CICS TSV5.3 3Q 2016 updatesV5.4 open beta

Time to celebrate “As the world’s leading mixed language application server, it is critical that CICS TS continues to support the latest features that developers want to use in their applications. That’s why IBM are announcing this significant continuous delivery update to CICS TS V5.3.

A number of major new core capabilities have been added, including the integration of all of the Java EE 7 Web Profile features, the introduction of Java EE 7 Full Platform support in a new standard mode, as well as new cloud and mobile integration options. Then for those who want to look a bit further forward, we have also made available a CICS TS V5.4 open beta.

IBM is committed to a continuous delivery roadmap for current releases of CICS TS, to ensure our customers can continue to innovate on the platform, so stay tuned!”

Andy Bates CICS TS Offering Manager

In this bookletJava EE 7, now in CICS!

More flexibility, better performance

Connecting CICS to Cloud and Mobile

More you might have missed

CICS V5.4 open beta

Stay in touch!

Java EE 7, now in CICS!CICS is a first-class Java application platform. New updated capabilities allow you to simplify your IT architecture, facilitate rapid application development and reduce operational costs onz Systems.

Java EE 7 Web Profile

CICS TS supports the latest Java EE standards to meet the needs of Java developers. Our continuous delivery of new features includes support for the Liberty Java EE 7 Web Profile, enabling the integration of Java EE 7 web applications with CICS units-of-work, security, management, and APIs.

Java EE Full Platform as standard

In addition, the complete Liberty Java EE 7 Full Platform is now supported via a new ‘standard’ mode using Java EE transactions, security, and APIs. For applications with more web interactions than CICS interactions, it provides an efficient environment allowing developers to exploit JEE Full Platform capabilities whilst remaining in the easily managed CICS address space.

Learn more:Video: ibm.biz/javaoncicsBlog: ibm.biz/cicsjavaee7Article: ibm.biz/architectingjee

More flexibility, better perfomance CICS remote development feature for Java

The local JCA ECI adapter introduced in CICS V5.3 enabled:- Simplified architecture as JCA connector is inside CICS.- Easy portability between environments.- Reduced network latency for improved response times.

Building on this, the CICS remote development feature for Java facilitates rapid Java EE web application development and debugging, through enabling the testing of applications on a local workstation. This removes the requirement to bundle and deploy those applications to CICS and set up a remote debug connection.

For more information:Video: ibm.biz/cicsremotejavaintroBlog: ibm.biz/cicsremotejava

Java 8 support

All CICS V5 releases now support the running of Java 8, V7.1 and V7.0 in the same region. This capability is a key part of meeting the challenge of variable speed IT.

Find out more: ibm.biz/java8incics

Improved zIIP offloadThe ability to offload eligible workloads to speciality engines is a key advantage for running Java on z Systems. CICS TS V5.3 has been enhanced to optimize the threading model when starting and ending tasks related to Liberty workload. This can provide a reduction in overall CPU usage and a significant increase in the proportion of zIIP eligible workloads.

Find out more in our blog: ibm.biz/cicsziip

z

Connecting CICS to Cloud and Mobile

CICS V5.3 provides functions to expose your CICS assets to mobile and cloud applications, allowing you to succeed in the API economy and innovate across your enterprise.

CICS support for embedded IBM z/OS Connect EE V2.0

z/OS Connect EE enables you to unleash z/OS based data and applications in the API economy.

The newly available CICS TS V5.3 enhancements allow you to embed z/OS Connect EE in CICS, providing close integration with CICS including CICS WLM.

Find out more:Videos: ibm.biz/zosconnectvideos Blog: ibm.biz/zosconnectcics

End-to-end non-Java JSON

CICS TS now supports the processing of JSON messages in CICS regions with no Java configuration. This new functionality allows you to expose CICS assets as JSON web services, without having to install and configure a CICS JVM server.

The ability to offload eligible workloads to speciality engines is a key advantage for running Java on z Systems. CICS TS V5.3 has been enhanced to optimize the threading model when starting and ending tasks related to Liberty workload. This can provide a reduction in overall CPU usage and a significant increase in the proportion of zIIP eligible workloads.

Find out more in our blog: ibm.biz/cicsziip

More you might have missed...

Quick filtering for CICS Explorer

Easily find the information you care about with new ‘Quick Filters’ within CICS Explorer. This new feature allows you to simply set multiple quick filters as well as separating your permanent view configurations from these temporary filters.

For more information: Blog: ibm.biz/cicsexplorerfilter

Enhanced CICS TS built toolkit The CICS TS build toolkit is enhanced to build CICS platforms, enabling automation systems to build all CICS projects from source and removing the need to manually export them from CICS Explorer.

Additional DFHDPLOY support across V5

DFHDPLOY enables automated deployment and undeployment of CICS bundles, Java applications within CICS bundles and CICS applications, and is now available for all releases of CICS TS V5.

New integration between CICS events and ODM

CICS events are now compatible with the Decision Server Insights component of IBM Operational Decision Manager. Enabling detection of business situations, more detailed business analytics and informed decision making.

Enhanced Kerberos support

CICS now supports mutual authentication for Kerberos by using extensions to the VERIFY TOKEN command.

OMEGAMON Monitoring for JVM

This new feature in OMEGAMON provides you with the ability to understand the performance of Java-based workloads deployed on z/OS.

It allows you to instantly see all JVMs in your enterprise, alerting support staff to problems or automatically resolving them before they become critical.

Find out more:Video: ibm.biz/omegamonjvmBlog: ibm.biz/jvmmonitor

CICS V5.4 open beta:Try out the latest and greatest!

The CICS TS V5.4 open beta is a fantastic opportunity to try the latest functionality in CICS.

Asynchronous APIs

Previously, calls from CICS applications to external services were made sequentially and often blocked an application until the call was returned. This prevented the execution of other business logic. We are now introducing the new Asynchronous API command, allowing easier and smoother application execution when calling external services, reducing response times by issuing service calls simultaneously.

Microservices provisioning

A new utility is provided for rapidly provisioning and deprovisioning CICS environments for specific uses, for example setting up a CICS region running IBM z/OS Connect EE V2.0 for handling API calls. The utility uses z/OS Management Facility to run workflows that can automatically create or remove an environment in a few minutes.

Take a look at the other improvements such as - CICS-MQ enhancements. - Product debugging and more

Download the open beta today:ibm.biz/cics54openbeta

Stay in touch!For more information in and around CICS:

CICS Developer CenterBlogs, tutorials and samples from CICS development and support teams.ibm.biz/cicsdev

CICSbuzz NewsletterMonthly highlights for everything around CICS: important news, upcoming events, podcasts, conferences and more.ibm.biz/cicsbuzz

CICS Social Media ChannelsUp to the minute updates on new developments, follow our social media channels to ensure you never miss a thing.facebook.com/IBMCICStwitter.com/IBM_CICSibm.biz/cicsyoutube

More information on everything discussed in thisbooklet:ibm.biz/cics3qrfa