APIs Economy for Mainframe Customers: A new approach for modernizing and reusing mainframe assets

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Edwina McKenzie
5 years ago
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$/what_is_rest? {REST} REST stands for Representational State Transfer An architectural style for accessing and updating data. Simple and intuitive for the end consumer (the developer).$

2 /what_is_rest? {REST} REST stands for Representational State Transfer An architectural style for accessing and updating data. Simple and intuitive for the end consumer (the developer). HTTP GET Request / Response Body is used to represent the data object RESPONSE: HTTP 200 OK BODY { id : name : Joe Bloggs, address : 10 OldStreet, tel : , dateofbirth : 01/01/1980, maritalstatus : married, partner : } 2 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

/swagger/open_api The industry standard framework

More than just an API description framework There

consumption: Write Swagger Swagger Editor allows

Read Swagger Swagger UI allows API consumers to

Consume Swagger Swagger Codegen creates stub code

3 /swagger/open_api The industry standard framework for describing RESTful APIs. More than just an API description framework There are number of open source tools available to aid consumption: Write Swagger Swagger Editor allows API developers to design their Swagger documents. Read Swagger Swagger UI allows API consumers to easily browse and try APIs based on Swagger Doc. Consume Swagger Swagger Codegen creates stub code to consume APIs from various languages. 3 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

4 Challenges with Mainframe Systems 80% of the world s corporate data still resides on mainframe systems today (H. Tessler, Enterprise Systems Media) Significant % of mainframe workloads are written in COBOL, PL/I or Assembler language data layout defined in those languages Monolithic system with decades of incremental enhancements Highly risk averse due to mainframe workloads typically represent the most important enterprise systems (eg. core banking systems) and cost sensitive Skills shortage with new generation IT professionals gravitated towards new technology (eg. REST APIs and Java) Difficult to discover and integrate existing mainframe assets with the rest of enterprise systems 4 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

New Approach Imagine a Utopian World Mainframe assets are exposed as a set of RESTful APIs APIs are documented in Swagger format with well defined input and output parameters Consumers of APIs can

5 New Approach Imagine a Utopian World Mainframe assets are exposed as a set of RESTful APIs APIs are documented in Swagger format with well defined input and output parameters Consumers of APIs can understand their purpose and incorporate them into new applications or business processes without involvement of mainframe experts Mainframe APIs can be managed together with the rest of APIs across the enterprise and partners Access to mainframe APIs are secured by the standard mainframe security infrastructure such as TSO IDs and RACF profiles Reuse existing mainframe investment to improve the overall ROI and minimise skills gaps during implementation 5 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

A Closer Look at Mainframe Assets Mainframe System Online transactions and batch jobs Data Green Screen Applications IBM CICS and IMS applications IBM DB2 data and MQ queues Batch applications /

6 A Closer Look at Mainframe Assets Mainframe System Online transactions and batch jobs Data Green Screen Applications IBM CICS and IMS applications IBM DB2 data and MQ queues Batch applications / programs VSAMs (KSDS, ESDS, LDS, RRDS, IAM) VSAM online access under CICS Data Sets (PDS, PDSE, QSAM, GDG) HFS files DB2 databases IMS databases 6 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

7 A Possible Solution using IBM z/os Connect Enterprise Edition RESTful APIs to access mainframe assets IBM z/os Connect EE Mainframe System Online transactions and batch jobs z/os Connect EE provides out-of-box solution for access transactions and batch jobs. 1 File Manager for z/os provides access to mainframe data without writing code. Data 2 Green Screen Applications Host Access Transformation Service (HATS) provides access to green-screen applications. 3 IBM CICS and IMS applications IBM DB2 data and MQ queues Batch applications / programs VSAMs (KSDS, ESDS, LDS, RRDS, IAM) VSAM online access under CICS Data Sets (PDS, PDSE, QSAM, GDG) HFS files DB2 databases IMS databases 7 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

A Closer Look at IBM z/os Connect Enterprise

9 z/os Connect EE A Closer Look at Accessing Mainframe Data 2 z/os LPAR 1 API consumer sends a request to retrieve data using File Manager service provider. 2 ADFz Common Server 2 The request is routed to ADFz Common Server to spawn an address space to execute File Manager engine for the user File Manager session 3 Mainframe data VSAMs (KSDS, ESDS, LDS, RRDS, IAM) VSAM online access under CICS Data Sets (PDS, PDSE, QSAM, GDG) HFS files MQ The spawned address space executing File Manager remains active as long as the API consumer would like to keep the session alive working with the specified data. File Manager reads data and format it according to the layout specified in the template. JSON formatted data is returned to the API consumer along with a unique session identifier. 4 4 File Manager Template Libraries 5 The API consumer can request additional data using the unique token provided. JSON formatted data is returned. 9 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

10 A Closer Look at Accessing Mainframe Data File Manager Advantages 2 File Manager can provide a generic data access solution without programming A wide range of file types are supported out of box no programming required. File Manager provides a generic API (consumer chooses which data to read) or specific APIs (administrator decides which data are exposed to consumers). File Manager templates describe layout of data and allows transformation without programming Templates are created from COBOL, PL/I and Assembler COPYBOOKs or describe layouts in XML format. Describe most complex layout and data structures using the template s criteria infrastructures. For example, segmented records, nested REDEFINEs and PL/I arrays. Change column orders and hide columns based on your requirements. Display only records matching the selected layout(s) or display everything in the specified file. Display only records matching the selection criteria. File Manager users can leverage existing investment in the product and knowledge No change required to existing File Manager templates. Simply take advantage of new capabilities. File Manager provides online access to CICS resources File Manager generic CICS transaction enables access to CICS files, Transient Data Queues and Temporary Storage Queues. File Manager provides access to remote systems 10 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

11 z/os Connect EE A Closer Look at Accessing Green Screen Applications 3 z/os LPAR 2 HATS Runtime 1 2 API consumer sends a request to access green screen applications. The request is routed to HATS runtime. The runtime can be running on an WebSphere Application Server instance or WebSphere Liberty Profile instance Green screen applications z/os LPAR System I or AS/400 LPAR Green screen applications Green screen applications The server instance can be running on the same z/os LPAR as z/os Connect EE or another platform off the mainframe. The HATS runtime controls interactions with underlying green screen applications for the specified API. The HATS runtime can be invoking a set of green screen applications on the z/os LPAR where z/os Connect EE server is deployed. The HATS runtime can be invoking a set of green screen applications on another z/os LPAR(s). The HATS runtime can be invoking a set of green screen applications on a System I or AS/400 LPAR(s). 6 The results are returned as JSON payload to the requester. 11 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

12 A Closer Look at Accessing Green Screen Applications HATS Advantages 3 HATS enables RESTful API access to green screen applications Green screen applications running on z/os or System I (AS/400) LPARs typically represent critical business logic. Access to such applications can be accomplished without any modifications. HATS runtime controls flow of green screens Pick and choose which screens and fields should be exposed via RESTful APIs. HATS runtime buffers and enables you to combine multiple screens. Discover increased value by combining business logic from multiple systems HATS runtime can access multiple business applications simultaneously. The business applications can be running on completely different systems. 12 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

13 Menu Transaction Example: Menu App A simple CICS application with green screen interfaces to inquire, browse, add and update customer information. CICS TS Customer Information (CICS File) Customer Information (VSAM File) 13 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

using a generic transaction Customer Information (CICS File) Method 3: Customer

14 Menu Transaction How do I API enable Menu app without writing code? Method 1: Screen scrape green screens as APIs CICS TS Method 2: Access data online using a generic transaction Customer Information (CICS File) Method 3: Customer Information (VSAM File) Access data offline directly 14 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

Results: Accessing Menu app via APIs Method 1: Screen scrape green screens as APIs (HATS) Defined four APIs which corresponds to four different menu actions available in the app.

Method 2: Access data online using File Manager transaction If a consumer of API knows the name of CICS file where data is stored (i.e. fi:appid:file_name) and the name of template to format the data, the consumer can access the data directly invoking File Manager generic API.

15 Results: Accessing Menu app via APIs Method 1: Screen scrape green screens as APIs (HATS) Defined four APIs which corresponds to four different menu actions available in the app. Using the APIs, consumers can access the business logic without having to access the green screens. Method 2: Access data online using File Manager transaction If a consumer of API knows the name of CICS file where data is stored (i.e. fi:appid:file_name) and the name of template to format the data, the consumer can access the data directly invoking File Manager generic API. Alternatively, an administrator of APIs can setup specific APIs to expose data (e.g. define APIs to enquire customer information). In both scenarios, File Manager s CICS transaction is used to ensure integrity of data by accessing the data using CICS EXEC commands. Method 3: Access data offline File Manager APIs can access VSAM data directly outside of CICS when it is offline. For example, offline data access might be useful to process data each day/month to produce a report off the mainframe platform. 15 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

16 Summary Mainframe assets can be exposed as RESTful APIs using IBM z/os Connect Enterprise Edition, File Manager for z/os and Host Access Transformation Services. RESTful APIs with their Swagger documentation of mainframe assets enable discovery, management and invocation by API consumers who are not familiar with the mainframe platform. Proven mainframe business logic and critical enterprise data can easily be re-used via APIs while minimising risks because NO programming or modification to existing assets are required. Security is not compromised as the product supports the latest security standard as well as asset access is controlled by TSO user ID and associated security profile. Reuse existing mainframe investment to improve the overall ROI and minimise skills gaps during implementation: File Manager for z/os V14.1 and Host Access Transformation Services V9.6 provide significantly more functionality beyond usage in the context of API enablement of mainframe. See IBM File Manager for z/os V14.1 Overview and IBM Host Access Transformation Service V9.6 Overview. 16 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

IBM File Manager for z/os V14.1 Overview File Manager is a tool that helps you to manipulate data stored on z/os systems interactively and in batch processing.

17 IBM File Manager for z/os V14.1 Overview File Manager is a tool that helps you to manipulate data stored on z/os systems interactively and in batch processing. Designed to deal with large production data efficiently while protecting integrity and privacy. Access to z/os data made simple by its intuitive and consistent user interface across a wide range of data stores available on the platform. Access to data across multiple z/os systems / LPARs made simple by its remote systems support. A must have tool for every z/os user including system programmers, application developers, ISPF users and much more. Comprehensive support for a wide range of data store types: Data set (VSAM, QSAM, PDS, PDSE, IAM, OAM) DB2 IMS WebSphere MQ CICS Hierarchical File System under UNIX System Services. What s new in File Manager V14.1? ATTENTION ISPF users: Simplifies information searching and usage of z/os systems via Enhanced Search, Referenced List, and JCL edit macro facilities. Listen to a webinar by Wells Fargo Bank: how 3,000+ ISPF users can benefit from ISPF productivity enhancement features Incremental enhancements delivered as part of Continuous Delivery: Enhanced Change feature is added in 2Q 2018 delivery (PTF UI56354). Access mainframe data via IBM z/os Connect Enterprise Edition Incremental enhancements delivered as part of Continuous Delivery: Q4 2017: Technical preview released Q1 2018: File Manager data access generic API released Q2 2018: Support for creation of specific APIs and nested REDEFINEs released Additional enhancements planned for the rest of 2018 and Enhanced load module analysis capabilities to assist you while optimizing z/os applications. 17 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

No rewriting, refactoring, or access to application source code is required. This low risk HATS transformation enables re-use of proven business logic in new applications.

18 IBM Host Access Transformation Service V9.6 Overview Extends mission critical terminal applications to the web, mobile, portal, rich client, or as standard SOAP or RESTful web services without touching the existing applications. No rewriting, refactoring, or access to application source code is required. This low risk HATS transformation enables re-use of proven business logic in new applications. Increase productivity and reduce costs Integrate multiple host applications from a single or multiple hosts and deliver in/as a single web page Integrate IBM Enterprise [System Z] and Midrange [IBM I] applications with other corporate applications What s new HATS V9.6? HTML5 out of the box support Compliant with HTML 5 standard. New HTML 5 template Serene modern look and feel as well as more responsive web design. Rich Page Editor replaces old Page Designer. The new editor provides better support for rich client side aps (JS, HTML5, CSS). TLS 1.2 compliance Support for the latest IDE s: RAD 9.6 and RSA 9.6 HATS + z/os Connect EE: access green screen applications through APIs 18 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

19 Would you like to have a discussion with Expert? Contact us at ZIO@hcl.com HCL and IBM IP partnership Overview Through IP partnership, HCL Technologies is responsible development of IBM File Manager for z/os and Host Access Transformation Services (HATS) products. Product Experts at HCL Technologies are happy to discuss your requirements. Meet our Experts by visiting 19 Copyright 2018 HCL Technologies

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