Configuring a z/OSMF system connection

The z/OS® Management Facility (z/OSMF) is a product for z/OS that provides support for a modern, web-based management console for z/OS, and extends the functions of the z/OS Explorer. You must have a z/OSMF connection to use the features of z/OSMF. When you define a z/OSMF system, z/OS Explorer attempts to create an FTP connection at the same time. z/OS Explorer then chooses the connection that is most suitable for the task you are performing.

z/OSMF in z/OS Explorer uses the z/OS jobs REST interface. For details of the RACF® authorizations that are required, see the "Required authorizations" section in the z/OS jobs REST interface in IBM® z/OS Management Facility Programming Guide.

You must have at least one connection credential before you can connect to a host system. A credential is a repository for a user ID and password combination. For more information, see Defining connection credentials.

  1. Click Window > Manage Connections from the workbench menu bar. The Host Connections view is displayed.

    If your connections are preconfigured, you see the connections that are listed under the categories in the view. If not, the categories are empty. In the Host Connections view, one connection is defined in each category type. Each connection is associated with a credential, except for the z/OS FTP connection. The credential is shown in brackets after the connection name.

  2. In the Connections section, select the z/OSMF category and click Add.
    The Add Connection window opens.
  3. In the Host name field, enter the host name of your z/OSMF server. As you type, the characters up to the end of the first qualifier are inserted in the Name field. So if your host name is myserver.example.ibm.com then the name would display as myserver.
  4. Enter the port number. As you type, the port number is appended to the Name field, so the name is displayed as something like myserver:20332.
  5. Optional: You can specify a different name by over typing the name in the Name field.
  6. By default the z/OSMF connection also sets up an FTP connection on port 21. If you previously defined a different FTP connection, select it from the FTP Connection list.
  7. Complete the other fields for your organization, and click OK.
  8. Click Save and Close to save the configuration without connecting or click Save and Connect to save the configuration and connect immediately. If you click Save and Connect, you are presented with the Signon window, where you must select an existing credential to use with this connection, or define a new credential.

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

When you connect, the z/OS 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.