Configuring a CICS system connection

You must establish a connection between CICS Explorer® and your CICS® systems before you can view any information. You must provide details about the system connection, its location, and its authentication requirements.

Before you begin

If you are connecting to a CICS TS Version 4 or later system and you require update capability, you can use the CICS management client interface (CMCI) connection. To use the CMCI connection, the CICS system must be set up to use CMCI. For more information, see Setting up access for CICS Explorer in the CICS TS V5.3 product documentation. If you do not require update capability, you can connect to a WUI server by using the CICSPlex® SM Data Interface read-only connection.

If you are connecting to a CICS TS Version 3 system, you must connect to a WUI server by using the CICSPlex SM Data Interface read-only connection.

If you are connecting to a z/VSE® 5.1 or later system, you can use the CICS management client interface (CMCI) connection.

You must have a suitable connection credential defined. See Defining connection credentials in IBM Explorer for z/OS product documentation.

If you need to set up security for the connection, see Managing SSL security and certificates in IBM Explorer for z/OS product documentation.

If CICS Explorer is not configured, or you want to add a connection, use the following procedure.

Procedure

On the main menu for the workbench, click Window > Manage Connections. The Host Connections view is displayed.
If your connections are preconfigured, these connections are displayed under the categories in the view. If not, the categories are empty. The following example screen shows the Host Connections view with one connection in each category type. Each connection is associated with a credential, except for the z/OSMF connection. The credential is shown in brackets after the connection name.
Select the connection category that you require under CICS System Management, and click Add. The Add Connection window opens. The following example shows the Add CMCI Connection window.
Type the TCP/IP host name of your server in Host name. As you type, the Name field displays the characters up to the end of the first qualifier. For example, for the host name myserver.example.ibm.com, the Name field displays myserver.
Enter the port number. As you type, the port number is also appended to the Name field. For example, for the port number 12345, the Name field displays myserver:12345.
Optional: If required, you can specify a different name in the Name field.
If the host connection is configured for SSL, select Secure connection (TLS/SSL).
Click Save and Close to save the configuration without connecting, or Save and Connect to save the configuration and connect immediately. If you click Save and Connect, the Signon window is displayed, where you must select an existing credential to use with this connection, or define a new credential.

Results

The connection and associated credential are displayed in the Host Connections view.

What to do next

When you connect, the CICS Explorer tries to connect to the system that you configured.

If the connection is successful, the connection name is displayed in the workbench window next to a green icon.

If the connection is not successful, the connection name is displayed in workbench window next to a red icon. An error message is displayed in the workbench status bar providing a reason for the failure. Check the values in the fields, correct any errors, and try to connect again.