Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:36:49 -0400
Reply-To: kevin.evans@leo.gov
Sender: CICS List <CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Kevin Evans <kevin.evans@LEO.GOV>
Organization: DOJ/FBI
Subject: Re: CICS EXPLORER (the real post - darn that enter key)
In-Reply-To: <F255EFE0ECF08C4A9C1DB6AFF423541715D1F041@ch2wpmail1.na.ds.ussco.com>
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I added the DT stuff for those that might be considering RD/z for DT
primarily. It could mean that they could license DT and use Explorer (and
the DT plugin) for a lot cheaper than the RD/z license cost.
I guess that PA might not take mixed case passwords, I have not tried that
with PA here.
I'm having a hard time getting the sysprogs here to start looking at the
admin side of Explorer. In their words, they don't see any gain from it (I
do). I also tried to get them to look at Configuration Manager also, but not
happening yet. As John states below, we (developers) also have access to
CEMT INQ and CEDC. From my personal developer standpoint, Explorer when used
as a replacement for CEMT.Explorer is a lot easier to use/configure etc.
Explorer does have a bit of a learning curve and it seems apparent that IBM
will continue to update the Explorer product.
K
From: CICS List [mailto:CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Chase, John
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:08 PM
To: CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: CICS EXPLORER (the real post - darn that enter key)
Still "playing" with it, but now being "distracted" by installation of CICS
TS 4.2 and DB2 v9 (don't ask), and z/OS 1.13 just around the corner. I
don't yet fully understand how to secure its administrative capabilities,
but once I get that figured out I'd like to make it available to our
application programmers, too. They currently have access to all the CEMT
INQ commands, and CEDC functionality.
We discovered that the APA plug-in doesn't support mixed-case passwords.
Haven't tried any of the other PD Tools plug-ins yet. We probably wouldn't
need the Debug Tool plug-in, as we also license RDz.
-jc-
From: CICS List [mailto:CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Kevin Evans
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 12:37 PM
To: CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: CICS EXPLORER (the real post - darn that enter key)
Plus CICS Explorer also has various plugins (Debug Tool, Performance
Analyzer, Fault Analyzer et al). We have been using Explorer (we have used
the latest version yet) in a small way since about 2 years ago. I have not
used Debug Tool under Explorer but we do use it under RD/z. We do use
Performance Analyzer plugin under Explorer (but very recently). Debug Tool,
along with a learning curve, is a very nice product under RD/z (my
assumption is that the DT plugin for CICS Explorer (you have to license the
DT product on the mainframe itself still) is that is a similar experience.
Xpediter is not being renewed as of October 1st here in favor of DT. From
talking to Hursley recently, they are expanding Explorer all the time. As
Graham Clark mentioned.this is probably a good thing for newbies coming out
of college. I suspect that many of them have Eclipse experience (which is
what Explorer and RD/z are based on.
K
From: CICS List [mailto:CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Robert Zenuk
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 12:21 PM
To: CICS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: CICS EXPLORER (the real post - darn that enter key)
We have been using CICS Explorer since the early beta days. Great tool!
Between the Web User Interface (WUI) and Explorer you have great visibility
into the CICS environment. This is especially useful in a Sysplex with
multiple CICS regions scattered across multiple LPAR's. We use it with
CICSPlex/SM and connect to one of our WUI regions. I believe under 4.1 and
above there is an alternate connection technique, but I think it still
relies on at least a basic CICSPlex/SM topology implementation.
All the hype says this is the new face of CICS. For the young kids coming
into the field, this makes sense since it circumvents a large part of the
non-CICS learning curve and allows someone to be productive as a CICS
Sysprog relatively quickly. The plug-ins for the other CICS products (IA,
CM and PA) add to this concept.
For the veterans, I think the cross-plex view of CICS tasks and resources
for performance analysis and problem diagnosis is the main benefit.
Rob
In a message dated 7/21/2011 8:27:28 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
dgoodwin@AMICA.COM writes:
Hello,
We are in the process of planning an upgrade from TS 3.2 to TS 4.2.
I was wondering if anyone is using the CICS Explorer. I'm trying to
figure out if this is something we should be looking into, configuring, and
using. Do you need to be CICSPlex to use it?
I would love to have feedback about the CICS Explorer tool. Any info
and comments will greatly be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Diane Goodwin
IT System Admin Programmer
Amica Insurance
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