Overview of IBM Explorer for z/OS
The IBM® Explorer for z/OS® (z/OS Explorer) provides a framework to manage your system connections, your z/OS artifacts, and projects and resources.
z/OS Explorer is an Eclipse-based integration platform for z/OS users. It enables the integration of a wide variety of solutions using IBM, vendors, or customer plug-ins. z/OS Explorer is extendable by using the IBM repository of compatible products to fulfill each user's roles and responsibilities. For example, z/OS Explorer, powered by IBM product plug-ins from the repository can provide a single workbench with the ability to develop, and test CICS®, DB2®, WebSphere® MQ, IMS, and batch applications and manage related subsystems.
IBM Explorer for z/OS Aqua delivers extensible workstation
connectivity to key z/OS functions
with the following features:
- Rich views and functions
- Give simple and secure access to z/OS data sets, IBM zSeries File System (zFS) files, and Job Entry Subsystem (JES) jobs and output. With the views and functions, you can create new members, edit and submit JCL, review job output—even for active jobs with a z/OSMF connection. Use the APIs to enhance your own plug-ins.
- Connection framework
- Provides consistent configuration, change, and sharing of all system connections, including to FTP and z/OSMF. Plug-in developers can add new connection types using the z/OS Explorer SDK. Benefit from single sign-on, SSL, password phrases, proxy servers, and more.
- Delivery and deployment options
- z/OS Explorer is available as an Eclipse-based Rich Client Platform (RCP) executable, and a plug-in for inclusion in compatible RCPs. The z/OS Explorer plug-in is also prepackaged with CICS Explorer®, IBM Developer for z Systems® (previously known as Rational® Developer for z Systems), and IMS Enterprise Explorer.
- IBM repository of compatible products
- Can be accessed directly from z/OS Explorer so users can choose IBM products to create their custom workbench. The repository currently includes plug-ins for Application Delivery Foundation for z Systems, CICS Explorer, CICS Tools, IMS Enterprise Suite Explorer for Development, Engineering Workflow Management, and WebSphere MQ Explorer.
- Application development
- IBM Developer for z Systems, an integrated, multiplatform development environment with modern, simple-to-use application development solutions for the enterprise and Engineering Workflow Management which provides collaborative development and change management capabilities, can be accessed along with plug-ins for CICS, problem determination, and data management tools.
- Entitlement
- z/OS Explorer is available for use by all customers with a license for a supported version of z/OS. Third-party software vendors and customers can integrate their plug-ins with z/OS Explorer with no IBM product dependency, other than z/OS.