The z/OS operating system by IBM is a powerhouse in the world of mainframe computing. Initially released in 2000, z/OS is the latest iteration of IBM’s flagship operating system for their mainframe platforms. This robust and highly secure operating system is designed to support large-scale, mission-critical applications and data processing. With z/OS, organizations can rely on a stable and secure environment for their most critical computing tasks. The system includes advanced features such as workload management, clustering, and high availability capabilities to ensure that applications continue running despite hardware failure. Additionally, z/OS supports multiple programming languages and environments, including COBOL programming, Java, and C/C++, making it a versatile and flexible solution for businesses of all kinds. If you’re looking for a reliable and scalable operating system for your mainframe environment, z/OS is a top contender.

If you are a mainframe professional, chances are you are looking for a tool that helps get more out of your existing z/OS mainframe investments to drive innovation within your organization. It would help if you had a solution focusing on secure APIs and contemporary UI/UX technologies to facilitate access to new capabilities while safeguarding availability, integrity, confidentiality, and other security requirements in mission-critical environments. That’s where the Zowe hosted by Open Mainframe Project can help.

Zowe is an open-source project by the Linux Foundation that provides a modern interface for accessing mainframe systems like the z/OS operating system. It is a collaboration between major companies in the mainframe space, such as IBM, Broadcom, and Rocket Software, and is hosted by the Open Mainframe Project. The goal of Zowe is to make it easier for developers, operations personnel, and end-users to interact with z/OS, which often has complex user interfaces and requires specialized knowledge.

The Zowe project consists of four components that work together to provide a seamless experience for users.

1. Zowe CLI, which provides a command-line interface for interacting with mainframe systems. This allows operations personnel to manage files, submit jobs, and monitor system performance from a familiar command-line interface.

2. Zowe Application Framework provides a set of APIs and toolkits for developing applications that can run on the mainframe or other platforms. This allows developers to use modern programming languages and tools to build applications that can interact with mainframe systems without requiring them to learn specialized mainframe languages or interfaces. It also includes apps for traditional use cases and offers editors and explorers for working with systems like JES, MVS Data Sets, and Unix System Services.

3. Zowe Web UI provides a web-based interface for accessing mainframe systems. This allows end-users to interact with mainframe applications using a modern, user-friendly interface without requiring them to install any software or learn specialized interfaces.

4. Zowe API Mediation Layer (AML) is an open-source software component that connects mainframe systems and modern applications. It provides a secure and scalable way for modern applications to access the resources and data stored on the mainframe. In addition, as a reverse proxy for z/OS services, Proof provides users with an expansive catalog of REST APIs and dynamic discovery capabilities.

5. Zowe Chat enhances a ChatOps collaboration model by integrating z/OS tools and resources. This chatbot lets you interact with your mainframe using popular chat clients like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Mattermost. By unifying access to essential mainframe resources and tools, Zowe Chat eliminates the need for manual toggles between multiple interfaces and tools. In addition, teams can now directly check their z/OS job, data set, and USS files status, thus enhancing overall productivity.

6. Zowe also includes several plugins and extensions that provide additional functionality, such as support for DevOps tools like Jenkins and Git and integration with enterprise service management systems like ServiceNow and Jira. For instance, the Zowe Explorer extension for Visual Studio Code allows one to interact with USS files, data sets, and jobs on z/OS mainframes.

One of the critical benefits of Zowe is that it makes it easier for organizations to modernize their mainframe systems. By providing modern interfaces and APIs, Zowe allows organizations to integrate mainframe systems with other platforms and tools and to develop new applications that leverage the data and capabilities of mainframe systems. This can help organizations improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better customer service

Another benefit of Zowe is that it helps to address the mainframe skills gap. Many organizations are facing a shortage of experts as experienced mainframe professionals retire and younger developers are more focused on newer technologies. By providing modern interfaces and APIs, Zowe makes it easier for developers and operations personnel to work with mainframe systems without requiring specialized mainframe skills.

In conclusion, the Zowe project is a significant development in the world of mainframe computing. By providing modern interfaces and APIs, Zowe makes it easier for organizations to integrate mainframe systems with other platforms and tools and to develop new applications that leverage the data and capabilities of mainframe systems. It also helps to address the mainframe skills gap by making it easier for developers and operations personnel to work with mainframe systems. As such, Zowe is likely to play an increasingly important role in the future of mainframe computing as organizations continue to modernize their IT infrastructures and seek to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Royal Cyber is a global IT company with a team of mainframe experts who provide unparalleled Support, Managed Services, and Training to businesses. Our team has exceptional skills in the upgradation and migrating of the z/OS mainframe operating system, fixing system software, and creating data backup for system-related data. Moreover, they provide customization and technical support services on ODM on z/OS, which allows you to tailor your system to suit your business needs ideally. The best part is that their team is always available to provide support via remote access whenever you need it. With Royal Cyber, you can rest assured that your mainframe systems are safe!

For more information, visit our website www.royalcyber.com or contact us at [email protected].