System Architecture Micro Focus Enterprise Server

Introduction

This document provides an overview of a system architecture that will support applications that are currently running on a Mainframe System to be transferred to a distributed Windows System for development, testing or production.

We have made a significant effort to ensure the documents and software technologies are correct and accurate. We reserve the right to make changes without notice at any time. The function delivered in this version is based upon the enhancement requests from a specific group of users. The intent is to provide changes as the need arises and in a timeframe that is dependent upon the availability of resources.

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Architecture Diagram

The following is an overview of a Distributed System Architecture required to run an application or suite of applications that is currently running on a Mainframe System.

The preceding diagram shows three (3) layers.

The following sections of this document will provide additional detail about each of the layers in the Distributed System Architecture.

Systems or Machines

An application or suite of applications that is currently running on a Mainframe System may be transferred to a single Distributed System (at the source code level). Once the transfer is complete the source code may be compiled and executed on the Distributed System.

The application data may be transferred to a Local Server, a User Machine or left in place and accessed on the Mainframe System.

Even though it is possible to transfer and execute the application on a single Distributed System this is the exception. A typical distributed configuration would consists of three (3) machines (or Systems). The first machine would provide a foundation for the application. The second machine would provide a foundation for a Data Base Management System. The third machine would provide the foundation for overall system security. Each of these machines may be a separate physical machine or a virtual machine.

Application System

The Application System provides a foundation for a business application or suite of applications. This includes the hardware, an Operating System, sub-Systems and Third-Party Software.

Data Base System

The Data Base System provides a foundation for a Data Base Management System.

Security System

The Security System provides the foundation for overall system security. A typical configuration would use Windows Active Directory with an LDAP Interface.

Active Directory is a database based system that provides authentication, directory, policy, and other services in a Windows environment.

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an application protocol for querying and modifying items in directory service providers like Active Directory, which supports a form of LDAP.

Servers and Sub-Systems

The following sub-Section of this document will focus on the Servers, sub-Systems and Third-Party Software required to support the application execution on a distributed platform.

Micro Focus Servers

The Micro Focus Enterprise product set tackles the application innovation modernization needs of IBM mainframe development, testing and delivery teams. Our enterprise application knowledge, development, test and workload deployment tools significantly improve the efficiency of business application delivery.

Enterprise Server

Micro Focus Enterprise Server provides a high performance, scalable, deployment environment for hosting business applications that have traditionally run on IBM Z/OS Mainframe Systems.

Enterprise Test Server

Micro Focus Enterprise Test Server is a testing suite that supports pre-production testing of mainframe applications on Windows platforms before they are deployed back to the mainframe for production use.

Enterprise Test Server when combined with Enterprise Developer provides an environment where mainframe programs can be compiled and then executed off the mainframe. Test Server can also be configured to allow code and data, where logical, to continue to reside on the mainframe and be executed remotely.

Enterprise Developer

Micro Focus Enterprise Developer is an integrated development environment (IDE) for mainframe application development. It enables organizations to streamline the application development and an application build process by exploiting contemporary Eclipse or Visual Studio technology on a distributed platform.

Apache/Tomcat Server

Apache Tomcat is an open source web server and servlet container developed by the Apache Software Foundation. Tomcat implements the Java Servlet and the Java Server Pages (JSP) specifications from Oracle, and provides a Java HTTP web server environment for Java code to be executed.

Refer to The Apache Tomcat Web Site for more information and product download options.

Java SDK/JRE

The Java SE Development Kit (JDK) for Java Developers includes a complete Java Runtime Environment (JRE) plus tools for developing, debugging, and monitoring Java applications.

Refer to The Java Link on the Oracle Web Site for more information and product download options.

Server Instances

This section provides additional detail for user-defined server instances configured to run under the control of the Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Server Instance, Online Transactions

It will be necessary to configure a server instance to process a transaction that executes a program that uses "EXEC CICS" syntax and BMS screens.

    Explore how to Configure an Online Region (or Server Instance) that will run under Micro Focus Enterprise Server and execute CICS Transactions.

Server Instance, Batch Processing

It will be necessary to configure a server instance to process a job that uses JCL to allocate resources and execute programs.

    Explore how to Configure a Batch JES sub-system (or Server Instance) that will run under Micro Focus Enterprise Server and execute batch jobs using JCL.

Summary

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of a system architecture that will support applications that are currently running on a Mainframe System to be transferred to a Windows System for development, testing or production. Also, this document may be used as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers.

In the world of programming there are many ways to solve a problem. This documentation and software were developed and tested on systems that are configured for a SIMOTIME environment based on the hardware, operating systems, user requirements and security requirements. Therefore, adjustments may be needed to execute the jobs and programs when transferred to a system of a different architecture or configuration.

SIMOTIME Services has experience in moving or sharing data or application processing across a variety of systems. For additional information about SIMOTIME Services or Technologies please contact us using the information in the  Contact or Feedback  section of this document.

Software Agreement and Disclaimer

Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software, documentation or training material for any purpose requires a fee to be paid to SimoTime Technologies. Once the fee is received by SimoTime the latest version of the software, documentation or training material will be delivered and a license will be granted for use within an enterprise, provided the SimoTime copyright notice appear on all copies of the software. The SimoTime name or Logo may not be used in any advertising or publicity pertaining to the use of the software without the written permission of SimoTime Technologies.

SimoTime Technologies makes no warranty or representations about the suitability of the software, documentation or learning material for any purpose. It is provided "AS IS" without any expressed or implied warranty, including the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. SimoTime Technologies shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from the loss of use, data or projects, whether in an action of contract or tort, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this software, documentation or training material.

Downloads and Links

This section includes links to documents with additional information that are beyond the scope and purpose of this document. The first group of documents may be available from a local system or via an internet connection, the second group of documents will require an internet connection.

Note: A SimoTime License is required for the items to be made available on a local system or server.

Current Server or Internet Access

The following links may be to the current server or to the Internet.

Note: The latest versions of the SimoTime Documents and Program Suites are available on the Internet and may be accessed using the icon. If a user has a SimoTime Enterprise License the Documents and Program Suites may be available on a local server and accessed using the icon.

    Explore An Enterprise System Model that describes and demonstrates how Applications that were running on a Mainframe System and non-relational data that was located on the Mainframe System were copied and deployed in a Microsoft Windows environment with Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

    Explore the COBOL Connection for more examples of COBOL programming techniques and sample code.

    Explore an Extended List of Software Technologies that are available for review and evaluation. The software technologies (or Z-Packs) provide individual programming examples, documentation and test data files in a single package. The Z-Packs are usually in zip format to reduce the amount of time to download.

    Explore The ASCII and EBCDIC Translation Tables. These tables are provided for individuals that need to better understand the bit structures and differences of the encoding formats.

    Explore The File Status Return Codes that are used to interpret the results of accessing VSAM data sets and/or QSAM files.

Internet Access Required

The following links will require an internet connection.

A good place to start is The SimoTime Home Page for access to white papers, program examples and product information. This link requires an Internet Connection

Explore The Micro Focus Web Site for more information about products (including Micro Focus COBOL) and services available from Micro Focus. This link requires an Internet Connection.

Glossary of Terms

    Explore the Glossary of Terms for a list of terms and definitions used in this suite of documents and white papers.

Comments or Feedback

This document was created and is maintained by SimoTime Technologies. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or feedback please use the following contact information.

We appreciate hearing from you.

Company Overview

SimoTime Technologies was founded in 1987 and is a privately owned company. We specialize in the creation and deployment of business applications using new or existing technologies and services. We have a team of individuals that understand the broad range of technologies being used in today's environments. Our customers include small businesses using Internet technologies to corporations using very large mainframe systems.

Quite often, to reach larger markets or provide a higher level of service to existing customers it requires the newer Internet technologies to work in a complementary manner with existing corporate mainframe systems. We specialize in preparing applications and the associated data that are currently residing on a single platform to be distributed across a variety of platforms.

Preparing the application programs will require the transfer of source members that will be compiled and deployed on the target platform. The data will need to be transferred between the systems and may need to be converted and validated at various stages within the process. SimoTime has the technology, services and experience to assist in the application and data management tasks involved with doing business in a multi-system environment.

Whether you want to use the Internet to expand into new market segments or as a delivery vehicle for existing business functions simply give us a call or check the web site at http://www.simotime.com