TCP/IP subagent

The TCP/IP subagent in z/OS® Communications Server is a z/OS UNIX application that runs in its own task in the TCP/IP address space. This subagent supports many standard (RFC-based) MIB objects. In addition, it supports MIB objects in the following enterprise-specific MIB modules:

The IBM® 3172 enterprise-specific MIB.
The IBM MVS™ TCP/IP enterprise-specific MIB. This MIB defines objects to extend standard MIB tables, supports retrieval and change of TCP/IP address space configuration parameters, and provides management support for the environments where Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is used.

For a more detailed list of all the data supported by the TCP/IP subagent, see z/OS Communications Server: IP System Administrator's Commands.

Both the TCP/IP subagent and the OSA-Express Direct subagent support management data for OSA-Express features. You should use the OSA-Express Direct subagent to obtain this management data, for the following reasons:

Because the OSA-Express Direct subagent communicates directly with the OSA-Express features, it does not require the OSA/SF and IOASNMP applications.
The OSA-Express Direct subagent provides more OSA management data than the TCP/IP subagent.
Because of the support provided by the OSA-Express Direct subagent, there will be no new enhancements to the OSA management data provided by the TCP/IP subagent, and support for this data will eventually be removed in a future release.

If you are using the TCP/IP subagent's OSA management data support, and decide to switch to using the OSA-Express Direct subagent instead, you no longer need to start the OSA/SF address space and the OSA IOASNMP application. For more information about this subagent, see OSA-Express Direct subagent. For information on the TCP/IP subagent's dependency on OSA/SF and IOASNMP, see Step 4: Configure the Open Systems Adapter support.

The TCP/IP subagent support evolves with each release. New MIB objects might be supported, and, occasionally, old ones might be removed for functions that are no longer relevant. This is particularly true for the MIB objects in the IBM MVS TCP/IP enterprise-specific MIB. This MIB's definition is shipped as file /usr/lpp/tcpip/samples/mvstcpip.mi2. For details of the changes for each release, see the REVISION sections of this MIB module file.

The TCP/IP subagent in z/OS Communications Server provides SET support, enabling remote configuration of some TCP/IP address space parameters. The TCP/IP subagent is configured and controlled by the SACONFIG statement in the PROFILE.TCPIP data set. Systems where SNMP support is not required can disable the subagent and save system resources.