Hallowe’en Edition
“Better late than never” – That’s how I started the previous edition, and I promised that the October edition would be on time. Well, I hate to break a promise! So from now on, this newsletter will be issued on the LAST day of the month instead of the 15th day of the month. So this is NOT late on October 31, it’s just as it should be. With apologies to Lewis Caroll (AND Humpty Dumpty), when I set a deadline, it’s due just when I chose it to be due.
Seriously though, the reason I want to make this coincide with Hallowe’en Day is because it was Cy’s favorite holiday, maybe his favorite day of the whole year, although that honoe may go to International Lefthanders Day (August 13) or perhaps International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). Cy always decorated his office door with some homemade contraption which gave out candy, and he always took off October 30 to spend time getting his house and yard ready for the big day. Trick or Treat!
DWC on z/OS News
OK let’s start with a trick, well it was a misunderstanding on my part and maybe for others- the clarity reports for Workload Scheduler, which you can access at: https://www.ibm.com/software/reports/compatibility/clarity/index.html?name=IBM%20Workload%20Scheduler were not very clear when it comes to JAVA versions for the DWC running on z/OS. For those not familiar, from this link you select the release you want (like 10.2.5 which is current), click on Detailed System Requirements. then Prerequisites, and you can find the levels of liberty, JAVA, DB2, etc. Here you find for 10.2.5 under JAVA that “Version 21 and future fix packs” is the prereq for example. I thought this meant that Version 21 and any future versions of JAVA was the prereq but what it means is that for DWC 10.2.5 and any future fix packs (for example if 10.2.5.01 is released or 10.2.5.02) that Java version 21 will be the prereq for those fix packs also. So for any given level of the DWC, there is ONE and ONLY ONE version of JAVA that is supported (echoes of Through the Looking Glass again!) So for 10.1 FP1 (10.1.0.01) all the way to 10.2.2 (10.2.2.00) JAVA version 11 is the ONLY version that can be used. For 9.5.x, Java version 8 is the only version that can be used but 9.5 is out of support as of September 30, 2025). 10.2.3 and 10.2.4 have JAVA version 17 as the only version.
To summarize (suitable for framing):
DWC 9.5 FP1 to DWC 10.1.0.00 (base level) -- Java V8
DWC 10.1 FP1 – 10.2.2 — Java V11
DWC 10.2.3 – 10.2.4 — Java V17
DWC 10.2.5 — Java V21
While discussing prereqs, it is important to note that for 10.2.3 and higher there is a new prereq for DB2 on z/OS, which is the DB2 Accessories Suite. This is mentioned in technote ZWSTECHNOTE : DWCZOS : DB2 V13 as DWC database with 10.2.3 and higher https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/71829231 but is required for ANY DWC higher than 10.2.3 as well (including 10.2.5 which is the current version as of August 2025).
DWC mirroring (10.2.3 and higher) uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) JSON support does not come natively with Db2 Software. It has a separate FMID and must be ordered. See: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/db2-for-zos/13?topic=dps-using-sql-interface-handle-json-data-in-db2-zos
You need to have the Db2 Accessories Suite installed, which includes these FMIDS:
H2AF410 (ICU)
H2AG410 (Spatial Support)
H2AS410 (JSON Capabilities for Db2 for z/OS)
If you have the suite installed your DB2 libraries would have load module DSN5JSJB.
This was a surprise to me also back in October 2024 when 10.2.3 was being tested.
To finish this discussion of DWC, there is a new technote that already needs some revision:
ZWSTECHNOTE : DWCZOS : V10R2M5 How to obtain and install DWC 10.2.5 to run on z/OS ?
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7241385
This revision SHOULD be completed by the time you are reading this.
zWS 10.2 News
For zWS 10.2 which went GA December 13, 2024 (hard to believe it is getting close to a year) there have been 2 SPE fixes already and the third SPE (SPE10203 is in OPEN status currently (APAR PH68409). As more information about SPE10203 becomes available, it will be documented in this technote:
ZWSTECHNOTE : Additional ACTION HOLD items for PH68409 ( SPE10203 or 10.2 SPE3 ) for z Workload Scheduler 10.2
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7248241
These links have summaries of the enhancements at 10.2 base, 10.2 SPE1 and 10.2 SPE2 levels:
Base code
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSGSPN_10.2.5/common/src_gi/eqqg1zosenh_v102.html
SPE1
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSGSPN_10.2.5/common/src_gi/eqqg1zosenh_v102_SpeApr25.html
SPE2
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSGSPN_10.2.5/common/src_gi/eqqg1zosenh_v102_SpeJul25.html
So if you’re currently on 10.1 check those out- maybe you will want to begin work on 10.2
If you’re currently on 9.5 I hope you have a support extension.
By sheer coincidence, the day 9.5 Workload Automation / z Workload Scheduler went out of support, z/OS 3.2 was released. No new maintenance is needed to run zWS on z/OS 3.2.
Flashes
FLASH : z Workload Scheduler release 9.5 goes out of support ( EOS ) September 30, 2025 https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7244990
Hipers
PH67895 MESSAGE EQQM991E WHEN CREATING OR MODIFIYING ORDERS WITHIN THE CURRENT PLAN.
10.2 UO05238
10.1 UO05239
PH68101 IN PANEL EQQXSRTL, AFTER ENTERING VALUES ON SORT ORDER & DIRECTION,IT WILL GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PANEL.ENTERED VALUES WERE REMOVED
9.5 UO05028 Korean
UO05029 English
UO05030 German
UO05031 Kanji
UO05032 Spanish
10.2 UO05033 Korean
UO05034 English
UO05035 German
UO05036 Kanji
UO05037 Spanish
10.1 UO05038 Korean
UO05039 English
UO05040 German
UO05041 Kanji
UO05042 Spanish
PH52536 MONITORING THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES NETWORK (SYSROUTE OF PH50201)
9.5 UI91060
UI91059
10.1 UI91062
UI91061
PH64367 THE JOB HAS BEEN IN INPUT BUT WAS NOT RELEASED.
9.5 UO02821
10.1 UO02822
PH62870 JOBS SUBMITTED OUTSIDE OF WSZ ARE NOT ALWAYS RELEASED WHEN THE A1 EVENT IS GENERATED ON A DESTINATION IN THE POOL OF VIRTUAL WS
9.5 UI99167
UI99168
10.1 UI99169
UI99170
PH66716 FIRST CUMULATIVE PORTING APAR TO ZWS V10R2
10.2 UO03972
UO03973
PH65283 EQQZ828E COMMUNICATION THROUGH DASD IS NOT SUPPORTED IS
ISSUED HOWEVER THE TRACKER DOES NOT HAVE HOSTCON(DASD)
10.2 UO03166
PH66242 Additional zWS core and USS parts need to be applied with zWS 10.2 SPE1
10.2 UO02971 superceded by UO04143
UO03038 superceded by UO04142
PH66767 SPECIAL RESOURCE RECORDS IN RD VSAM NOT CORRECTLY MIGRATED TO V10.2
10.2 UO03869
UO03870
Technotes
ZWSTECHNOTE: “Missing field definition” with run EQQJOBS option: 4 – Generate WAPL samples
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7232369
ZWSTECHNOTE : Additional ACTION HOLD items for PH68409 ( SPE10203 or 10.2 SPE3 ) for z Workload Scheduler 10.2
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7248241
ZWSTECHNOTE: Engine Connections panel (DWC 10.2.5 and higher) shows a wrong Version when 10.2 SPE02 zos engine is connected.
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7242147
ZWSTECHNOTE : DWCZOS : V10R2M5 How to obtain and install DWC 10.2.5 to run on z/OS ?
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7241385
ZWSTECHNOTE : Additional ACTION HOLD items for PH66793 ( SPE10202 or 10.2 SPE2 ) for z Workload Scheduler 10.2
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7238375
ZWSTECHNOTE: Historical Reporting with IBM Z Workload Scheduler 10.2
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7236625
ZWSTECHNOTE : zcentric agent : Creating / Installing the certificates for 10.2.1 or higher
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7233873
Ideas
Z Workload Scheduler:
This would be a request for IBM Workload Automation for Linux in Azure and Snowflake plugin. Add ability for IWS Snowflake plugin to be able to call database stored procedure in the SQL statement. [ZWS-I-322]
Add the IP address and PORT NUMBER values to the existing message EQQHT29E [ZWS-I-321]
Change the sample installation [ZWS-I-320]
OCL statements converted to WAPL [ZWS-I-318]
The two character FUNCTION codes that are part of messages numbers, module names, panel names etc should be explained somewhere in the product documentation [ZWS-I-317]
IBM Z Workload Scheduler – ‘Service Now’ Interface – Limitations [ZWS-I-316]
Have an “RMID” value ( APAR or PTF number ) for C language modules (as already exists for ASSEMBLER and PL/X modules) [ZWS-I-315]
Improve EQQPMCKP JCL to be easier to use (not requiring datasets to be created or renamed BEFORE or AFTER running the jon) [ZWS-I-313]
Encrypt API keys like passwords in RESTful Webservice job in DWC UI [ZWS-I-311]
Add the JES job number for z/OS job and/or the JOBID for a distributed job to message EQQ8006I (job status change message). [ZWS-I-310]
Clear evidence in panels where operations (and pred chain) have been marked complete by manual actions [ZWS-I-309]
Need to be able to customize TdwcGlobalSettings within the zconnector, for example, to increase the value for zosHttpTimeout to avoid timeout issues with RESTAPI calls [ZWS-I-308]
Extension of the event filter exit regarding IJ1 events [ZWS-I-307]
The EQQUX001 member in SEQQSAMP should have more details and examples for the procedure SUR_CHECK ( RACF surrogat authority) [ZWS-I-306]
Trigger WLM for a single target job’s job chain [ZWS-I-305]
In critical paths, intervention to assign priority to jobs waiting in the JES queues [ZWS-I-304]
Requirement to have more variables in EQQEMAIL Member – Occurrence Input Arrival Time [ZWS-I-303]
add attachment in email alert [ZWS-I-302]
Amend the way manually completed tasks are shown to aid diagnosis [ZWS-I-301]
zWS should support PDSE 2 with versioning for job libraries [ZWS-I-300]
Simple Code Generation As Part Of Job Tailoring [ZWS-I-299]
Add a parameter for number of retry and wait when using : RECOVER function in JCLs [ZWS-I-298]
Options to limit number of ETTs [ZWS-I-297]
Add confirmation when exiting with PF3/END on critical panels [ZWS-I-296]
Workload Automation:
I selected a few that may be of interest to zWS customers:
Possibility to create (more) interactive Boards at Dynamic Workload Console [WAO-I-641]
1.dashboard to view prev plan details 2.In the dashboard, the original state of the job should show even if the status gets changed .( given ABEND – Confirm SUCC example ) [WAO-I-640]
Ability to mass submit Job Streams from an archived plan or forecast [WAO-I-638]
Ability to restrict the Rest API to specific user groups and rate-limiting [WAO-I-635]
DWC should fully support IBM DB2 databases at database jobs for stored procedures [WAO-I-633]
DWC to support proper high-availability [WAO-I-632]
Jobs failed due to Liberty restart needs to be reprocessed post activity instead of going into FAIL. [WAO-I-627]
TS019982564 – add support for SFTP protocol to File Transfer job [WAO-I-625]
Display user name instead of login ID in DWC [WAO-I-623]
URGENT – Add “NESTING DETAIL” and “NUMBER OF NESTINGS” parameters to RestAPI used by WAPL jobs in order to mitigate slow response times related to networking. this IDEA has been suggested by IBM support [WAO-I-612]
Introduction of SSO/SAML based authentication for AWS plugin in addition to current access/secret key method [WAO-I-602]
The Job run history query on DWC monitor workload/jobs panel is not sorted DWC. [WAO-I-589]
BLOGs
Re-mentioning a previously available BLOG since with 10.2.5 DWC mirroring with a z/OS DB2 is now possible:
Explore how to mirror the z/OS current plan to a database to enable the Orchestration Monitor
CONCLUSION
That’s all for now. See you again in at the end of 2025. Here in North Carolina we have already had some nighttime temperatures in the 30s (Fahrenheit) or single digits (Celsius) so perhaps this year we will have a “real” winter, maybe even some snow. Happy Holidays!
