Deploying a platform

To deploy a platform, you export the CICS® Platform project from CICS Explorer® to the platform home directory in zFS, set up CICS regions to match each CICS region definition that you created in your platform, and create and install a platform definition (PLATDEF) in CICSPlex® SM.

Before you begin

For an introduction to platforms, see How it works: platforms. This task assumes that you already:

Also check that the size of your CICSPlex SM data repository is sufficient. See Checking that CICSPlex SM data repository (EYUDREP) is big enough for platforms.

About this task

You deploy a platform in CICS Explorer but you must take some additional steps outside CICS Explorer to set up and start your CICS regions and make them known to CICSPlex SM. The following steps outline the procedure. For detailed steps, see Working with platforms and applications in the CICS Explorer product documentation.

Procedure

  1. Using the CICS Cloud perspective in the CICS Explorer, export the CICS Platform project from CICS Explorer to the platform home directory in zFS.
    The export process packages the CICS bundles that are referenced in the CICS Platform project and exports all the files for the platform bundle and the CICS bundles to the platform home directory in zFS. During the export, the wizard checks that the subdirectories of the platform home directory exist, and creates them if they do not exist. For more information about the platform directory structure, see Platform directory structure in z/OS UNIX.
  2. Use the CICS Explorer to create a platform definition (PLATDEF). This definition points to the platform home directory in zFS, and identifies the target CICSplex for the platform.
    You can choose to create a platform definition immediately after exporting your platform project, by checking the box in the platform export wizard. To create your platform definition at another time, use the New Platform Definition wizard in the CICS Explorer.
    The platform definition is created in the data repository of the CICSPlex SMCMAS.
  3. For each CICS region definition that you created in a region type in your platform project, set up an actual CICS region. As an alternative to setting up a new CICS region, you can use an existing CICS region that was not previously managed by CICSPlex SM.
    1. Create the CICS region with an APPLID, SYSID, and other attributes that match the system definition that you created. As a best practice, CICS regions in a region type should be clones of each other. For instructions to do this, see Setting up a CICS region.
    2. Perform the steps on the CICS region to make it known to CICSPlex SM as a managed application system (MAS). For instructions to do this, see Setting up a CICSPlex SM managed application system (MAS).
    Do not start the CICS regions yet.
  4. Use CICS Explorer to install the platform definition. This creates the platform in the target CICSplex.
    When you install the platform definition, CICSPlex SM creates a PLATFORM resource to represent the platform in the CICSplex. CICSPlex SM also creates a record for the platform in the data repository, which is used in recovery processing for any bundles for the platform.
  5. For any CICS regions in created region types, start the regions now, using your normal method, then refresh the Cloud Explorer view in the CICS Explorer and confirm that the status of the platform is now ACTIVE.
  6. If you have any CICS bundles deployed with the platform, right-click the platform and click Enable.

Results

The platform is installed and enabled.

What to do next

You can deploy packaged applications on the platform. For more information, see Deploying an application to a platform. You can also add further quality of service by deploying policies to control the environment. For more information, see CICS policies.

For more information about running a platform, see Administering platforms and applications.