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| MQWizard |
 Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:42 am Post subject: Mainframe Integration --general |
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Novice
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
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I have a need to integrate mainframe some CICS transaction, some VSAM Files and with dataqueue for both inbound and outbound flows between mainframe and Message Broker system (installed on windows).
As a need in this project, I am trying to identify the best way to integrate. CICS transaction, most of them are realtime whereas the others are batch.
Having said this, I am thinking about using mainframe adapter with WBIMB as a broker to integrate with differnt mainframe components.
As per the documents, I could find that integration with all components except the dataqueue can be done using the wbi adapter (need to try it out though!!)
But pls throw light based on your experiences and also based on your knowledge; what do you consider the best option/options for these integrations.
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| vennela |
| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Knight
Joined: 11 Aug 2002
Posts: 4055
Location: Hyderabad, India
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I think the problem is not just laying out what products to use. First of all, you need to understand what you need to do. CICS transactions are not something that you use an adapter or anything similar to invoke just like that.
I would say first analyse what to do, what kind of transactions you have, then post your detailed analysis on what you are trying to achieve then somebody here can come up with solutions or point you in the right direction.
Similarly with VSAM files |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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Also, consider running WMB on zOS instead of Windows. It may be all the "adapter" you need.
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| MQWizard |
| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Novice
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
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thank you for the replies.
Jeff, installing on Mainframe is not an option. It is a system decided to be sunset. other then that,I think and strongly advocate that EAI solution should be independent on the OS, it is hosted upon.
venella, thanks for your reply. CICS transaction call has to be made so that the existing CICS transaction programs can be used to fulfill the functionality. Integration with CICS transaction, VSAM and Dataqueue are requirement for different integration needs with the same mainframe system. I hope, I am clear.
Having said that, I dont seem to understand your statement on the adapter. WBI adapter based on NEON shadow implementation does provide a mechanism to invoke and get replies from CICS transaction. Also there are other options, one of them being hard wired integration with CICS using MQ-CICS bridge.
At this point, I am looking at the architectural decisions on what options of integration I have or is possible.
I appreciate you inputs.
thanks...
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| bruce2359 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:44 am Post subject: |
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As to CICS, there are two flavors of CICS work, namely: transactions and programs. Very briefly:
A CICS transaction contains your presentation (device-sensitive) logic and business logic. The transaction may currently come from a 3270 device, for example.
A CICS program isn't device-sensitive. Rather, receives its input from a buffer (COMMAREA) passed from a calling program.
If MQ is the originator of either, the MQ calling program MQPUTs a request message in a queue, the message flows across a CICS bridge that drives the program or transaction
In a CICS program, the MQ message will contain a program name and COMMAREA buffer data. In a CICS transaction, the MQ message will contain the equivalent of the 3270 data flow.
The output from the CICS program COMMAREA ends up as a reply message. The output from a CICS transaction is the equivalent of the 3270 data flow.
It's way more complicated than this; but this is the general idea.
Refer to the APR and APG. |
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| JoePanjang |
| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Voyager
Joined: 10 Jul 2002
Posts: 88
Location: Dengkil MALAYSIA
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I would suggest go with CICS Bridge - this will be less changes on the CICS apps side.
Since the broker on Windows, not sure whether u can use the CICS / VSAM node there.
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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| JoePanjang wrote: |
| Since the broker on Windows, not sure whether u can use the CICS / VSAM node there. |
You can't. V6.1 will allow access to remote files over FTP, though.
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| zpat |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:14 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Council
Joined: 19 May 2001
Posts: 5866
Location: UK
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A CICS transaction does not have to contain presentation logic. It is simply a collection of one or more CICS programs.
What you need to know first is if you can drive the CICS transaction by a commarea, in which case standard MQ triggering will work. If you need to supply a 3270 type datastream then use the MQ-CICS bridge, or code a higher level CICS transaction using FEPI.
There is a CICS node in message broker (is this only for z/OS?) |
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| MQWizard |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:52 am Post subject: |
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Novice
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
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thank you again.
Also, thanks for identifying the difference between CICS transaction and program. You are right in indentifying the difference between the CICS transaction and CICS program.
I am trying to understand what are the options available for integration at a high level for CICS (TRANSACTIONS & programs), vsam, Dataqueue-
Couple of them I am listing
Using MQSeries-cics bridge
Using WBIAdapter (uses NEONs shadow adapter)
Using Neon Shadow zservices
Using probably MQSeries-Cobol combination on Mainframe (very much intrusive and may need us to write new programs on mainframe and may require us to change the existing programs)
What other options do I have, whcih I can consider?
what option is best as per the above list or with additional options you may have?
How do we integrate with dataqueue (I am not very much educated on this..if some one can help me with this)???
Any other inputs/suggestions are very much welcome.
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| bruce2359 |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| A CICS transaction does not have to contain presentation logic. |
As usual, the term transaction has many meanings.
I was offering a distinction between programs that are passed and return 3270 data streams via the MQ 3270 Bridge vs. those that are passed and return buffers (COMMAREAs) via the MQ DPL Bridge. |
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| vennela |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Knight
Joined: 11 Aug 2002
Posts: 4055
Location: Hyderabad, India
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| Quote: |
| What other options do I have, whcih I can consider? |
Before exploring options, you have to understand the problems first
What kind of CICS programs are you trying to invoke
That is the first thing you need to know
For example HATS is one products |
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| MQWizard |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: |
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Novice
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
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Ok. Let me try to understand your questions.
What kind of CICS Programs am I trying to invoke?
Requirement is to be able to invoke the CICS programs and CICS transaction (which takes from 3270 Screens today).
Also integration is required with some programs, which take in file today and with some programs which use DataQueue for request and reply.
I hope I made things clear..
If not, I would request you to ask me the specific question, which you think I havent mentioned so far.
thanks.
regards
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| vennela |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Knight
Joined: 11 Aug 2002
Posts: 4055
Location: Hyderabad, India
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| Quote: |
| Requirement is to be able to invoke the CICS programs and CICS transaction (which takes from 3270 Screens today). |
AFAIK, there is no adapter that can solve your problem directly.
Now having said that, let me give you a scenario.
The screens may not be straight forward, meaning, you give some input to the screen, it might take you to different screens based on your input etc.
So, integrating with mainframe is a very broad term and taking it piece by piece is the only solution. If your apps are COMMAREA based, you are better off.
There is a section in this redbook which deals with COMMAREA based app using WebSphere ESB.
Again, that is just one piece of the broad problem
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247406.html?Open |
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| bruce2359 |
| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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For the 3270 datastream transactions: cics application programmers create BMS logical and physical maps for their applications. Briefly, the physical map contains static data (like headings); the logical map is the data-overlay used in the program to find the data fields in the screen image - the variable data.
In addition to the logical and physical maps, the programmer can ask at compile time for the Application Data Structure - an exportable list of map data fields and their attributes. This can be used by an MQ program to prepare a suitable 3270 data stream.
As the prior post suggests, many cics transactions are multi-legged, and will likely require the MQ program to manage the 'conversation' among the legs.
It's do-able; but requires more than MQ skills. |
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