BOS Software Products - tcACCESS
BOS Software
Products - tcACCESS

Direct Access to Data and Application across Systems

Today‘s IT architectures are characterized by a variety of systems and databases. Fast and easy access to current data is crucial for being able to react quickly to changing markets and situations. In many companies with a mainframe history, more than 60% of the transactional enterprise data is still on the mainframe. Many data structures which have grown for more than 5 decades are not relational in structure but also incompatible with the data formats in the distributed environment and the Cloud.

Areas of Use

Data virtualization

Presentation of data from different sources and systems as virtual data source

Reporting

Data integration from Z mainframe to LUW based applications in distributed environments, e.g. Office applications such as MS-EXCEL, MS-Word, MS-ACCESS, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice via ODBC/JDBC

Replacement

Substitute for complex middleware solutions; easy call of mainframe programs from Client-Server (LUW) and web applications through existing APIs

Re-Engineering

of 3270 user interfaces

Mainframe application modernization

Integration of mainframe data into Client/Server, web, and Cloud applications

SOA Integration

of Z mainframe data and applications

Architecture

tcACCESS allows users or programmers to access not only Db2 but also all non-relational mainframe data sources such as VSAM, DL/I, IMS/DB, PS/PDS, Adabas, CA Datacom, CA IDMS, etc. via standard SQL commands. Using the provided tcACCESS “driver” mainframe data can be accessed via the standard interfaces ODBC and JDBC/J2EE or via .NET, C, C++, C#, OLE DB, and Apache Sqoop or Apache Spark by a Client/Server application (LUW), a web server, or Cloud environment.

Features

INTEGRATED SQL ENGINE ON THE MAINFRAME

tcACCESS provides a relational view on relational and non-relational mainframe data sources like Db2, VSAM, IMS/DB, DLI, Adabas, and CA IDMS.

STORED PROCEDURE SUPPORT FOR CALLING EXISTING MAINFRAME PROGRAMS

Existing application logic can be used for data accesses that require special processing logic. This is implemented by tcACCESS using an API. This function is called tcACCESS Stored Procedures. Thus, existing business logic on the mainframe can be easily accessed by any non-mainframe based application (Linux, UNIX, Windows, Cloud, Hadoop) using tcACCESS as middleware.

REVISION SAFETY AND SECURITY

Comprehensive tcACCESS monitoring functions are available to ensure the auditability of all data movements. The tcACCESS Security or an already existing mainframe security (SAF interface) ensures that each user can only access the data for which they are authorized.

POWERFUL DATA MAPPING FACILITIES

tcACCESS includes comprehensive mapping functions to automatically generate data structures for the tcACCESS repository. The existing data structures in the tcACCESS dashboard are presented to the user in a relational view. Automatically generated data structures can be modified as needed using “Redefines”.

tcACCESS OPEN SYSTEM TRANSPARENCY

tcACCESS also offers direct access from the Z mainframe to data sources that are stored on MS-Windows, Linux, or UNIX systems and that are addressable via ODBC/JDBC or can be directly accessed in connection with Oracle and Db2 LUW. Data stored in a distributed environment can be processed by both online (CICS, IMS/DC, etc.) and batch programs. The tcACCESS Open System Transparency for mainframe programs offers a true real-time integration, since the synchronization of Z mainframe data sources and Open System data sources can be avoided.

DATA EXCHANGE VIA INTEGRATED UP AND DOWNLOAD

In addition to the direct access to mainframe data, tcACCESS allows for the fast and easy transfer of data to other platforms in the distributed environment (LUW), Cloud, and Hadoop systems, or from there to the mainframe.

BENEFITS

  • Quick reaction to new requirements in analytics and reporting through direct access
  • No programming effort for cross-system data integration
  • Significant time savings for data integration in hybrid system environments
  • Fast integration of Z mainframe data in combination with new technologies
  • Low response times to new requirements for application modernization
  • Integration (direct access) of Z mainframe data without mainframe know-how
  • Less coordination effort in projects involving multiple systems
  • No additional middleware required
  • Optimal use of all resources
  • No training effort
  • No redundancies
  • Automation instead of manual intervention
  • More security and independence through standardization
  • Independence from individually programmed solutions
  • No limitation for integrating new technologies in Z mainframe environments

Supported Environments and Applications

Environments

IBM z Systems

  • z/OS
  • z/VSE
  • Linux on z Systems

Distributed Systems

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Unix
  • Linux
Mainframe
  • IBM Db2
  • IBM IMS/DB / DL1
  • VSAM
  • Software AG ADABAS
  • CA IDMS/DB
  • CA DATACOM/DB
  • CIC-TS
  • MVS PDS/PS
  • Power Queues
  • SAM
  • JES2
  • PDS/PS
Applications
  • JDBC
  • ODBC
  • .net
  • Microsoft Office
  • Visual Basic
  • TCL/TK
  • Lotus Notes
  • OLE DB
  • J2EE