IMS solutions for Java development overview

You can write Java applications to access IMS databases and process IMS transactions by using the drivers and resource adapters of the IMS solutions for Java development.

Start of changeThe IMS solutions for Java development include the IMS Universal drivers, the IMS Java dependent region resource adapter, and the IMS Transaction Manager Resource Adapter (IMS TM Resource Adapter). These solutions are provided through the Java On Demand feature FMID. For solutions that can also run on distributed platforms, you can download them from the IMS download site at http://www.ibm.com/software/data/ims/downloads.html.End of change

Start of changeFor developing Java applications that run in IMS, see the Java in IMS solution adoption kit for end-to-end guidance, including tasks for system programmers to set up the environment.End of change

IMS Universal drivers

The IMS Universal drivers are a set of Java drivers and resource adapters that enable access to IMS from z/OS® and distributed (non-z/OS) platforms. The IMS Universal drivers are built on industry standards and open specifications. Two types of connectivity are supported by the IMS Universal drivers: local connectivity to IMS databases on the same LPAR (type-2 connectivity) and distributed connectivity through TCP/IP (type-4 connectivity). Java applications that use the type-2 IMS Universal drivers must reside on the same logical partition (LPAR) as the IMS subsystem. Java applications that use the type-4 IMS Universal drivers can reside on the same logical partition (LPAR) or on a different LPAR from the IMS subsystem.

The IMS Universal drivers enable access to IMS from multiple environments, including:

  • WebSphere® Application Server for z/OS
  • CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS
  • IMS on the host in JMP and JBP regions

The IMS Universal drivers include:

  • IMS Universal Database resource adapter: A Java EE Connector Architecture (JCA) Start of change1.6End of change-compliant resource adapter
  • IMS Universal JDBC driver: A Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver that implements the JDBC Start of change4.0End of change API
  • IMS Universal DL/I driver: A Java API for making calls with traditional DL/I programming semantics

IMS Java dependent region resource adapter

The IMS Java dependent region resource adapter is a set of Java classes and interfaces that support IMS database access and IMS message queue processing within Java batch processing (JBP) and Java message processing (JMP) regions. The IMS Java dependent region resource adapter provides Java application programs running in JMP or JBP regions with similar DL/I functionality to that provided in message processing program (MPP) and non-message driven BMP regions, such as:
  • Accessing IMS message queues to read and write messages
  • Performing program switches
  • Commit and rollback processing
  • Accessing IMS databases in an IMS DB/TM environment
  • Accessing GSAM databases in IMS DB/TM and DCCTL environments
  • Database recovery (CHKP/XRST)

IMS TM Resource Adapter

Generic Java EE 1.7 or later certified application servers, including WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile , are supported if the IMS TM resource adapter installation verification program (IVP) can run successfully. Only a subset of IMS TM resource adapter functions are supported. See the restrictions topic for usage restrictions. For generic Java EE 1.7 or later certified application servers, IBM® support is provided for specific functions if:
  • The problem can be recreated in the supported versions of WebSphere Application Server or WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile.
  • The problem is confirmed to be caused by the IMS TM resource adapter through diagnostic traces.

While the IMS Universal drivers and the IMS Java dependent region resource adapter provide the interfaces and classes for accessing IMS data through a Java or Java EE application, the IMS TM resource adapter, as its name suggests, is primarily for interacting with IMS transactions through a Java EE application.