Creating a CICS Platform project

A CICS® Platform project defines a platform bundle, which is a type of management bundle that describes a platform. The CICS Platform project can reference one or more CICS bundles that contain resources to be deployed on the platform, such as policies.

Before you begin

Ensure that any CICS bundle projects that you want to deploy on the platform are available.

About this task

The platform bundle contains a descriptor for the platform that defines the name, description, region types, and platform home directory. This information uniquely identifies the platform when it is installed in CICS and can help you manage multiple platforms in the CICS Explorer®. Every time you change part of the platform, you can update the information in the platform descriptor before deploying it to CICS.

For more information about the platform home directory, see Creating a platform home directory in zFS.

Procedure

  1. On the Eclipse menu bar, click File > New Wizards > Other to open the New Project wizard.
  2. Expand the CICS Resources folder, click CICS Platform Project, and click Next.
  3. In the Project Name field, enter a name for the project. The Platform properties section of the wizard is automatically populated, but you can edit the name and description if required.
  4. Optional: Click Specify a location and enter a location, or click Browse and navigate to the location of your choice. The Browse radio button is only enabled when you have an active z/OS® FTP connection.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Specify your region types. Click Add to add a region type for the platform. The Add a Region Type window opens.
    1. In the Name field, enter a name for the region type.
    2. Choose an existing CICS system group (CSYSGRP) by establishing a CICS SM connection, choosing a CICSplex, and choosing a CICS system group.
      Restriction: The following restrictions apply:
      • CICS platforms require a lock on the groups that are used as region types.

        Do not use groups that are likely to require modification, for example groups that are involved in WLM or RTA. In these situations, the system definitions (CSYSDEFs) required can be added to a new system group (CSYSGRP) created specifically for the platform.

      • Do not use CICS system groups (CSYSGRPs) which contain subgroups; system groups which contain subgroups are not valid groups to be used as a region type.

        You might need to change your topology to ensure that all the CSYSDEFs that you require can be included in the platform. For example, create a CSYSGRP which contains the regions the platform requires, without subgroups.

      • Do not use groups that have already been adopted by another platform.
      • Ensure that all CICS regions that you include in a platform have the CICSPlex® SM system parameter MASPLTWAIT(YES) specified. This parameter is required to automatically install resources for an application or platform when the CICS region is initialized. MASPLTWAIT(YES) is also required for Business Application Services.
    3. Click OK and a region type is added. The Remove and Properties radio buttons are only enabled when a region type is selected.
  7. Optional: Click Properties to edit a region type for the platform. The Edit property of Region Type window opens.
    1. In the Name field, update the name for the region type.
    2. In the Region Type ID field, update the region type ID, and then click OK.
    3. Click Next.
  8. Specify the CICS bundles that you want to use to deploy your platform. The list of CICS bundles is discovered from your local workspace.
    1. Select the CICS bundles that you require and click Next. You can also use the Select All or Deselect All radio buttons as required.
    2. Click Next. The Next radio button is only enabled when one or more CICS bundles are selected.
    3. Optional: If you do not require any CICS bundles, click Finish.
  9. Specify the deployment scope for your platform. If you do not specify any CICS bundles in step 8 the deployment scope table is empty.
    1. Select a CICS bundle and specify one or more region types, for every CICS bundle in the CICS bundles panel.
  10. Click Finish to create the project. The Finish radio button is disabled if one or more CICS bundles are selected, but no deployment scope is specified.
  11. To view your Platform project, open the CICS Cloud perspective. The Platform project is displayed in the Project Explorer view.

Results

The platform project is created. The project contains a META-INF folder that contains four XML files:

You cannot edit the platform descriptor after it is created.

Note: When you have created and deployed your platform project using the CICS Explorer, you must ensure proper management of the project source. The platform project cannot be reconstructed from the exported data in zFS, and a failure of your workstation might cause the data to be lost. Ensure that your project is checked into a source code management system. When you use a source code management system that integrates with Eclipse, you can check projects in and out while you are working in the CICS Explorer.

What to do next

Export the platform project to zFS to deploy the platform in a CICSplex.