Deploying a platform

To deploy a platform, you export the CICS® Platform project from CICS Explorer® to the platform home directory in zFS, set up CICS regions to match each CICS region definition that you created in your platform, and create and install a platform definition (PLATDEF) in CICSPlex® SM. The platform resource specifies the location of the platform in zFS and provides lifecycle management.

Before you begin

You must set up a platform home directory for the platform in zFS, as described in Creating a platform home directory in zFS, then create a CICS Platform project in the CICS Explorer, as described in Creating a platform.

About this task

The export process packages the CICS bundles that are referenced in the CICS Platform project and exports all the files for the platform bundle and the CICS bundles to the platform home directory in zFS. During the export, the wizard checks that the subdirectories of the platform home directory exist, and creates them if they do not exist. For more information about the platform directory structure, see Platform directory structure in z/OS UNIX.

For detailed help about the following steps to deploy a platform, see Working with platforms in the CICS Explorer product documentation.

Procedure

  1. Using the CICS Cloud perspective in the CICS Explorer, export the CICS Platform project from CICS Explorer to the platform home directory in zFS.
  2. Use the CICS Explorer to create a platform definition (PLATDEF), which points to the platform home directory in zFS, and identifies the target CICSplex for the platform.
    You can choose to create a platform definition immediately after exporting your platform project, by checking the box in the platform export wizard. To create your platform definition at another time, use the New Platform Definition wizard in the CICS Explorer.
    The platform definition is created in the data repository of the CMAS.
  3. For each CICS region definition that you created in a region type in your platform project, set up an actual CICS region. As an alternative to setting up a new CICS region, you can use an existing CICS region that was not previously managed by CICSPlex SM.
    1. Create the CICS region with an APPLID, SYSID, and other attributes that match the system definition that you created. As a best practice, CICS regions in a region type should be clones of each other. For instructions to do this, see Setting up a CICS region.
    2. Perform the steps on the CICS region to make it known to CICSPlex SM as a managed application system (MAS). For instructions to do this, see Setting up a CICSPlex SM managed application system (MAS).
    Do not start the CICS regions yet.
  4. Use the CICS Explorer to install the platform definition to create the platform in the target CICSplex.
  5. For any CICS regions in created region types, start the regions now, using your normal method, then refresh the Cloud Explorer view in the CICS Explorer and confirm that the status of the platform is now ACTIVE.
  6. Optional: If you have any CICS bundles deployed with the platform, right-click the platform and click Enable.

Results

When you install the platform definition, CICSPlex SM creates a PLATFORM resource to represent the platform in the CICSplex. CICSPlex SM also creates a record for the platform in the data repository, which is used in recovery processing for the bundles for platforms.

You can view the state of the platform, the region types, and the management parts in the Cloud Explorer view in the CICS Cloud perspective in the CICS Explorer. The platform is initially installed in a disabled state. When you enable the platform, any CICS bundles that are deployed with the platform, such as policies, are installed across the CICS regions in the appropriate region type.

The relationship between the platform and each installed CICS bundle is saved in a management part. The management part is a MGMTPART record that is created automatically for each CICS bundle during the platform installation process. The management part records the CICS regions where the bundle is installed, and tracks the status of the bundle in the CICS regions.

What to do next

If you experienced any problems during the installation process, see Diagnosing platform deployment errors.

When your platform is installed and enabled, you can deploy applications on the platform, and add policies to the platform to manage the environment and the applications.