Getting started with a CICS test scenario

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It is recommended that you start with this basic test scenario to get the core components in place and working.

Before you begin

Review the Prerequisites and system preparation.

About this task

Complete the following installation and configuration tasks to instrument the CICS application.

In this example, the Tomcat Enterprise Edition (TomEE) web server sends HTTP requests to the CICS subsystem to access the application.

Procedure

  1. Validate the distributed trace flow
    1. (Prerequisite) Install and configure Instana backend and the user interface
      You need an Instana backend before you trace distributed flows. If you have not already set up Instana backend and the user interface, choose the type of backend that suit your needs and install it based on instructions of IBM Instana Observability documentation.
    2. (Prerequisite) Apply the Host Agent to the machine where your test application is running
      Install the Instana Host Agent on the machine where your TomEE Server for your test application is running. For more detailed instructions, see IBM Instana Observability documentation.
      The Host Agent uses AutoTrace to detect the JVM for your TomEE server and capture HTTP requests.
    3. Verify distributed application on the Instana user interface
      Verify that the application is showing up on the Instana user interface (application dependency map). Verify the host machine where the application is running has an agent reporting.
      Note: Before you deploy Instana Observability on z/OS, the Instana user interface does not know which z/OS systems and subsystems the transactions are calling out. Only a node is displayed with the hostname of the IBM zSystems that the CICS is running on.
  2. Install and configure Z APM Connect Distributed Gateway
    Follow the instructions in Installing, configuring, and managing Z APM Connect Distributed Gateway to install and configure Z APM Connect Distributed Gateway.
  3. Install and configure Z APM Connect Base
    Follow the instructions in Installing and configuring Z APM Connect Base to install and configure Z APM Connect Base.
    Note: Make sure Z APM Connect Base is started successfully and connected to Z APM Connect Distributed Gateway. See Validating Z APM Connect Base installation and configuration to validate the status.
  4. Install and configure the Z APM Connect tracing component
    For this test scenario, only the Z APM Connect CICS Data Producer is required. Follow the instructions in Installing and configuring Z APM Connect CICS TS Data Producer to install and configure Z APM Connect CICS Data Producer.

Results

Your application is successfully instrumented with Instana on z/OS. What was previously a mainframe black box, surfaces one more layer of visibility as transactions hop between the web server and the CICS subsystem. You can also view the key details for individual transactions like response time, call count, ABEND codes, and more.

What to do next

Follow instructions in Installing and configuring Z APM Connect components to complete further installation and configuration.