest node, see CICSRequest node.

  • CICS web services support

    You can use the web services support in IBM Integration Bus to connect to CICS applications. For further information about web services, see Processing web service messages.

  • CICS-WebSphere® MQ Integration

    CICS has several components that support integration with WebSphere MQ. These components are:

    • The CICS-WebSphere MQ adapter, also known as the CICS-MQ attach (including the CKTI trigger monitor or task initiator). The term CICS-MQ adapter is used to refer to the CICS-WebSphere MQ adapter.
    • The CICS-WebSphere MQ bridge, also known as the CICS 3270 and DPL bridges. The term CICS-MQ bridge is used to refer to the CICS-WebSphere MQ bridge.

For further information about how to use the CICSRequest node to connect IBM Integration Bus to CICS applications, see CICS Transaction Server for z/OS connectivity.

For further information about CICS, see the CICS Library web page, which contains links to the CICS Information Center and associated IBM Redbooks® publications.