technical: Pimp up z/OS with UNIX Systems Services for Free
It's been 16 years since IBM introduced UNIX functionality in z/OS through
UNIX Systems Services (USS). However today few really make use of USS and the
bounty that it brings. This article looks at some unexpected benefits that can
come from USS that cost nothing but CPU seconds.
It isn't news that UNIX Systems Services (USS) brings the world of UNIX to
z/OS. To most z/OS sites this means FTP for file transfers, TN3270 for 3270
terminal emulation, and web interfaces to some traditional z/OS systems software.
But this is only the beginning of what USS brings to the table. From a world
of freeware that can now run on z/OS to extra tools and functionality, USS can
bring a renaissance to z/OS: more functionality, more utilities, and easier
access.
1. More Application Development Options
For anyone uninterested in learning traditional languages like COBOL or PL/1,
USS will be their best friend. More popular languages such as C, C++ and Java
are now viable and mature options for developing applications; even in traditional
environments like IMS and CICS.
In particular Java has been moving to the mainstream, with Java support for
CICS and IMS applications. The free jZOS
toolkit can be downloaded from IBMs website, and eases the pain of creating
Java applications that run in batch or from a USS shell, and access z/OS services
and facilities.
C and C++ aren't far behind, with many vendors beginning to port C applications
from other UNIX platforms to z/OS.
PHP
and Perl
are two more optional languages that can be downloaded free from IBM. A python
port is also available from Jean-Yves Mengant, and Ruby
on Rails has been run under Websphere Application Server on z/OS.
Application developers also have more control over where they create and compile
their applications. HLASM, COBOL, C/C++ and PL/1 compilers, along with the binder,
can be called from TSO/E, batch or a USS shell. Application development from
a 3270 client is no longer compulsory, and application developers can possibly
escape without learning JCL. What's more, IBM is heavily promoting Eclipse-based
technologies to develop z/OS applications in new and old languages with their
Rational Developer for System z product.
2. z/OS as a Web Server
Facilities allowing z/OS to act as an HTTP server are nothing new. IBMs HTTP
Server was available from the early days of USS, and is today a port of the
popular Apache HTTP server.
Other z/OS subsystems, including CICS and RMF, have their own HTTP server
capabilities in an effort to ease administration and offer new functionality.
CICS has also offered HTTP server functionality since CICS TS 1.1, allowing
CICS programs to update CICS Documents to produce dynamic web pages.
CICS Web Services further opens the CICS door to Web Services with a SOAP
gateway; IMS provides similar functionality using IMS Connect and the IMS SOAP
Adapter.
Web applications on J2EE servers are also mainstream on z/OS. IBM has been
pushing Websphere Application Server as their flagship J2EE product for many
years. However Apache Tomcat has now
been ported to z/OS, providing a free, lighter-weight option.
3. Create Image Files from z/OS
z/OS has never been good with images. GDDM has traditionally been the sole
option, and although it can create GIF and CGM images, it isn't free or easy
to use. However USS opens up some other interesting alternatives.
The JPEG library is a tool that applications
can use to create JPEG images, and has been the mainstay of many UNIX applications.
The JPEG library is now available on z/OS. Similarly the Libpng
library gives applications a way to create PNG files.
Thanks to z/OS Java, free open source software from Apache can now considered.
One example is Apache FOP,
providing functionality to create several image files, including PNG.
Finally, the Boutell GD library
allows programs to dynamically create PNG, JPEG and GIF images.
4. Read and Write Windows Compatible Files from z/OS
Creating Windows compatible files such as Word, Excel, RTF, PDF and zip is
now possible from z/OS. Lionel
Dyck has created fee software to convert text to CSV (for spreadsheets),
HTML, PDF and RTF (for word processors) formats. Apache
FOP can also be used to create many different print output formats, predominately
PDF.
The free UNIX zlib will create and read
pkzip format files, and is used by many UNIX commercial applications. Another
free option is Info-ZIP, which can read
Windows zip files. And of course tar files can be created and read using the
UNIX tar command.
Finally, the Apache POI project provides
Java programs with functionality to read and write Office Open XML and OLE2
documents. Or in other words, read and write Microsoft Excel (xls and xlsx),
Word (doc and docx) and PowerPoint (ppt and pptx) files.
5. Browse the Internet
The free Lynx is a text based internet
browser that can give z/OS applications access to the Internet
6. Email from z/OS
Sending emails from z/OS components is becoming mainstream for many z/OS users.
z/OS Communications Server includes an SMTP server that will route emails between
JES spool and TCPIP clients, and other SMTP servers.
There are a few different SMTP client options to use with this SMTP server:
- The TSO/E SMTPNOTE command is a very basic interface for sending emails.
- Lionel Dyck has written XMITIP,
a free SMTP client application. It includes command and ISPF functionality,
and can be used to send HTML format emails and file attachments.
- Dignus have published C
code that can be used to send emails from batch.
- For users interested in sending email from application programs, Andy
Robertson has created freeware that can be called using a CALL or EXEC
CICS LINK statement.
- Other products such as the SAS language provide some SMTP client functionality.
The z/OS SMTP server isn't the only option for forwarding emails. The popular
UNIX freeware SendMail can run on z/OS,
and is well documented in the Communications Server IP Configuration Guide.
Another option is to simply code a TCPIP sockets program using something like
C or REXX/Sockets to send the information directly to an SMTP server. Schunk
Associates gave a Share
presentation in 1999 that explains REXX/Sockets.
Alan Nichols in Germany
has ported the free PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) to z/OS, providing a quick and
easy way of encrypting emails.
Planet MVS has an excellent page discussing email
from z/OS. IBM provide free
CICS to SMTP samples on their website.
7. z/OS as a Data and File Server
z/OS has traditionally been a central information repository. Large quantities
of data has been kept in database managers such as DB2 and IMS for decades;
with exceptional data availability, security and performance. These database
managers now use USS to give access from applications outside of z/OS. For example:
- DB2 DDF provides a gateway between DB2 on z/OS and other relational database
systems on non-z/OS systems.
- From IMS 11, IMS Open Database allows applications on remote systems to
access DLI databases using SQL statements.
- CA Datacom supports JDBC and ODBC access.
The advantages don't stop with databases. Non-z/OS users can also access z/OS
traditional datasets and USS files:
- z/OS comes with the z/OS SMB server, allowing Windows users to quickly
and easily see and access both traditional and USS files on z/OS. The UNIX
based SMB freeware Samba is another SMB
option for z/OS.
- z/OS comes with an NFS server, allowing other UNIX systems (and Windows
with Hummingbird Maestro) to access both traditional and USS files on z/OS
using an NFS client. z/OS also includes an NFS client to access remote file
systems on servers with an NFS server.
z/OS can also be a library manager, storing books and manuals in both BookManager
and PDF formats. Users can search, browse and download them via a web browser.
Finally, the z/OS Remote Print Server that comes with Communications Server
allows line print clients on any remote UNIX system to print to z/OS JES connected
printers.
8. Other Options
The popular and free MySQL database manager can be run on z/OS. This allows
z/OS to become a more 'standard' web host with PHP/MySQL applications. Couple
this with Apache Tomcat, and you have a very powerful web hosting tool.
Dovetailed Technologies demonstrate just how powerful in their document
explaining how to create a z/OS based Wiki.
The True Cost of Freeware
All the above options provide exciting ways to 'pimp up' z/OS: sharing data,
accessing the Internet, sending emails, creating dynamic images and providing
leading edge web hosting services. However, though these options are free, in
reality any extra processing on z/OS is rarely free. USS files often consume
more DASD space than traditional z/OS datasets. Any USS process will consume
CPU resources, and this can increase dramatically when running complex Java
applications without a zAAP processor. Wise systems programmers will measure
the real cost before moving any of these features into production.
Most of the options mentioned are freeware that has been ported from other
UNIX systems to z/OS. Some of this freeware is mature and popular on z/OS. It
is stable with many users contributing information and problem solving information
to the community. Other freeware is more exploratory, and may need significant
technical work to get running. Either way freeware can be a two-edged sword,
with no vendor support available. Critical applications would be wise to stay
away from any unsupported software.
References
David Stephens
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