Using an existing connection to a CICS system

This topic describes how to use an existing CICS Explorer connection to connect to a CICS® system (a CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE or a CICS Transaction Server for z/OS).

Before you attempt to connect to a CICS system, you might wish to check that the server-part of the CICS Explorer has been started using the CORM transaction. You can use the COSH transaction to stop the server-part of the CICS Explorer.

To use an existing CICS Explorer connection:
  1. If a Host Connections window is not already open, on the menu bar shown in Figure 1 in topic Overview of the CICS Explorer Workbench, click Window -> Manage Connections. A Host Connections window then opens.
  2. Your selection now depends upon whether the connection is to a CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE system or to a CICS Transaction Server for z/OS system. If you wish to connect to a CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE system:
    1. Click the box next to CICS System Management and CICS Management Interface is displayed.
    2. Click the box next to CICS Management Interface and the CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE systems to which you can connect are displayed.
    3. Select a CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE system together with a set of Credentials, as shown in the Figure 1 example.
      Figure 1. Selecting a Host Connection to a CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE system
      An explanation of this figure is provided in the surrounding text.
    4. Click Connect.
    If you wish to connect to a CICS Transaction Server for z/OS system:
    1. Click the box next to z/OS® and z/OS FTP and z/OSMF are displayed.
    2. Select one of these CICS Transaction Server for z/OS systems together with a set of Credentials.
    3. Click Connect.
  3. The CICS Explorer attempts to connect to the CICS system you have selected.
    • If the connection is successful, the connection name appears in the connection status bar in the lower right corner of the Workbench window (shown in Figure 1), next to either a:
      • green icon which indicates a non-SSL connection.
      • padlock which indicates an SSL connection.
    • If the connection is not successful, a red icon is displayed in the connection status bar in the lower right corner of the Workbench window (shown in Figure 1), next to the connection name. An error message is displayed at the top of the Connections Preferences view, giving the reason for the failure. Check the values in the fields, correct any errors, and click Connect to test your corrections.