3 things that will enhance your z/OS Connect experience
We have just released V3.0.62 of IBM z/OS Connect OpenAPI 2 and OpenAPI 3 with a maintenance fix (PH49486) and 3 enhancements for z/OS Connect OpenAPI 3. For more information on the maintenance fix, see PH49486: z/OS Connect V3.0.62 and if you’re new to IBM z/OS Connect, find out more here.
The new enhancements to your z/OS Connect OpenAPI 3 experience are:
- A “Test API” button to show when the API Project is built and ready for testing.
- Preparing to install the z/OS Connect Operator in a restricted environment, using a bastion host.
- Creating, updating and importing an OpenAPI 3 document in the z/OS Connect Designer.
If you have any feedback on this blog article, the enhancements in this release, or anything else related to IBM z/OS Connect content and information, please go to the z/OS Connect community and post your feedback on the discussion forum.
IBM z/OS Connect v3.0.62 OpenAPI 3 Enhancements
1. IBM z/OS Connect Designer "Test API" button
The IBM z/OS Connect Designer "Test" button has been enhanced to show when an API project build is currently running or has failed. This lets developers know when the API is ready to test within the z/OS Connect Designer. For more information, see
Testing an API with z/OS Connect Designer.
2. Preparing to install the z/OS Connect Operator in a restricted environment, using a bastion host.
If your cluster is in a restricted “air gap” environment (not connected to the internet), the IBM z/OS Connect documentation now contains instructions on how to use a bastion host to mirror the z/OS Connect images to a local registry within the restricted environment, to then install the z/OS Connect Catalog ready to install the z/OS Connect Operator.
The image shows an overview of an air-gapped installation that uses a bastion host. For more information, see
Installing the z/OS Connect Catalog in Red Hat OpenShift with bastion host.
3. Creating, updating and importing OpenAPI 3 documents
An OpenAPI 3 document is required to build an API project with z/OS Connect Designer and this is the first step when starting IBM z/OS Connect Designer. If you don’t have an OpenAPI 3 document available, our new Getting Started tutorials and how to topic in “Developing APIs with the z/OS Connect Designer” walk you through creating and updating an OpenAPI 3 document.
There are also links to sample OpenAPI 3 documents ready for you to use if just want to get on using IBM z/OS Connect Designer. For more information, see Creating and updating OpenAPI 3 documents for z/OS Connect.
Maintenance Fixes
PH49486 - z/OS Connect IMS communication stub's call to INQY is too late for monitoring purposes.
WebSphere Liberty Profile V22.0.0.3
The version of WebSphere Liberty Profile that is embedded in z/OS Connect V3.0.62 is V22.0.0.3. Find out more from the Liberty documentation.
Angel V17
The version of the angel shipped with WebSphere Liberty Profile V22.0.0.3 is version 17.
If you choose not to update to this level of the Liberty Angel, then the following warning message will appear in your messages.log file:
CWWKB0127W: The current angel version is earlier than the version that the server expects. Update the angel version to the latest available version. |
Find out more.
API toolkit versions (for OpenAPI 2 support)
The latest version of the z/OS Connect API toolkit plug-in to design and create your services and APIs is V3.0.9.8 for Aqua 3.1 users, and V3.2.9.8 for Aqua 3.2 users. You should obtain the latest version of the API toolkit from the Aqua download site for your version of Aqua as it includes all the latest features and fixes.
If you unzip the API toolkit zip file on Windows, due to the long filenames of some of the file members, you should use a tool such as 7-Zip or the "jar -x" command. Do not use winzip, winrar, or the Windows own zip extraction tool, as warnings/errors will occur during the unzip and the API toolkit will be unusable. Find out more.
z/OS Connect Designer (for OpenAPI 3 support)
Available on amd64 architecture, Docker Desktop V19.0.3 or later (or alternative open containers tooling), Red Hat® OpenShift® V4.9 or later, or an OCI-compliant container platform of your choice.
Designer is a containerized, web-based intuitive interface providing a low-code approach to developing OpenAPI3 specification APIs. Powerful data mapping using JSONATA gives users flexibility to create both basic and complex mappings. All of this is shipped with an embedded server for lifecycle testing of the API. Find out more.
z/OS Connect Server image (for OpenAPI 3 support)
Available on s390x and amd64 architecture, Red Hat OpenShift V4.9 or later, or an OCI-compliant container platform of your choice.
Delivering containerized API deployments enabling users to adopt a micro-service architecture for their APIs that take advantage of the improved security schemes provided by the OpenAPI 3 specification.
The z/OS Connect Server (OpenAPI 3) V3.0.55 or later is also available as a native server for z/OS V2.4, IBM 64-bit SDK for z/OS. Find out more.
Get started today
Use the links below to find out more, and to get started with V3.0.62 now!
What is z/OS Connect OpenAPI 3? Find out more.
What is z/OS Connect OpenAPI 2? Find out more.
Download V3.0.62 now
Download the z/OS Connect (OpenAPI 3) Server and Designer.
Install the z/OS Connect (OpenAPI 2) server and API Toolkit.
For more information about z/OS Connect OpenAPI 3, find out more.