Logica gives IBM’s Hursley Lab helping hand in development of major CICS OS/2 release

The most interesting product so far developed by IBM for OS/2, CICS OS/2 Version 1.20, is avail-able on February 23, 1990 and costs $708. It provides new support for co-operat-ive processing and extends Systems Application Architecture support so that applications can provide Common User Access screen interfaces and fully conform to SAA when run under OS/2 Extended Edition. However, many enhancements in CICS OS/2 Version 1.20 use functions provided only in OS/2 Extended Edition, and are not available to users of MS-DOS-based micros. The major enhancement for the MS-DOS user of CICS OS/2 Version 1.20 is the ability to transaction route and function ship over a local area network using NetBIOS protocols. The latest implementation of CICS for personal computers is a result of a collab orative effort between IBM’s Hursley Park Labo ratory, near Winchester and Logica Plc, London.

New cooperative processing support

Cooperative processing support provides transparent host-to-PS/2 and PS/2-to-PS/2 communications. Transaction routing between PS/2s running CICS OS/2 Version 1.20 enables a transaction to be initiated on one and run on another, and transaction routing from a host CICS to a machine running Version 1.20 is also supported. Function shipping from host CICS enables the host application to access file control, temporary storage, and transient data. CICS Distributed Transaction Processing commands enable Version 1.20 transactions to initiate and communicate synchronously with transactions in another PS/2 or a host using advanced program-to-program communications protocols. Distributed CICS Link, a new function shipping service, enables a transaction running under Version 1.20 to link to programs that reside on other CICS systems, host or PS/2. This enables CICS applications to access and use existing DL/1 and DB2 databases on a host system, and to design efficient distributed applications without having to learn Advanced ProgramtoProgram Communications protocols. Remote operations are enabled via host-issued IC START commands which enable applications to transmit information to the host when the PS/2 is unattended. Access to transactions or data in other CICS systems via transaction routing and function shipping across a local area network to a Version 1.20 server system, or through a gateway system to a host using CICS daisy-chaining concepts is provided. CICS OS/2 file control resources and programs based on a Version 1.20 server system, enable the system to be set up without data on the user’s local area network-connected PS/2. In addition to APPC protocols, CICS OS/2 Version 1.20 provides transparent support for function shipping and transaction routing using the NetBIOS protocols to a CICS OS/2 transaction server. For an MS-DOS workstation on an OS/2 Extended Edition local area network, function shipping and transaction routing over NetBIOS are available from the workstation only. This support, together with CICS daisy-chaining, provides access to host systems from MS-DOS workstations without an LU2 link on each PS/2. In addition to the CICS-specific communications capabilities, Version 1.2 includes support for the attachment of up to three 3151 terminals, models 510, 560, 610, or 660, to the PS/2 Communications Port, where they are supported as members of the 3270 family of devices.

Systems Application Architecture, C

Support for Systems Application Architecture in Version 1.20 is now fully conformant, and applications running under Version 1.20 can be written in C and linked to other C programs. Presentation Manager windowing calls may be made from CICS OS/2 applications using C or Cobol, and Dialog Manager panels can be used, enabling user interfaces to CICS OS/2 applications to be fully compliant with Common User Access standards. The ability to allow selection of a local or remote CICS OS/2 transaction from the Presentation Manager start programs list is also provided.

Better development capabilities

Version 1.20 compl

ements the source-level debugging capability of CICS OS/2 Version 1.11 with new facilities. The Execution Diagnostic Facility is provided to aid in problem determination, and can be used on the PS/2 or from the host. Version 1.20 also provides support for additional elements of the CICS command-level Application Programming interface. In addition to extending CICS OS/2 applications, the modifications that are required when existing applications are reimplemented for the PS/2 are fewer.

Communications adaptor requirements

For direct host communications, a PS/2 with Micro Channel Architecture needs the 3270 Connection Adaptor or PS/2 Multi-protocol Adaptor/A, and without Micro Channel Architecture, a PC 3278/9 Emulation Adaptor. Without Micro Channel Architecture and personal computer, a PC 3278/9 Emulation Adapter is needed, and a PS/55 386 model with Micro Channel Architecture requires either a 3270 Connection Adaptor, a Multi Protocol Adaptor II/A, or a Multi-Protocol Adaptor III/A. For the connection of a PS/2 with Micro Channel Architecture to an IBM local area network, either a Token-Ring Network Adaptor/A, or a Token-Ring Network 16/4 Adaptor/A is needed. Without Micro Channel Architecture or a personal computer, a Token-Ring Network PC Adapter or Token-Ring Network 16/4 Adaptor is needed. Any additional communications ports on a PS/2, require a Dual Asynchronous Adaptor/A. Janice McGinn