Connecting CICS Explorer to CICS systems

You must establish a connection between CICS Explorer® and your CICS® systems before you can view any information. You must provide details about the system connection, its location, and its authentication requirements in the connection definition.

Before you begin

You must have a suitable connection credential to make any connections. For instructions on creating a credential, see Defining connection credentials in IBM Explorer for z/OS documentation.

Tip: For CICS connections that support multi-factor authentication, you can use a multi-factor authentication (MFA) credential to enhance CICS Explorer sign-on security. See Multi-factor authentication (MFA) credentials for CICS Explorer connections.

For CICS connections that are secured by SSL, you might need to manage your SSL certificates. See Managing SSL security and certificates in IBM Explorer for z/OS documentation.

About this task

CICS Explorer can connect to CICS systems through these connections:
CICS management client interface (CMCI) connection

Provides the ability to read, update, create, and install definitions, as well as performing actions against installed resources.

Provides connection to a CICSplex or to a single CICS region (SMSS). For more information on how to set up a CMCI connection, see Configuring for CICS Explorer in the CICS TS product documentation.

Note: If you are connecting to a CICS TS for VSE/ESA 1.1.1 system, the CMCI connection provides read-only capability.
SM Data connection to a CICSPlex® SM WUI server
Provides read-only access to definitions and installed resources.

Procedure

  1. On the main menu for the workbench, click Window > Manage Connections. The Host Connections view is displayed.
    If your connections are preconfigured, these connections are displayed under the categories in the view. If not, the categories are empty. The following example screen shows the Host Connections view with one connection in each category type. Each connection is associated with a credential, except for the z/OSMF connection. The credential is shown in brackets after the connection name.
    Host Connections view
  2. Select the connection category that you require under CICS System Management, and click Add.
    The Add Connection window opens. The following example shows the Add CMCI Connection window.
    Add CMCI Connection window.
  3. Type the TCP/IP host name of your server in Host name. As you type, the Name field displays the characters up to the end of the first qualifier. For example, for the host name myserver.example.ibm.com, the Name field displays myserver.
  4. Enter the port number. As you type, the port number is also appended to the Name field. For example, for the port number 12345, the Name field displays myserver:12345.
  5. Optional: If required, you can specify a different name in the Name field.
  6. If the connection is secured with SSL or TLS, select Secure connection (TLS/SSL).
    You need to accept the certificate when you connect to the server for the first time. For detailed instructions, see Managing TLS/SSL connections in CICS Explorer.
  7. Click Save and Close to save the configuration without connecting, or Save and Connect to save the configuration and connect immediately. If you click Save and Connect, the Signon window is displayed, where you must select an existing credential to use with this connection, or define a new credential.

Results

The connection and associated credentials are displayed in the Host Connections view. You can connect with your credentials.

If the connection is successful, the connection name is displayed in the workbench window next to a green icon.

If the connection is not successful, the connection name is displayed in workbench window next to a red icon. An error message is displayed in the workbench status bar providing a reason for the failure. Check the values in the fields, correct any errors, and try to connect again.

If a connection request is rejected with the HTTP code 403 and the message DFHSJ1412, see Defining a client allowlist to CMCI JVM server in a CICSplex for details on how to resolve the error.

To check the CMCI User Agent string details for a particular version of CICS Explorer, do the following:
  • Open CICS Explorer.
    • For Windows OS: Click Help > About > Installation Details > Configuration.
    • For Mac OS: Click IBM Explorer for z/OS > About > Installation Details > Configuration.
  • The CMCI User Agent string is listed in the Configuration tab of the IBM Explorer for z/OS Installation Details dialog box.
    IBM Explorer for z/OS Installation Details dialog box