Working with system connections

These example tasks illustrate how you can configure and change your system connections.

Configuring a z/OS FTP system connection
You must have an FTP or z/OSMF connection to use the views in the z/OS perspective.
Configuring a proxy server
Service updates for the z/OS Explorer are available on a pre-configured download site on the internet. Your organization might require you to connect to the internet through a proxy server. You can use the Preferences dialog to define a proxy server.
Configuring a z/OSMF system connection
The z/OS Management Facility (z/OSMF) is a product for z/OS that provides support for a modern, web-based management console for z/OS, and extends the functions of the z/OS Explorer. You must have a z/OSMF connection to use the features of z/OSMF. When you define a z/OSMF system, z/OS Explorer attempts to create an FTP connection at the same time. z/OS Explorer then chooses the connection that is most suitable for the task you are performing.
Defining connection credentials
When you connect to a system, your credentials, that is, your user ID and password or pass phrase, are sent to the system for authentication. After you define a credential, you can use it on all systems that share the credential without reentering the details every time. You must have at least one credential before you can connect to a system.
Connecting to a system that is already defined
When you have defined your system connections there are a number of ways in which you can activate a connection to a system.
Connecting automatically at startup
You can set one connection in each connection category as the default. You can then connect to the default connection for a category, or use these default connections for automatic connection when you start z/OS Explorer.
Using shared connections
As an alternative to defining your own connections, you can share a set of connections that are stored in a central location. You can load or import the shared connections into your copy of z/OS Explorer. Sharing connections means that the connections can be managed centrally, and any changes to the connections file are picked up automatically the next time z/OS Explorer starts.
Updating a system connection
If any system connection settings change, you must update the connection details in the Host Connections view to reflect the changes.
Exporting connections
You can export one or more connections to an external file to back them up or to share with other users. If you save the connection file on a shared disk, or upload it to a web server, users can load the connection details into their z/OS Explorer. Any changes to the shared connection file are picked up automatically the next time the user starts z/OS Explorer.
Removing a default setting from a category or connection
If a connection is set as default, you can remove that default setting so that it is not used for automatic connection when you start z/OS Explorer.
Deleting a system connection
If you no longer need one of your system connections, you can delete it permanently from the z/OS Explorer. You can delete only connections that you have created or imported into z/OS Explorer. You cannot delete connections that are loaded from a shared connection definition file.
Disconnecting from a system
To disconnect the z/OS Explorer from your current system connection, you can use the connection status bar or the main menu of the workbench.

Parent topic: Tasks