Setting Up Server and Requester Virtual Machines

This chapter focuses on configuring virtual machines (VMs) in IBM®’s z/VM® environment to function either as servers that manage resources or as requesters that access the resources. It begins by explaining the relationship between user programs and resource manager programs, which act as communication partners. The chapter categorizes resources into four types—local, system, global, and private—each with distinct characteristics in terms of name space, accessibility, and management. Local and system resources are confined to a single system, while global and private resources can be accessed across systems in a TSAF or CS collection or through an SNA network.

Server VMs that manage local, system, or global resources must be explicitly authorized by using *IDENT and configured by using specific CP directory entries. In contrast, private resources are managed more flexibly by using a $SERVER$ NAMES file, which defines access permissions and resource manager programs. Requester VMs must identify the target resource by using LU names and transaction program names (TPNs), and can simplify this process by using symbolic destination names that are defined in CMS communications directories.

The chapter also details how to configure access security using three levels—SECURITY(NONE), SECURITY(SAME), and SECURITY(PGM)—and how to securely manage credentials by using APPCPASS directory statements. Finally, it outlines the setup of CMS communications directories at system, user, and IBM levels, which enable transparent and flexible communication across systems and networks.