Q:

Is RSE API installed with zowe ? Zopeneditor requires license...

A:

RSE is one of many APIs that Zowe Explorer can use and can be added to Zowe Explorer with the installation of IBM z Open Editor VS Code extension. It can also be used with the Zowe CLI when the IBM RSE API Plug-in for Zowe CLI is installed with it. RSE API is packaged with z/OS Explorer, it's a free tool, you will just need the system administrator to install and start the Rest API servers. zOS Explorer RSE API docs https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/explorer-for-zos/3.4?topic=api-whats-new-in-rse

z Open Editor does require a license for advanced features but has a lot of free functionality like adding the rse profile type to the Zowe Explorer experience and zOS language LSPs. z Open Editor docs https://ibm.github.io/zopeneditor-about/Docs/introduction.html#key-capabilities

Q:

Any chance Zowe will shed its need for a started task?

A:

The Zowe Explorer extensions (for VS Code and IntelliJ) as well as the Zowe CLI can connect directly to z/OSMF, avoiding the need for the two Zowe started tasks ZWESISTC and ZWESLSTC. If you need the API Mediation Layer or Zowe Desktop though, these are z/OS runtimes and need the two Zowe STC’s to be active.
At one point we did consider hosting the Java APIML runtime in a .war file that could be popped into a pre-existing Liberty which would avoid the need to bring up another server, but that’s not GA code.

Q:

Is there a way to track ZOWE components usage in my org?. I want a report of users using any of zowe component - VS Code explorer/desktop/cli/APIs

A:

Zowe does not provide any tracking software - this is a restriction we live with - enterprises do not want ways for us scan/seach usage ....
In z/OSMF there are ways to configure logging and tracing to see when users login. See the z/OSMF configuration guide.

Q:

Does Zowe require SDSF or does it use DSFS or something else for spool access?

A:

 It does not require SDSF but there are some limitations without it that I can't recall - see the Zowe docs link below and an Broadcom support info item for more info.
Zowe does not use DSFS.
DSFS is a part of dfsms - spool access via /dsfs/sysout/userid

See https://docs.zowe.org/stable/user-guide/systemrequirements-zos/#zos and https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/279434/sdsf-is-required-for-zowe-installation.html for more info on the role of SDSF

 Q:

What do I need to do to start a Zowe client to talk to the mf?

 A:

 zOSMF should be running and the user ID you want to connect should be part of the IZUUSERS group (so able to log into z/OSMF REST APIs). Documentation for zOSMF configuration https://docs.zowe.org/stable/user-guide/cli-install-configure-zosmf

 Q:

Are the dataset names are case sensitive?

 A:

 No, not in Zowe Explorer or Zowe CLI

Q:

How to execute rexx from VS Code?

A:

Zowe Explorer extension on VSCODE allows you to issue TSO commands, and you can issue a command “exec `HLQ.REXX(MBR)`” to run a REXX script.
There is an open issue https://github.com/zowe/zowe-explorer-vscode/issues/1784, so feel free to upvote or add comments

Q:

What if my rexx accepts args ?

A:

Zowe tso issue command "exec 'winchj.rexx(hello)' 'arg1 arg2 arg3'" will work.
For the sample below run
zowe tso issue command "exec 'WINCHJ.REXX(WITHARGS)' 'argument_value'" to see the result used. Space separate multiple arguments.

/* REXX */

PARSE ARG cmd

say cmd

exit

Q:

Do the job api’s work the same for JES3 plus shops? 

A:

I think JES3 can be used Phoenix software is active in the Zowe community.

 Q:

Is AI layer coming next where the end user can interact using prompts/natural language ?

A:

This is not in plan at the moment.

Q:

Can you run clist?

A:

EXEC command can run a CLIST as well

Q:

If we want to install zosmf on our test system for practice will ibm provide support 

A:

z/OSMF is part of z/OS so is supported ....Zowe is open source and Support is "best effort" by the open community 

Q:

So in summary, what is the advantage to use ZOWE?

A:

I’d say the bigger benefit to enabling Zowe and z/OSMF is to give a common-sense access method to people who are digital natives. The closer z/OS interfaces can be to something the average consumer of technology uses every single day of their life -- the more productive and useful z/OS becomes to another generation of people. Zowe is open source, free to use, it "wrappers" z/OS .....it uses REST APIs...no need for ISPF and 3270

Q:

 Why double-quotes and not single quotes used in CLI commands?

A:

 Zowe CLI can accept single and double quotes around most values that require quotes. A specific scenario that would require particular set of quotes that was demoed is the issuing of TSO command.

 Q:

Does Zowe explorer supports view/Browse mode of ds or members?

A:

 yes.. missing view mode in explorer

Q:

Looks like there is some overlap with zoau - accidental or intentional

A:

The difference with zoau is where the script is running. If you're on USS then zoau is your friend to bridge to MVS. If you are off platform in somewhere like a distributed pipeline of script running on a windows workstation then Zowe CLI is your friend. ZOAU is not open but does have different use cases ....especially regarding python

Q:

Do I need multiple terminal windows to interact with more than one system at once?

A:

You don't need multiple terminals,  you can specify your connection details as an arg on the CLI call.  This is very useful to allow you to have one script do things like get data from one LPAR, move it another, ...

 Q:

Could you please cover the various connection options for ZOWE explorer in VSCode? Please

 A:

 Zowe supports a connection to the zOSMF Rest APIs by default with a zosmf type profile, other connection types would be brought in by an additional VS Code extension that extends Zowe Explorer like the IBM z/OS FTP for Zowe Explorer VS Code extension that adds an zftp type profile for connection and IBM z Open Editor VS Code extension that adds an rse type profile connection. These additional connection types may require host components or host configuration.

Q:

 Do we need to request to enable an specific port in the  Firewall to zowe can talk to the MF? I mean what is the port#/default used by this client?

A:

 Yes there needs to be a port that the client PC can talk to.   This is usually 443.   You can also specify a proxy server on the CLI configuration if there is one to get to z/OSMF.

Q:

 Question, any plans to support the su command to allow users with access to BPX.SUPERUSER to switch UID?

A:

No plans but that's a great idea, to run commands as sudo I'll create a github issue for this 

Q:

 What type of editing help can you get through ZOWE? Vs ISPF?

 A:

Zowe Explorer doesn’t handle LSP functionality, there are VS Code extensions that have those capabilities that can work together with Zowe Explorer to bring in this functionality. For example IBM z Open Editor VS Code extension, more like these can be found in the VS Code extension marketplace by searching zos lsp.

Q:

Any testing framework for unit testing batch programs?

 A:

 There is not a framework for unit testing batch programs in Zowe. The Galasa project does provide the ability to run tests on batch programs and compare expected versus actual results.

Q:

Is there a function to quickly "peek" inside a dataset from the JCL?

A:

Zowe Explorer doesn’t handle LSP functionality, there are VS Code extensions that have those capabilities that can work together with Zowe Explorer to bring in this functionality. For example IBM z Open Editor VS Code extension, more like these can be found in the VS Code extension marketplace by searching zos lsp.

Q:

Does the PEM certificate auth method work with just z/OSMF or does it require Zowe STCs running?

A:

Certificate support and SSO for authentication does require the API ML to be set up on the host to authenticate through. We are working on adding direct connect certificate support to Zowe Explorer, it already is available in the CLI.

Q:

Are there blogs, forums, etc. you can recommend for additional sharing resources that you can provide the links to?

A:

Check out zowe.org and join the Slack channel: zowe-explorer-vscode. There are also blogs in the Zowe Medium blog site https://medium.com/zowe

Q:

Can you setup the explorer to submit compile jobs for a program?

 A:

 Jobs can be submitted via Zowe Explorer in 2 ways, by right-clicking a data set member in the Data Sets tree view and selecting the Submit Job option or by right-clicking an open file in the text editor and selecting Submit as JCL.

Q:

How close is the current Explorer version functionality to the functionality of the classic ISPF primary options dialogs?

 A:

 The Zowe Explorer isn’t trying to replace ISPF but provide an alternative way for common and frequent scenarios. For most of 3.4 and 3.17 you can do these with Zowe Explorer, and one of the major ones left to tackle is 3.2 for ISPF search within files but this should be coming soon.