Mainframe Connect Components

About this chapter

This section provides descriptions of the Mainframe Connect components.

DirectConnect for MVS

DirectConnect for MVS is Open Server-based software that supports DB-Library, CT-Library, and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) application programming interfaces (APIs).

DirectConnect for MVS serves as a fundamental building block for highly-scalable database middleware applications. It is a local area network (LAN)-based middleware gateway and server that provides access to non-Sybase data and applications.

DirectConnect provides the following middleware services for decision support and online transaction processing (OLTP) applications:

Access Services, which provide access to non-Sybase data sources. The DirectConnect Access Service for MVS is the recommended path for accessing DB2/MVS data.
Transaction Router Service (TRS), which is used when the mainframe acts as a server and provides access from the LAN to the mainframe over an SNA or TCP/IP network. Client applications use TRS to execute Open ServerConnect applications as RPCs.
Mainframe Client Connect (MCC), which is used when the mainframe acts as a client and supports access from the mainframe to the LAN over an SNA or TCP/IP network. Open ClientConnect uses MCC.

Note

DirectConnect for MVS is available in the Mainframe Connect IPS. DirectConnect Anywhere, DirectConnect for AS/400, DirectConnect for DRDA, DirectConnect for Informix, and DirectConnect for Microsoft SQL Server are available in the Enterprise Connect Data Access IPS.

DirectConnect Manager

DirectConnect Manager is an Open Client-based graphical user interface (GUI) systems management tool for administering data accessible through DirectConnect. It runs within the Sybase systems management framework, Sybase Central. DirectConnect Manager runs on Windows 98 or Windows NT.

MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS

Not to be confused with the Mainframe Connect IPS, MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS is software that resides on the mainframe and works with DirectConnect for MVS to provide dynamic access to mainframe DB2 data.

Client applications access MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS directly through a DirectConnect for MVS Access Service or Transaction Router Service (TRS).

Client applications access MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS indirectly through the CIS functionality in Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) or an ASE remote procedure call (RPC). The CIS functionality in ASE was formerly contained in a separate product called OmniConnect.

Note

MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS is available only for DB2/MVS-CICS environments. For IMS TM and native MVS environments, use OmniSQL Access Module for DB2/CICS for IMS and MVS. Access to InfoHub is available only in a CICS environment, using the OmniSQL Access Module for InfoHub/CICS.

In some cases, it is possible for client applications to work directly with MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS in "gateway-less" mode. For more information, see the Installation and Administration Guide for MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS-CICS.

Open ServerConnect for CICS, IMS TM, and MVS

Open ServerConnect is a programming environment that lets you create mainframe transactions that are accessible to Sybase client applications. To provide this access, Open ServerConnect uses the following basic interfaces:

Traditional Open Server programming environment (for new customers and Sybase-heritage customers using new applications)
Remote Stored Procedure (RSP) programming environment (only for MDI-heritage customers using their old applications)

These transactions provide access to virtually any MVS data source and are used for a variety of functions, including:

Accessing existing mainframe applications
Initiating mainframe batch jobs
Providing source data for data transfer operations
Providing data mapped to a table within the CIS functionality in ASE (formerly contained in a separate product called OmniConnect), thus allowing results to be accessed or joined with data from other targets

LAN-side client applications access Open ServerConnect transactions directly through DirectConnect or indirectly through CIS functionality in ASE or an ASE remote procedure call (RPC).

Open Server Connect allows your mainframe to act as both an application server and a data server in a distributed environment. These APIs allow CICS, IMS TM, and MVS data and application programs to appear as Sybase data to a calling program (for example, Sybase Open Client, ODBC, and JDBC applications). These APIs deliver critical CICS, IMS TM and MVS data and services to LAN and Internet based clients through a single, open infrastructure.

The heterogeneous solutions made available through Sybase Open ServerConnect use traditional mainframe security systems. Used along with its partner product, DirectConnect for MVS, Open ServerConnect ensures transparent and seamless data transport between the internet, LAN, and mainframe systems. The DirectConnect for MVS routes requests (SQL statements and RPC calls) between the mainframe and end user, manages all the protocol translation where required, and provides additional security features that deliver the required security necessary for today's internet, and enterprise portal applications.

Open ClientConnect for CICS, IMS TM, and MVS

Open ClientConnect is a programming environment that lets you create mainframe applications that access LAN data residing on an ASE or other supported data sources and other CICS regions. It allows you to treat the mainframe as just another node on a LAN.

Open ClientConnect uses the following APIs:

Traditional Open Client programming environment (for new customers and Sybase-heritage customers using new applications)
Client Services Application (CSA) programming environment (only for MDI-heritage customers using their old applications)

Open ClientConnect allows the mainframe to take on the initiating roll of a client in a distributed system. Open Client Connect is a library of routines, programming services, and run-time services that you can use to develop client/server applications. It allows mainframe programs written in Assembler, C, COBOL II, or PL/I to communicate with ASE, with Open Server developed applications, and with other LAN DBMS's using DirectConnect for MVS. By using Open ClientConnect, developers can extend the capabilities of their existing mainframe "transactions-orientated" applications to give end users, and mainframe based applications, transparent access to distributed LAN based applications and data. MVS batch applications can become clients requesting data or services form network- and Internet-based applications.


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