Flexible Decision Automation for Your zEnterprise with Business Rules and Events

Flexible Decision Automation for Your zEnterprise with Business Rules and Events

by Fiona Crowther, Andy Flatt, Guy Hindle, Mike Johnson, Tim Wuthenow
Released November 2013
Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
ISBN: None

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Book description

The IBM® Operational Decision Manager product family provides value to organizations that want to improve the responsiveness and precision of automated decisions. This decision management platform on IBM z/OS® provides comprehensive automation and governance of operational decisions that are made within mainframe applications. These decisions can be shared with other cross-platform applications, providing true enterprise decision management.

This IBM Redbooks® publication makes the case for using Operational Decision Manager for z/OS and provides an overview of its components. It is aimed at IT architects, enterprise architects, and development managers looking to build rule-based and business event-based solutions. Step-by-step guidance is provided about getting started with business rules and creating business events by using a scenario-based approach. This book provides detailed guidelines for testing and simulation and describes advanced options for decision authoring. Finally, it describes and documents multiple runtime configuration options.

This second edition, SG24-8014-01, of this IBM Redbooks publication updated the information presented in this book to reflect function available in IBM Operational Decision Manager for z/OS Version 8.0.1. It is also important to note that the product name has changed from IBM WebSphere Operational Decision Management for z/OS to IBM Operational Decision Manager for z/OS.

Table of contents

  1. Front cover
  2. Figures
  3. Tables
  4. Examples
  5. Notices
    1. Trademarks
  6. Preface
    1. Authors
    2. Now you can become a published author, too!
    3. Comments welcome
    4. Stay connected to IBM Redbooks
  7. Part 1 zEnterprise with business rules and events
  8. Chapter 1. The case for Operational Decision Manager
    1. 1.1 What is Operational Decision Manager
    2. 1.2 When to think about Operational Decision Manager
    3. 1.3 Why Operational Decision Manager in z/OS applications
    4. 1.4 Where Operational Decision Manager can be used
    5. 1.5 Who is involved in deploying Operational Decision Manager
    6. 1.6 How business rule and event externalization enables application modernization
    7. 1.7 Key concepts to understand decision management
    8. 1.8 Overview of the scenario used in this book
  9. Chapter 2. Operational Decision Manager on z/OS
    1. 2.1 Operational Decision Manager for z/OS overview
    2. 2.2 Operational concepts
    3. 2.3 Decision Center for z/OS
      1. 2.3.1 Features
      2. 2.3.2 Directory structure
      3. 2.3.3 Decision Center console
      4. 2.3.4 Rule Solutions for Office
    4. 2.4 Decision Server for z/OS
      1. 2.4.1 Directory structure
      2. 2.4.2 Features
      3. 2.4.3 Decision Server rules
      4. 2.4.4 Decision Server events
    5. 2.5 New in Operational Decision Manager Version 8
      1. 2.5.1 High performance engine for Rule Execution Server for z/OS
      2. 2.5.2 Decision Center Business console
      3. 2.5.3 Testing and simulation support for rule-based decisions on z/OS
      4. 2.5.4 Usability improvements for COBOL management
      5. 2.5.5 Scenario Service Provider (SSP) support on zRule Execution Server
      6. 2.5.6 Revised IMS support
      7. 2.5.7 WebSphere Optimized Local Adapters
      8. 2.5.8 Decision Warehouse
  10. Chapter 3. Getting started with business rules
    1. 3.1 Overview of the example used in this chapter
      1. 3.1.1 Business scenario
      2. 3.1.2 Business model
      3. 3.1.3 Scenario rule model
      4. 3.1.4 Project structure of a business rule on z/OS
    2. 3.2 Getting started from a COBOL copybook
      1. 3.2.1 Scenario overview
      2. 3.2.2 Creating a rule project
      3. 3.2.3 Creating COBOL XOM from a COBOL copybook
      4. 3.2.4 Creating a business object model from the Java XOM
      5. 3.2.5 Declaring ruleset parameters
      6. 3.2.6 Adding BOM methods and mapping them to the XOM
      7. 3.2.7 Creating the ruleflow
      8. 3.2.8 Authoring rules
      9. 3.2.9 Preparing the rule execution
      10. 3.2.10 Building a COBOL application for rule execution
    3. 3.3 Getting started from an existing rule project
      1. 3.3.1 Scenario overview
      2. 3.3.2 Generating a copybook from the BOM
      3. 3.3.3 Deploying rule artifacts to zRule Execution Server for z/OS
      4. 3.3.4 Building a COBOL application for rule execution
  11. Chapter 4. Managing business decisions through the full lifecycle
    1. 4.1 What is the lifecycle of rule artifacts in decisions
    2. 4.2 Working with rules through the lifecycle
      1. 4.2.1 Managing artifacts
      2. 4.2.2 What roles are involved in the decision lifecycle
    3. 4.3 Sharing decision artifacts between z/OS and a distributed environment
    4. 4.4 Installation topologies for Decision Center and Business Center
      1. 4.4.1 Basic topologies
      2. 4.4.2 Advanced topologies
    5. 4.5 Managing artifacts through the lifecycle
      1. 4.5.1 Rules Designer
      2. 4.5.2 Decision Center
      3. 4.5.3 Business Center
      4. 4.5.4 REST API
      5. 4.5.5 ANT scripts
    6. 4.6 Usage of defined rules
  12. Chapter 5. Invoking the rules server from COBOL clients
    1. 5.1 Designing the decision interface
    2. 5.2 Coding the COBOL client application
      1. 5.2.1 HBRWS header structure
      2. 5.2.2 HBRCONN API call
      3. 5.2.3 HBRRULE API call
      4. 5.2.4 HBRDISC API call
    3. 5.3 Mapping from the COBOL copybook
      1. 5.3.1 Structure of a COBOL-based rule project
      2. 5.3.2 Supported COBOL data types
      3. 5.3.3 Creating custom converters
      4. 5.3.4 Mapping level-88 constructs into BOM domain types
    4. 5.4 Configuring the client application to reach the rule server
      1. 5.4.1 Batch application
      2. 5.4.2 IMS application
      3. 5.4.3 CICS application
      4. 5.4.4 WebSphere Optimized Local Adapters (WOLA) batch application
  13. Chapter 6. Decision testing and simulation
    1. 6.1 Making the right testing and simulation decisions
      1. 6.1.1 Decision Validation Services
      2. 6.1.2 Verifying the business logic implementation by testing
    2. 6.2 Types of scenario suites
      1. 6.2.1 Test suites
      2. 6.2.2 Simulation
    3. 6.3 Development and authoring tools
      1. 6.3.1 Rule Designer
      2. 6.3.2 Decision Center
      3. 6.3.3 Rule Execution Server console and Rule Execution Server for z/OS console
    4. 6.4 Testing and simulation architecture for z/OS decision services
      1. 6.4.1 Test and simulation artifacts
      2. 6.4.2 Formatting options
      3. 6.4.3 Test and simulation reports
      4. 6.4.4 Runtime components
    5. 6.5 Testing and simulation lifecycle
      1. 6.5.1 Early development
      2. 6.5.2 Project ready for deployment
      3. 6.5.3 Project deployed and enabled
  14. Chapter 7. Advanced topics for decision authoring
    1. 7.1 Starting from an existing Java-based BOM project
      1. 7.1.1 Mapping Java data structures to COBOL
    2. 7.2 Extending the capability of the rule execution with BOM methods
      1. 7.2.1 Preferred practices for using virtual methods
    3. 7.3 Considerations for sharing rules between z/OS and distributed applications
      1. 7.3.1 Sharing a COBOL-based project with Java applications
      2. 7.3.2 Sharing a Java BOM-based project with COBOL applications on z/OS
    4. 7.4 Authoring considerations for performance
  15. Chapter 8. Decision Server events
    1. 8.1 Scenario overview
    2. 8.2 Building the event application
      1. 8.2.1 Event project overview
      2. 8.2.2 Creating the event project
      3. 8.2.3 Creating the business objects and event from a COBOL copybook
      4. 8.2.4 Creating the action
      5. 8.2.5 Creating the event rule
      6. 8.2.6 Configuring the technology connectors
    3. 8.3 Deploying the event application to the event run time
      1. 8.3.1 Creating the event runtime connection
      2. 8.3.2 Deploying the event project to the event run time
    4. 8.4 Emitting events from CICS
      1. 8.4.1 CICS event support
      2. 8.4.2 CICS Event Binding Editor
      3. 8.4.3 Creating the CICS Bundle project
      4. 8.4.4 Creating the event binding
      5. 8.4.5 Creating the event specification
      6. 8.4.6 Creating the capture specification
      7. 8.4.7 Defining the adapter
      8. 8.4.8 Deploying the bundle to CICS
    5. 8.5 Running the scenario
      1. 8.5.1 Enabling history in the Decision Server Event run time
      2. 8.5.2 Sample COBOL application to emit the Request event
      3. 8.5.3 Emitting the event and firing the FollowUp action
    6. 8.6 Using connectors to receive events from various z/OS sources
      1. 8.6.1 Connectors running in WebSphere Application Server
      2. 8.6.2 Connectors running as a stand-alone batch job
  16. Part 2 System configuration
  17. Chapter 9. Prerequisites and considerations before you start
    1. 9.1 Runtime environments on z/OS
      1. 9.1.1 Configuring the run times
      2. 9.1.2 Prerequisite checklist
    2. 9.2 Teams needed for installation and configuration
    3. 9.3 Gathering the customizable information
    4. 9.4 Migration considerations
  18. Chapter 10. zRule Execution Server for z/OS stand-alone server
    1. 10.1 Running on z/OS stand-alone
      1. 10.1.1 Configuring the stand-alone zRule Execution Server for z/OS
      2. 10.1.2 Creating data sets for the zRule Execution Server for z/OS instance
      3. 10.1.3 Creating the working datasets using HBRUUPTI
      4. 10.1.4 Creating the working directories in UNIX System Services
    2. 10.2 Configuring the stand-alone zRule Execution Server for z/OS
      1. 10.2.1 Defining a new subsystem for zRule Execution Server for z/OS
      2. 10.2.2 Creating the started tasks (HBRXCNSL and HBRXMSTR)
      3. 10.2.3 Securing the zRule Execution Server for z/OS for z/OS resources
      4. 10.2.4 Starting the new instance
      5. 10.2.5 Logging on and performing diagnostics
    3. 10.3 Managing multiple zRule Execution Server for z/OS servers on one LPAR
      1. 10.3.1 Adding a zRule Execution Server for z/OS to a running console
      2. 10.3.2 Creating the working directory
      3. 10.3.3 DB2 persistence
      4. 10.3.4 Defining the subsystem for the new instance
      5. 10.3.5 Modifying and adding the started tasks to the PROCLIB
      6. 10.3.6 Security setup for the new stand-alone zRule Execution Server for z/OS
      7. 10.3.7 Starting the new instance
    4. 10.4 Setting up the database connection
      1. 10.4.1 Setting up a type 2 configuration for the console
      2. 10.4.2 Updating the database parameters in HBRPSIST
      3. 10.4.3 Setting up the DB2 identifying file
      4. 10.4.4 Updating the PARM members
      5. 10.4.5 Using your own jobs
  19. Chapter 11. Configuring CICS to work with Operational Decision Manager
    1. 11.1 Configuring CICS to invoke a stand-alone Rule Execution Server for z/OS
      1. 11.1.1 Setting the parameters for CICS
      2. 11.1.2 Defining the required resources
      3. 11.1.3 Updating the GRPLIST parameter
      4. 11.1.4 Updating the CICS JCL
      5. 11.1.5 Scenario for installation verification
      6. 11.1.6 Starting zRES and CICS
      7. 11.1.7 Installing HBRGROUP
      8. 11.1.8 Testing the configuration
      9. 11.1.9 Automatically connecting CICS to a running zRES instance
    2. 11.2 Configuring a CICS JVM server to run a Rule Execution Server
      1. 11.2.1 HBRINST changes
      2. 11.2.2 Creating the working directories
      3. 11.2.3 Creating the JVM profile
      4. 11.2.4 Defining the CICS resources
      5. 11.2.5 Adding HBRLIST to the system initialization table
      6. 11.2.6 Setting the JVMPROFILEDIR
      7. 11.2.7 Changing the CICS region JCL
      8. 11.2.8 Scenario for installation verification
      9. 11.2.9 Security for the zRES on CICS JVM server
      10. 11.2.10 CEDA installation of HBRGROUP resources
      11. 11.2.11 Database connect for the CICS region
      12. 11.2.12 Connecting the zRES to the CICS JVM server
      13. 11.2.13 Deploying the installation verification program
    3. 11.3 Configuring a zRES dedicated to a CICS region with HBRMODE set to NORULE
      1. 11.3.1 Why a NORULE zRES address space is needed
      2. 11.3.2 Configuration parameter
    4. 11.4 Working with an IBM CICSPlex
      1. 11.4.1 Using a CICSPlex for zRES
      2. 11.4.2 Configuring the use of a CICSPlex with zRES
    5. 11.5 Working with multiple CICS JVM servers
  20. Chapter 12. Configuring IMS to work with Operational Decision Manager
    1. 12.1 IMS and Operational Decision Manager
    2. 12.2 Configuration
      1. 12.2.1 BMP and DLI
      2. 12.2.2 Message Processing Region (MPR)
    3. 12.3 IMS and Rules Execution Server on WebSphere Application Server for z/OS
  21. Chapter 13. Configuring WebSphere Optimized Local Adapters support
    1. 13.1 Overview of WebSphere Operational Local Adapters
      1. 13.1.1 Configuring WOLA
      2. 13.1.2 JCL variables for using WOLA
    2. 13.2 Sample configuration of WebSphere Application Server to use WOLA
    3. 13.3 Batch programs and Rule Execution Server using WOLA on z/OS
    4. 13.4 CICS and Rule Execution Server using WOLA on z/OS
    5. 13.5 IMS and Rule Execution Server using WOLA on z/OS
  22. Chapter 14. Configuring decision warehousing
    1. 14.1 Introducing the Decision Warehouse
    2. 14.2 Configuring the Decision Warehouse
  23. Chapter 15. Configuring and running Decision Validation Services
    1. 15.1 Decision Validation Service for stand-alone zRES
      1. 15.1.1 Running from Rules Designer
      2. 15.1.2 Running from Decision Center
    2. 15.2 DVS using RES on WebSphere Application Server for z/OS
      1. 15.2.1 Running from Rules Designer
      2. 15.2.2 Running from the Decision Center
    3. 15.3 Service scenario provider and key performance indicator architecture
      1. 15.3.1 Runtime client API
      2. 15.3.2 Service scenario provider
      3. 15.3.3 Key performance indicator
    4. 15.4 Example
      1. 15.4.1 Creating an Excel test suite in Rule Designer
      2. 15.4.2 Running the Excel test suite in Rule Designer and then displaying the execution report
      3. 15.4.3 Repackaging the SSP
      4. 15.4.4 Publishing the insurance eligibility project in Decision Center
      5. 15.4.5 Configuring Decision Center to use the SSP to run tests and simulations
      6. 15.4.6 Creating a test suite in Decision Center
  24. Chapter 16. Configuring the Rules Execution Servers for z/OS console with virtual IP addressing
    1. 16.1 Overview of a multiple LPAR environment
      1. 16.1.1 Hot deployment of rules in Operational Decision Manager
      2. 16.1.2 Cold deployment of rules in Operational Decision Manager
    2. 16.2 Using Virtual IP addressing to allow more than one zRules console to be used
      1. 16.2.1 What happens if the LPAR that hosts the zRules console fails
      2. 16.2.2 Using virtual IP addressing
      3. 16.2.3 How VIPA maintains hot deployment
  25. Part 3 Appendixes
  26. Appendix A. Calling out from a ruleset to a VSAM file to augment data
  27. Appendix B. Configuring runtime values by using variables defined in HBRINST
    1. Rules z/OS
    2. CICS
    3. CICS JVM server
    4. IMS
    5. DB2 database
    6. WebSphere Application Server
    7. WebSphere Optimized Local Adapters (WOLA) script parameters
    8. WebSphere Application installation script parameters
    9. Subsystem ID used by COBOL management
  28. Appendix C. Additional material
    1. Locating the web material
    2. Downloading and extracting the web material
  29. Related publications
    1. IBM Redbooks
    2. Other publications
    3. Online resources
    4. Help from IBM
  30. Back cover

Product information

  • Title: Flexible Decision Automation for Your zEnterprise with Business Rules and Events
  • Author(s): Fiona Crowther, Andy Flatt, Guy Hindle, Mike Johnson, Tim Wuthenow
  • Release date: November 2013
  • Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
  • ISBN: None