When an explicit-mode server begins execution, the Listener has received the transaction-request message (TRM) from the client and has inserted the transaction-initiation message (TIM) to the IMS™ message queue. The Listener has also issued a GIVESOCKET call to pass the connection to the server.

The server's first action is to obtain the TIM from the IMS message queue. This message contains the information needed to issue the INITAPI and TAKESOCKET calls.

Once the server has issued the TAKESOCKET call, the connection is between client and server; the two can now communicate directly using socket READ/WRITE calls. The number of reads/writes, and the format of the data exchanged, is determined by agreement between the two programs.

At the end of processing a client's request, the application program should follow the IMS DC programming standard of issuing another GU to the IO/PCB. This informs IMS that the database changes should be committed, and that the database buffers should be emptied (flushed).