Setting Up the Z/OS Unix Shell (Correctly and Completely)
4 hours ago
- #Shell
- #z/OS
- #UNIX
- z/OS UNIX shell setup is crucial for modernizing mainframe environments and retaining new talent.
- OMVS and ISHELL interfaces are outdated and lack features standard in modern UNIX shells.
- SSH is the preferred method for connecting to z/OS, offering better security and usability.
- Default z/OS UNIX shell lacks modern utilities, making it necessary to install additional tools.
- zopen community and IBM Open Enterprise Foundation (OEF) provide essential open-source tools for z/OS.
- Setting up /etc/profile ensures all users have access to necessary tools and configurations.
- Environment variables for encoding and file tagging prevent common issues in z/OS UNIX.
- Python is recommended for automation on z/OS, replacing traditional JCL and REXX scripts.
- Z Open Automation Utilities (ZOAU) enables z/OS tasks to be performed from the shell without 3270.
- Customizing shell prompts with ANSI colors enhances user experience for SSH users.
- Development tools like OpenXL (Clang for z/OS) modernize C/C++ development on the platform.
- Setting a umask in /etc/profile ensures secure default file and directory permissions.
- Configuring LANG, TZ, and TERM environment variables standardizes system behavior.
- Adding a post-login banner in /etc/profile can provide useful system information.
- Ensuring all interactive sessions start with Bash improves usability for new users.