Zowe: Making the Mainframe easy to work with, just like any other platform

The IBM System Z server (Mainframe) is the system of record for most Fortune 1000 companies, housing critical business data as well as PII data from customers that must be available at all times but cannot be compromised. The Mainframe platform is behind just about every critical user experience in business today. For this reason, every company shares common concerns about the security of their customer data and the compatibility and performance of the applications that drive their business.

What is Zowe?
Zowe is an open source project for the Mainframe. Alike Mac OS or Windows, Zowe comes with a set of APIs and OS capabilities that application developers can leverage. Zowe also includes some application samples and applications out of the box.

To learn more about Zowe, check out this 5 minutes YouTube Video:

And Zowe is evolving at a fast pace! Check out the online Release Notes: https://docs.zowe.org/stable/getting-started/summaryofchanges.html. Since its initial release in February 2019, there has been new updates every month.

Zowe main components

Zowe Application Framework: A web user interface (UI) that provides a virtual desktop containing a number of apps allowing access to z/OS function. Base Zowe includes apps for traditional access such as a 3270 terminal and a VT Terminal, as well as an editor and explorers for working with JES, MVS Data Sets and Unix System Services.

API Mediation Layer: Provides a gateway that acts as a reverse proxy for z/OS services, together with a catalog of REST APIs and a dynamic discovery capability. Base Zowe provides core services for working with MVS Data Sets, JES, as well as working with z/OSMF REST APIs. The API Mediation Layer also provides a framework for Single Sign On (SSO).

Zowe CLI: Provides a command-line interface that lets you interact with the mainframe remotely and use common tools such as Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), shell commands, bash scripts, and build tools for mainframe development. It provides a set of utilities and services for application developers that want to become efficient in supporting and building z/OS applications quickly. The CLI provides a core set of commands for working with data sets, USS, JES, as well as issuing TSO and console commands.

Where to start?

The installation of Zowe™ consists of two independent processes:

1. installing Zowe runtime on z/OS 
• Install the Zowe Application Framework, the API Mediation Layer, and a number of micro services that provide capability to both.
• Install the Zowe Cross Memory Server. This is an authorized server application that provides privileged services to Zowe in a secure manner.
2. installing Zowe CLI on your computer (The Zowe CLI is not installed on z/OS and runs on a personal computer)

Installation Guide: https://docs.zowe.org/stable/user-guide/installandconfig.html

IDUG Db2 Tech Conference in Malta – November 4-8

If you are not aware, the biggest Db2 conference in Europe is upcoming in a month. It takes place in Malta, over a week:

Established some 30+ years ago, IDUG stands for International Db2 Users Group, this non-profit organization aims to provide high quality education and services designed to promote the effective utilization of Db2.

By attending the next IDUG conference in Malta, you may expect the opportunity to:

• Meet and network with ~500 Db2 professionalsAttend best-in-class technical sessions
• Meet with Db2 vendors, consultants, and services companies at the Conference Booths
• Ask any question on your mind during the Expert Panels
• Pass complimentary Db2 Certifications
• Network and have fun at the Evening Vendor networking events
• Meet me at the conference and it will be my pleasure to introduce you with the Conference Chair, Mateja Jankovic.

Learn more and register for IDUG Malta at https://www.idug.org/emea2018

Top Tips:

1. IDUG is not only a set of events, it’s also a website full of valuable content: https://www.idug.org
2. Make sure to register to the Db2-L list-serv (forum)
3. Learn about Db2 on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/IDUGDB2/
4. Register to another great Db2 site : http://www.worldofdb2.com/

Why to start your IT career on the Mainframe technology?

If you just finished university with a degree in Computer Sciences, you are probably looking for a job… and if you are reading this article, you are probably still searching. Although you might not even know what a Mainframe is, you might want to consider a career on the “big iron”; and here is why.

The mainframe is a 40+ year old platform and most software is written in low-level languages such as Assembler or Cobol. Granted. As much as it appears non-attractive, it is a real opportunity: while most of the world data and processing resides in Mainframes, Mainframe professionals (so called “Mainframers”) are close to retirement. The equation is simple, IT talents with such knowledge will be a rarity in the very near future, and the biggest fortune companies will crave for them.


But … do not think Mainframe is solely legacy. In fact, lots of new projects exist on Mainframe, most of which use Java, C, or C++. The new trend of “virtualization” is a notion which has existed for decades in the Mainframe world. If you think about it, Mainframe systems are nothing other than a private cloud: Mainframe means an enormous amount of data, incredible processing capabilities, and very high security (who ever heard about a virus on a Mainframe?). Mainframe also rhymes with green computing, since it uses much less energy than other platforms, because one Mainframe can support a workload equivalent to thousands of distributed servers.

In a few words, it is cool to work on Mainframe!

If you are looking for a Mainframe job in central Europe, check out this link:
www.proudly.cz/catechnologies

Why should young IT professionals start their career on Mainframe?

If you just finished university with a degree in Computer Sciences, you are probably looking for a job… and if you are reading this article, you are probably still searching. Although you might not even know what a Mainframe is, you might want to consider a career on the “big iron”; and here is why.

The mainframe is a 40+ years old platform and most software are written in low-level languages such as assembler or Cobol. Granted. As much as it appears non-attractive, it is a real opportunity: while most of the world data and processing resides in Mainframes, Mainframe professionals (so called “Mainframers”) are close to retirement. The equation is simple, IT talents with such knowledge will be rarity in the very near future, and biggest fortune companies will crave for them.

But … do not think mainframe is solely legacy. In fact, lots of new projects exist on Mainframe, most of which use Java, C, or C++. The new trend of “virtualization” is a notion which exists since decades in the Mainframe world. If you think about it, Mainframe systems are nothing else than a private cloud: Mainframe means enormous amount of data, incredible processing capabilities, and very high security (who even ever spoke about a virus on Mainframe?). Mainframe also rimes with green computing, since it uses much less energy than other platforms, because 1 Mainframe can support a workload equivalent to thousands of distributed servers.

In a few words, it is cool to work on Mainframe!

Sources:

www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/

www.ca.com/mainframe2