New CNS Log-On Screen (CICS, Admin Menu, TSO)

On Sunday, June 7th, 2009, people signing on to mainframe applications (the "NERDC" screen) will see a new CNS log-on screen that will be similar in looks to the current log-on screen. Expect to see "CNS" in large letters at the top of the screen, a terminal ID in the upper right corner, a menu, and a command line. You do not need to change anything on your computer at this time to see or use the new log-on screen. However, there are important differences that you should know about.

First, there will not be a SIGNON selection on the menu. You will be able to access applications and services directly from this screen. ADMIN and TSO will be menu entries on the CNS log-on screen. If you need to log-on to more than one CNS mainframe application, you can open another instance of the log-on screen to access that program or service by double-clicking the same program icon you used to open the first instance.

If you do not see what you are looking for on the menu, press <Enter> to see some of the additional available services. This will let you know what other things you can log into. Then, from this screen or the CNS Menu screen (log-on screen), enter the name of the service you wish to access at the command line and press <Enter>.

Please notice that NERTPX is an entry on the CNS Menu (log-on) screen. Previously, when you selected SIGNON from the NERDC menu, you were actually logging into TPX, a program that allowed multiple mainframe sessions with switching between screens. With the proliferation of PC's, however, we are all accustomed to opening new windows to open a second instance of a program. For example, many of you have opened multiple instances of your internet browser so that you could look at, or work on, different things at once. We no longer need a special program (TPX) to help us achieve multiple sessions.

So why is TPX on the menu at all? In a previous announcement (N0482), we reported that TPX was one of three programs we believed could be discontinued with minimal impact to users to help reduce rising software costs. It is on the menu because we want to give everyone a chance to adjust their work processes and habits while still having the old TPX available as a fallback/safety-net position for a few weeks before that software license expires. Starting Sunday, July 19, 2009, the NERTPX selection will no longer work.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this change. We can be reached at consult@lists.ufl.edu or by telephone at 352.273-1308, and will be happy to talk with you.