Defining host connections

As an administrator, you can use the Host connections page to configure connections to the mainframe by using BMC's Host Communications Interface (HCI). You can define multiple connections because multiple HCI instances can be deployed on your mainframe systems.

If CES has security enabled, access to the Host Connections page is restricted to users with administrative privileges. You can then associate the connections with security groups, restricting access to the connection to only those users belonging to that security group. For more information, see Defining-security-settings.

You can also secure the communication through this connection by using an encryption protocol to make sure that the data being sent back and forth is private.

Related topics

Viewing-host-connection-event-history

Using-a-host-connection-to-access-BMC-AMI-mainframe-products

Managing-users

Managing-security-groups

You can synchronize Workbench for Eclipse with these connections. When you synchronize the connections, only ungrouped connections and those associated with a group to which that Workbench for Eclipse user belongs, are displayed. For more information about synchronizing host connections, see BMC AMI DevX Workbench for Eclipse User Guide. For information about supporting multiple Strobe instances, see Strobe/HCI Configuration. To use HCI web service, contact BMC Support for the full documentation.

On the UI, you can move a column, refresh the table, delete one or more row entries, search, filter, and sort the values in the table, and choose how many records you want to view in the table. For more information about these actions, see Common-UI-actions.

On the Host connections page, you can also perform the following actions:

Purpose

Action

Add a connection.

Edit a connection.

Click (Edit) Edit.png.

View the connection status.

Active indicates that the connection is currently running.

Inactive indicates that the connection is not currently running.

View connection details (for example, licensed Workbench for Eclipse products and the BMC AMI Common Shared Services that are associated with the host connection).

Click (View) Eye.png.

View the host connection event history.

Click History. For more information, see Viewing-host-connection-event-history.

To add a new connection

  1. On the Host connections page, click Add.
  2. In the Add host connection dialog box, enter a unique text Description of the connection. This description is displayed when a user accesses a configured connection.
  3. In Host/URI, specify the required z/OS host system name or IP address on which the HCI is running.

  4. Specify the relevant Port number used by the HCI for listening for client requests.

    Important

    To configure an BMC AMI DevX Abend-AID (Abend-AID) webhook, specify the relevant URL and port number for AABDCAS or AATDCAS.

    To configure the API to create the security token for Abend-AID, specify the relevant Abend-AID viewer URL and port number.

  5. Select the Encryption protocol to use for securing the communications with the HCI. For this to work properly, the HCI must be configured with that protocol on the previously specified Port. If no option is selected, the default value is None.

  6. Select the required security Groups to be associated with this connection. Only users belonging to the associated group will have access to this connection. 
    By default, connections do not have any associated groups. Ungrouped connections are available to all users.

    Important

    The Groups field is available only when you have enabled security in CES.

  7. Click Test connection to test the values entered. A status message is displayed indicating whether a connection could be made with the values entered.
  8. Click Save. The new connection is displayed in the list of connections.
    You can choose the defined host connection when you use the Host connection login window to establish communication with the BMC AMI Products for Web. For more information, see Using-a-host-connection-to-access-BMC-AMI-mainframe-products.

 

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