DataDirect Shadow z/Services –Web Services Consumption

With the latest advances in mainframe SOA technology, the mainframe is rapidly evolving into an industry standard server, capable of publishing legacy data and applications as Web services, as well as consuming distributed Web services that reside external to the mainframe.

Shadow z/Services Web Services Consumption (WsC), a component of DataDirect's industry leading mainframe integration suite, Shadow, enables the consumption of a distributed Web service by mainframe applications. Shadow WsC allows the mainframe to function more as an enterprise server than a proprietary platform. The unique power of WsC is its ability to transform distributed Web services into familiar mainframe functions for the developer.

Key Features

  • Integrates with a wide variety of mainframe languages and environments, including COBOL, Natural, CA-IDEAL, ASSEMBLER, FORTRAN, and PL/1
  • Automatic parsing of Web services into COBOL copybooks
  • Generation of runtime infrastructure
  • Generation of COBOL programs from copybooks
  • Generation of JCL for compilation and testing of new COBOL programs
Read about XML Mainframe and CICS Web Services
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Flexible Mainframe Implementation Options
Shadow WsC is available in two implementation options for the mainframe programmer:

  • Use WsC to transparently access Shadow native Web services facilities to invoke an external Web service.
  • Use WsC to transparently access a Windows 2003 server that will invoke an external Web service.

The benefit of Shadow WsC in either implementation is that the mainframe programmer sees only what they are used to seeing - the programmer is completely isolated from the underlying complexities of SOAP, WSDL and XML.

An Option for Mainframe Migration
If you need to transition mission-critical functionality off the mainframe, Shadow WsC and its ability to allow the mainframe to interact with distributed Web services provides an unparalleled level of architectural agility. This low-risk, bi-directional integration strategy offers:

  • A flexible yet robust enterprise architecture - Throughout the SOA, you can quickly leverage the mainframe as both a producer and consumer of service-centric functionality.
  • Superior application portfolio management - You can both construct composite applications with Web services born from mainframe logic and enhance the mainframe platform with service-oriented applications native to distributed platforms.
  • Potential for a successful architectural transition - You can comprehensively analyze business objectives and user requirements, scope development time and costs, and choose the best path toward platform and application migration.

Bi-Directional SOA Agility for the Mainframe
By permitting the mainframe to access service-oriented functionality residing on distributed J2EE or Microsoft .NET platforms, Shadow WsC empowers the mainframe to more fully participate in service-oriented architectures. A bi-directional Web services strategy can dramatically increase the viability of your mainframe platforms and transform these legacy assets into a real-time foundation for operational efficiency and increasing business agility.

More Information
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Shadow Advanced Features
Web Enablement
Real Time Events
Direct SQL Access
Mainframe Consumption of Web Services
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