Certificate-based Authentication for Client Connections

The API connection certificate authentication feature allows clients to connect to a Connect:Direct server by using only an SSL/TLS Certificate with a Common Name (CN) specified as a user name.

If the intended client usage does not include submitting a process, the user name does not have to be a real z/OS system user name and only needs to be defined in the Connect:Direct z/OS user authorization file. If a process is to be submitted, then user specified in the Common Name (CN) must be a real Z/OS system user or real z/OS system user id must be specified in the Security ID parameter of user authorization record with Common Name (CN) as user id. You can configure this feature using the user authorization file of a Connect:Direct node. The API certificate authentication requires no user password to be presented.

This feature improves password management in large deployments of Connect:Direct, as it removes the extra administrative steps resulting from password usage.
Note: This feature is specific only to API connections. These connections must also be AIJ-based. When you use the authentication feature, ensure that the AIJ version is at least 1.1.00 Fix 000025. This version includes updates that allow blank passwords to be used. This version contains updates that allow blank passwords for systems that use AIJ. These AIJ version requirements also apply if you use the authentication feature in IBM Control Center. API connection certificate authentication is not supported for the IUI/DMBATCH, or the Connect:Direct native C/C++/C# non Java APIs.