IBM z/OS Management Facility

Links

There is a Links task under Administration that allows the administrator to dynamically add links to non-z/OSMF resources, e.g. ISV products, commonly used installation Web sites. The purpose here is that as system programmers work with different products, it is a handy place to create a common list for frequently used information and is accessible to the whole team.

For z/OSMF V1R12, a new interface enables you to add non-z/OSMF launch points and links to the left hand side navigation tree (and not just the Links category). A script interface enables you to programmatically add your own non-z/OSMF launch points and links to the left hand side navigation tree so operators and system programmers have the ability to access information and tools quickly.

Application Linking

For z/OSMF V1R13, application linking and launching capabilities can provide a more seamless experience for system programmers as they work with different tools and tasks on the z/OS® system. An API is designed to improve the integration of z/OS tasks by enabling application launching not only between z/OSMF applications, but between z/OSMF applications and other browser-based applications as well.

Application launching may support context-sensitive connections or simple links. For example, between z/OSMF applications, context-sensitive launching might be used to enter an application at a point where actions can be taken immediately to simplify complex task flows, like launching directly from Incident Log to ISPF browse to view the log snapshot for an incident. Simple links would open another application so you could navigate to needed tasks. The launch point URLs defined via events and handlers may be registered via the REST API or the Application Linking Manager task in z/OSMF.

Systems and FTP Servers

Starting with APAR PM74502 on z/OSMF V1R13, the Systems and FTP Servers tasks are available under z/OSMF Settings. The Systems task allows you to define the settings required for z/OSMF to access other systems in your installation and to define the HTTP proxy settings for z/OSMF to use when establishing an HTTPS connection to another system. The FTP Servers task allows you to define the settings required for z/OSMF to access the FTP servers that are running on internal or external systems and to define the settings for z/OSMF to use when transferring files between systems.

Interfaces

The z/OS jobs REST interface, initially introduced with z/OSMF V1R13, is a set of REST services that allows a client application to perform operations with batch jobs on a z/OS system. Operations such as submit a job to run on z/OS, obtain the status of a job, list the spool files for a job, retrieve the contents of a job spool file, cancel a job, or delete a job from the JES spool can be performed. The z/OS jobs REST interface services can be invoked by any HTTP client application, running on the z/OS local system or a remote system, both z/OS or non-z/OS.

Enhanced Security

z/OSMF V1R13 enhanced its security model to provide better integration with Enterprise Security Management products. The z/OSMF SAF mode authorization support brings tighter integration with z/OS SAF-based authorization with the introduction of the resource class ZMFAPLA for z/OSMF task-based resources. All z/OSMF tasks and links will be associated with resource names and resource class profiles under this resource class, and SAF groups are used to represent Roles. SAF mode further allows for custom roles via creation of SAF groups at the customer's discretion.

Customize

With z/OSMF V1R12, links and launch points to non-z/OSMF resources can be added to any category in the navigation tree on the left hand side of the screen and not just the Links category. A script interface enables you to programmatically add your own non-z/OSMF launch points and links to the left hand side navigation tree so operators and system programmers have the ability to access more information and tools quickly. For example, you can add a link for OMEGAMON® XE.

In addition, you can customize your z/OSMF Welcome panel if you want to provide some company-specific information to system programmers during log in. You can customize the Welcome panel with a small image or graphic, such as your company logo as well as header and footer text suited for your company.

Economics

The z/OS Management Facility is a zero-priced product, so the decision to get started can be fast and easy.

A large portion of the z/OS Management Facility application is written in Java, and therefore, this portion is eligible for the System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP). In addition, portions of z/OS Management Facility workload use the z/OS CIM server, and therefore, these portions are eligible for IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP).

Note that the zEC12 is the last high end System z® server to offer support for zAAPs; running "zAAP on zIIP" continues to be supported.