CICS TS V4.1 Available for Customer Testing

The latest CICS for z/OS release from IBM, CICS TS V4.1, has been installed at CNS and is now available for initial customer testing. This CICS migration will be an upgrade from CICS TS 3.2, which we have been running at this site since 2007. You can read more about this version in IBM's overview of CICS TS 4.1 at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/htp/cics/tserver/v41/ .

So far, existing CICS applications appear to be working correctly in CICS TS 4.1. We have begun an analysis of the CICS TS 4.1 performance data, and have noticed very little difference between CICS TS 4.1 and CICS TS 3.2.

IBM CICS TS 4.1 can be tested now in CICSDEV1, CICSDEV2, and CICSTST2. CICSDEV1 and CICSTST2 are running on our production (primary) LPAR, and can be accessed via NERCDEV1, and NERCTST2 from the CNS Menu. Most CICSTEST application definitions are in CICSDEV1. And, CICSTST2 has been primarily used by UNF and IFAS.

CICSDEV2 is running on our test (alternate) LPAR, and can be accessed via NERCDEV2 from the CNS Menu. You may need additional information to test successfully in CICSDEV2. If so, please contact us for details.

If you are an Omegamon for CICS or CA InterTest for CICS user, no related changes should be required on your part as we have the latest support for CICS TS 4.1 in both of these CICS support tools.

At this time, conversion dates to move to CICS TS 4.1 are scheduled as follows:

IBM has provided a sample CICS TS 4.1 dataset which is called CICS.USER.V660.SDFHSAMP . For CICS TS 3.2, the sample dataset is currently CICS.USER.SDFHSAMP .

The IBM CICS web site is located at http://www.ibm.com/cics .

The IBM CICS TS 4.1 Information Center is available at: https://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/cicsts/v4r1/index.jsp

The IBM CICS TS 3.2 Information Center is available at: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/cicsts/v3r2/index.jsp

IP-restricted local copies of additional documentation can be found as follows:

If you have any questions or concerns about this planned upgrade, please contact us at 352-273-1308 or by email at consult@lists.ufl.edu. We will be happy to hear from you.