First, for those of you not already aware, IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Node.js is the follow on to IBM SDK for Node.js – z/OS. The new name became effective in December of 2021. The most recent version is IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Node.js 16.0 which is based on the open community Node.js 16 LTS version. The new name reflects the enterprise-ready nature of the z/OS offering.
IBM offers both IBM SDK for Node.js – z/OS 14.0 and IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Node.js 16.0 for no-charge in either a pax file format or SMP/E format. Which file format is right for you depends on your environment and plans for their use? Both file formats contain the same software. Either file format can be used in a development/test environment or production environment. However, for production use, SMP/E is recommended. SMP/E provides you the ability to back-off code library changes, if needed. Another consideration is IBM fee-based support is optional but is only offered with the SMP/E format of the code. Support entitles you to contact IBM for defect assistance. What we will focus on in this blog is how to obtain the software – in either format – for use to write your own applications or for use with other IBM or 3rd party software. Note - whether you use pax or SMP/E you are entitled to updates to the code as they are also no charge to download. More details on this follows.
Option One: Let’s briefly discuss why the pax file format might be appropriate for you. See here for access to the pax file. Pax file is typically quick and easy to install. A developer or system programmer can unpax the code and be up and running in a few mins. This is ideal for development and test environments when tight change control is not necessarily required.
IBM does require the person downloading the code to be known and their geographic location to conform to export regulations for software. If you do not already have an account, it is quick and easy to create one. Click on this link to get started.
Once your account has been established (if needed) and you have logged on, you would be able to access the pax files for the current versions of Node.js that IBM offers (at the time of writing this blog i.e 16.0 or 14.0). Note that download of a pax file is typically to your laptop/desktop system, then uploaded to z/OS and unpaxed. If your company has a policy that z/OS software should not traverse a laptop/desktop, please use the SMP/E ordering process described later in this article.
Please refer to the IBM Documentation for installation. Regarding support from IBM for the pax file format. See that questions can be posted to the IBM Z community for IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Node.js and responses are on a best-effort basis from others in the IBM Z community. If you require more than best-effort support, please keep reading to the SMP/E formatted version of Node.js and the optional fee-based support.
Option Two: For z/OS environments that have a policy of tight change control, often times acquiring Node.js in SMP/E format is preferred. To obtain Node.js in SMP/E, IBM Shopz is the download method. Shopz has recently been streamlined to make ordering of IBM open source offerings faster and easier. For additional information on the new process see here. Many companies prefer SMP/E format installation to allow software to be incrementally updated with fixes or enhancements and software updates to be removed in case of issues.
Additional comments regarding support. A common point of confusion is the term S&S which is an acronym for “Subscription and Support”. For the IBM offerings of Node.js, software updates are made available soon after updates from the Node.js open community. Technically the Subscription of S&S is provided without a fee from IBM for these open-source offerings – both the SMP/E and pax formatted files. See the pax file is labelled v16.14.2 and is free for download. It is recommended that users of Node.js on z/OS check back . Another option is to subscribe to the IBM Node.js community located here for updates.
If you require support for Node.js that is available as an option for a fee. Support in this context means the ability to officially contact IBM for assistance (usually when a code defect is suspected) and you desire to have the issue tracked by IBM. There are two primary ways to purchase support from IBM. First, you may contact your IBM sales representative. Second, the Shopz ordering process provides an optional checkbox to be contacted for additional information. The purchase of support is not the focus of this article. The focus has been on how to obtain Node.js for z/OS for dev/test or production environments for either stand-alone Node application programming or to be used in combination with other IBM or 3rd party software. Hopefully, this is useful information.
Note: IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS, V12 (5655-NJS) is still supported by IBM for fee but is no longer orderable. IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS, V12 (5655-NJS) will be out of support in September of 2022.