Installing and configuring the pax format

The requirements for installing IBM® Open Enterprise SDK for Python 3.11 are listed below.
Hardware requirements
  • z16™
  • z15®
  • z14®/z14 model ZR1
  • z13®/z13s®
  • zEnterprise® EC12/BC12
Software requirements
  • z/OS® UNIX System Services enabled on any of following operating systems:
    • z/OS 2.4 or later
  • Optional: If you are on z13, you must enable Integrated Cryptographic Services Facility (ICSF) on your systems where IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python runs. For more information, see ICSF System Programmer's Guide (SC14-7507) and ICSF Administrator's Guide (SC14-7506).
  • Optional: Packages that are installed with pip might include source that is written in other programming languages. It is your responsibility to ensure that compilers are available for other languages. For more information about IBM C/C++ for Open Enterprise Languages on z/OS 2.0, see Using IBM C/C++ compilers with IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python 3.11 .
  • Optional: If you have z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) configured on your z/OS system, then Python workloads can be run on zIIPs. The following APARS must be installed, otherwise Python will continue running on general processor.
    • BCP APAR OA63406 with PTF UJ92511 – HBB77C0 for z/OS 2.4
    • BCP APAR OA63406 with PTF UJ92512 – HBB77D0 for z/OS 2.5
    • Open Enterprise SDK for Python APAR PH52983

Configuration

IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python is an OMVS-based application, which requires certain configuration on the z/OS UNIX System Services file system to ensure proper operation.

  • Validate that /usr/bin/env exists. If not configured, refer to the instructions in Customization and environment configuration.
  • Ensure that /tmp has at least 660 MB of disk space configured. To use an alternative file system, you can set the TMPDIR environment variable to a directory that has sufficient space.

Install the pax archive file

  • 250 MB is required to download the pax archive file.
  • Minimum 660 MB is required to extract and install Python.
  • Create a directory <mydir> to hold the extracted pax files.
  • Unpax the downloaded file with the following command: 
    $ cd <mydir>
$ pax -r -ppAx -f <path to downloaded paxfile>
  • If you encounter the authorization error:
    pax: FSUMF073 usr/lpp/IBM/cyp/v3r11/pyz/lib/python3.11/lib-dynload/libpyzutil.cpython-311.so: user not authorized to restore extended attribute "a"
    which indicates you don't have permission to APF authorize the shared library, and Python will continue to run on the general processor. To permit APF authorize the library after the pax has been extracted, you can run the following on a user with appropriate privileges to set APF authorization:
    extattr +a <path_to_python_install>/lib/python3.11/lib-dynload/libpyzutil.cpython-311.so
    And to verify that it has been authorized:
    extattr <path_to_python_install>/lib/python3.11/lib-dynload/libpyzutil.cpython-311.so

Environment variables for pax archive installation

Set the following environment variables before using IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python.

Configure the PATH and LIBPATH environment variables to include the bin directories for IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python with the following commands: 
export PATH=<path to install dir>/bin:$PATH
export LIBPATH=<path to install dir>/lib:$LIBPATH
Set the auto conversion environment variables:
export _BPXK_AUTOCVT='ON'
export _CEE_RUNOPTS='FILETAG(AUTOCVT,AUTOTAG) POSIX(ON)'
Set the file tagging environment variables:
export _TAG_REDIR_ERR=txt
export _TAG_REDIR_IN=txt
export _TAG_REDIR_OUT=txt

When building packages with distutils or pip, you may encounter build errors related to the compiler argument processing. If you observe these errors while attempting to build a package or extension, see Using IBM C/C++ compilers with IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python 3.11.