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This page contains recent and forthcoming additions of note to Model 204 documentation.
This page contains recent and forthcoming additions of note to Model 204 documentation.


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==Model 204 Version 7.6 and RKTools Version 7.5==
==RKTools Version 7.7==
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Rocket Software is pleased to announce the commercial availability of two new releases: Model 204 version 7.6 and RKTools Version 7.5.
RKTools 7.7 is commercially available in July, 2017.
<p>
The main features in this release are summarized below and described in greater detail in the [[Release notes for RKTools V7.7]].</p>


===Model 204 version 7.6===
===Web interface===
Model 204 version 7.6 has added new features and functionality to provide continuous growth and expansion of your Model&nbsp;204 investment.
<p>
 
New in version 7.7 is [[RKWeb]], an easy-to-use web interface for managing the entire Model 204 environment. The RKWeb tools framework provides a highly productive web interface to common Model&nbsp;204 functionality.</p>
====New performance features====
<table class="thJustBold">
<tr><th>64-bit storage</th>
<td>This release continues the 64-bit enablement of the Model 204 infrastructure begun in version 7.4. By moving Model 204 “above the bar,” scalability, performance, and growth are limited only by the system architecture and memory. As of version 7.6, STBL, VTBL, and several other tables can now be placed into swappable or non-swappable server storage area above the bar. (This is in addition to FTBL, GTBL, NTBL, and QTBL, moved above the bar in previous releases.)
<p>
<p>
Note that using above-the-bar storage could bring new challenges to customers who have written assembly language functions for use within Model 204. Rocket Software provides a set of service offerings to help accommodate your upgrade and conversion needs. Contact Rocket Software for details. </p></td></tr>
RKWeb is mobile-ready and provides a task-based UI for SOUL application development. Using RKWeb utilities, you can:</p>
 
<tr><th nowrap>zIIP offload (IBM z/OS systems only)</th>
<td>Release 7.6 enhances zIIP (IBM System z Integrated Information Processor) support by making most of the Model 204 code zIIP tolerant. Almost all MP-capable code (Model 204 code that can run on an MP subtask) is offloaded to zIIP. Code that cannot be executed on zIIP uses the MP subtask or a maintask.
 
<p class="note"><b>Note:</b> While a limited version of this capability is available to all customers, the fully improved zIIP support requires an additional license. For more information, [[Contacting Rocket Software Technical Support|contact Rocket Software]]. </p></td></tr>
 
<tr><th>Fast/Unload</th>
<td>Fast/Unload invoked by the <var class="product">Fast/Unload Soul Interface</var> can take advantage of zIIP processing at sites that purchase the add-on feature Fast/Unload HPO (High Performance Option), new in Model 204 version 7.6, and also purchase a license for Model&nbsp;204 zIIP processing. </td></tr>
 
<tr><th>High Performance FICON (zHPF)</th>
<td>Model 204 version 7.6 supports IBM's High Performance FICON (zHPF) feature (for z/OS systems 2.01 and higher), which allows faster I/O by limiting the number of interactions between the channel and the device.</td></tr>
</table>
 
====SOUL enhancements====
Additional enhancements have been made to SOUL (formerly User Language), including:
<ul>
<ul>
<li><var>Json</var> class, for exchanging data with other platforms using the JSON format. </li>
<li>Build applications</li>
 
<li>Manage SOUL code, passwords, groups, and SSL Certificates</li>
<li><var>Private</var> keyword for <var>Class</var> declarations. </li>
<li>Monitor performance</li>
 
<li><var>Friend</var> declarations for <var>Class</var> blocks. </li>
 
<li>New "SSL" string methods. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>
<p>
The preceding list is a subset of the new features and functionality within Model 204. Review the M204wiki [[Release notes for Model 204 version 7.6]] page as well as the [[M204wiki main page]] to see the latest enhancements and improvements that Model&nbsp;204 has to offer. </p>
RKWeb also includes a journal scanner, command interface, and readers for [[SirTune]] reports and [[SirFact]] dumps.</p>


===RKTools version 7.5===
===Ease of installation===
The first version of [[RKTools]] is now available. Formerly known as UL/SPF, these utilities now provide advanced features to enhance programmer productivity, encourage the use of Soul OO programming constructs, assist in debugging and problem analysis, and help increase Model&nbsp;204 availability. The product [[Release notes for RKTools V7.5|release notes]] introduce its new features.
<p>
As of version 7.7, all code for all Rocket-provided, SOUL-based products and utilities resides in the M204PROC file. This includes all the [[Dictionary/204 overview|Dictionary/204]] components (SUBSYSMGMT, FILEMGMT, etc.), all the [[SQL Server overview|SQL Server]] support code, and all code for the former UL/SPF products such as [[SirPro]], [[SirMon]], and [[SirScan]].</p>


<p class="note"><b>Note:</b> RKTools 7.5 requires Model 204 7.5 or higher.</p>
===Security===
<p>
In version 7.7, JANSSL ([[Janus Network Security]]) is integrated with the other components in the RKWeb interface. Its operation is the same as before, and it is available without RKWeb from a Janus port as before. </p>
<p>  
V7.7 JANSSL also includes support for SHA2 SSL Certificates, including SHA384.</p>


====SirScan, SirMon, and SirLib====
===Integration of Dictionary/204===
Highlights of this release include the following features:
<p>
<ul>
As of version 7.7, Dictionary/204 is integrated into RKTools, and it is accessible through both the RKTools and RKWeb interfaces, as well as from the Model 204 command line as before.</p>
<li>[[SirScan]] now has higher scan limits, along with a new bookmarking feature and a more complete web implementation. </li>


<li>[[SirMon]] provides a greatly improved web interface. </li>  
===SQL Server utilities===
<p>
As of RKTools 7.7, the RKWeb interface makes available the [[SQL catalog#Using the SQL catalog|SQL Server]] Table Specification facility (TSF) and the catalog reporting utility (CCACATREPT).</p>


<li>[[SirLib]] change management enhancements include longer project names, a much faster change-application engine, and improved integration with the programmer tools in [[SirPro]]. </li>
===Downloading instructions===
</ul>
<p>
To download RKTools version 7.7:</p>
<ol>
<li>Navigate to the [https://m204.rocketsoftware.com/maint/ullist?nickname=ROCKET SOUL files for Rocket Software] page.</li>


====SirPro====
<li>Provide security credentials when prompted.</li>
SirPro is extensively enhanced for Version 7.5:
<ul>
<li>It now allows most procedure-filtering operations from the SirPro command line. </li>  


<li>It includes [[SoulEdit]], an entirely new Model&nbsp;204 editor with hundreds of improvements over the traditional Model&nbsp;204 editor, such as:
<li>Locate the RKTools V7.7 link and click its <b>Download procfile</b> link.</li>
<ul>
</ol>
<li>Advanced block commands </li>
<li>Sophisticated help </li>
<li>Integrated Xcompare </li> 
<li>User-extensible macro development </li> 
<li>Integrated procedure backup </li>
<li>A user-controllable profile </li> 
</ul>
For details, view the SoulEdit page, which also links to an introductory video. </li>
</ul>
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==Janus/TN3270 Debugger Build 64==
==Janus/TN3270 Debugger Build 66 and 67==
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On October 7 2015, Build 64 of the Janus/TN3270 Debugger Client was released.   
On July 5, 2017, Build 67 of the Janus/TN3270 Debugger Client was released.   
 
On April 3, 2017, Build 66 was released.
Build 64 contains improvements and fixes for the Debugger Client <b>IE Mode</b> settings of <b>mergedPac</b> or <b>NewPac</b> which are used with a Microsoft IE browser.
 
Please consult the Debugger <var class="book">[[Media:JdebugrNew.pdf|User's Guide]]</var> for details (see Build 64 in the "Release Notes" chapter).
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When Build 66 is used with Model&nbsp;204 version 7.7, you can configure automatic creation of a new Client log file on a daily basis to prevent excessive growth of the log. You can also turn logging off.


==Janus/TN3270 Debugger Build 63 with Model 204 Version 7.6==
Build 67 lets you specify how many days worth of previous Client logs to retain. The new daily log is always named <code>log.txt</code>; the names of previous daily logs include their creation dates.
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On July 6 2015, Build 63 of the Janus/TN3270 Debugger Client was released.


Build 63 contains support for <code>HTTP:</code> style URLs for PAC (Proxy Auto Config) files, for sites
Build 67 also lets you relocate and optionally rename the installed default locations of the Debugger Client Help file, its PDF-file representation, or both.
using a Debugger Client <b>IE Mode</b> setting of <b>mergedPac</b> or <b>NewPac</b> with a Microsoft IE browser. Previously, only <code>FILE:</code> style URLs were supported for PAC files.


When Build 63 is used with Model 204 version 7.6, two additional features are available:
See the Debugger <var class="book">[[Media:JdebugrNew.pdf|User's Guide]]</var> for details (Builds 66 and 67 in the "Release Notes" chapter).
* Run Until, White List, and Black List processing is now done for procedures on daemon threads as well as for those on the master thread.
* The Expand Object feature supports the JSON system object type, which was added for Model&nbsp;204 7.6.


Please consult the Debugger <var class="book">[[Media:JdebugrNew.pdf|User's Guide]]</var> for details (see Build 63 in the "Release Notes" chapter).
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==Fast/Unload Version 4.7==
==Model 204 Version 7.7==
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Highlights of this version include support for EAV (Extended Attribute Volume) disks,
Model 204 7.7 is commercially available in January, 2017.
<var>CHUNK</var> fields (introduced in version 7.5 of Model 204), and <var>FILEORG</var> X'200' (files with 48M records).


The main features in this release (December, 2014) are described in [[Release notes for Fast/Unload V4.7]].
The main features in this release are summarized below and described in greater detail in the [[Release notes for Model 204 version 7.7]].
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<table>
<tr class="head"><th>Category</th>
<th>Feature</th></tr>


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<td>Performance</td>
<td>
<ul>
<li>Continued expansion of 64-bit addressability. See [[#Elimination of BTB buffers|Elimination of BTB buffers]]. </li>


==Model 204 Version 7.5==
<li>Greater zIIP processor availability: M204 HPO and Fast/Unload HPO. See [[#zIIP exploitation|zIIP exploitation]]. </li>
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Version 7.5 of Model 204 (December, 2014) follows the acquisition of the Sirius Software product line and integrates the Sirius and Janus software products into the Model&nbsp;204 nucleus. One of the more exciting results of the integration is Simple Objective User Language, or SOUL. SOUL adds object-oriented programming to, and replaces the name of, User Language. It comes with no additional cost, and it is backward compatible with existing User Language applications.
<li>zIIP load tuning. See [[#MPDELAY and MPDELAYZ (new)|MPDELAYZ]], [[#SCHDOFLS (new)|SCHDOFLS]], [[#SCHDOPT (change to X'20' bit processing)|SCHDOPT]]. </li>


===Release notes===
<li>Essential removal of application limits on the [[#Increase in request limit for number of images, screens, and menus|number of images, screens, and menus]].</li>
The main features in this release of Model 204 are summarized on this page and described in greater detail in the [[Release notes for Model 204 version 7.5|version 7.5 release notes]].


===SOUL===
<li>Support for large data sets (as many as 16 million tracks) for the Model 204 Checkpoint facility [[Checkpoints: Storing before-images of changed pages#Creating the CHKPOINT.2FCHKPNT .28and CHKPNTS.29 data set|CHKPOINT or CHKPNTS data sets]]. See [[System and media recovery#ROLL BACK processing.2C Pass 2|ROLL BACK processing, Pass 2]].</li>
Here are some of the new SOUL features:
<ul>
<li>Mixed case User Language support
<li>Generic User Language sorting, searching, and subsetting facilities
<li>Improved syntax for setting/retrieving large object (LOB) values (directly to/from longstrings)
<li>Enhanced printing and auditing statements
<li>Implicit concatenation
<li>The Assert and Loop Next statements
<li>A macro language
<li>Data types:
<ul>
<li>Longstring (including image string items > 255 bytes)
<li>Unicode
</ul>
</ul>
<li>Full OO programming capabilities including:
</td></tr>
 
<tr>
<td>Security</td>
<td>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Class and object definitions, methods, public/private class variables, inheritance, polymorphism, etc.
<li>Stronger cryptographic algorithms: SHA-384, SHA-512. See [[#"SSL" String methods|"SSL" String methods]], [[#New DigestAlgorithm values|New DigestAlgorithm values]], and [[#New default certificate-signing algorithm|New default certificate-signing algorithm]]. </li>
<li>Support for exceptions such as Try, Catch, and Throw statements
 
<li>Support for named parameters
<li>Longer RSA keys (as many as 4096 bits). See [[#Janus Network Security ciphers and private keys|Janus Network Security ciphers and private keys]]. </li>
<li>Support for method variables, that is, variables that can be used to dynamically invoke functions or subroutines
 
<li>Support for [[#Long password support|longer and mixed-case login passwords]]. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>Shorthand right-side assignment operators:
</td><tr>
 
<tr>
<td nowrap>Add-on enhancements</td>
<td>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>%a = @ + 1
<li>A more versatile Fast/Unload through [[#Integration of Fast/Unload with the Online load module|integration with Model&nbsp;204]].  </li>
<li>%a = @ * 1
 
<li>%a = @ / 1
<li>Janus products' [[#Support for IPV6|support for the IPV6 network protocol]], expanding the network address space from 32 to 128 bits. </li>
<li>%a = @ :div(1)
</ul></td></tr>
</ul>
</table>
</ul>
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<p class="note"><b>Note:</b>
==Fast/Unload Version 7.7==
These features were formerly part of the <var class="product">Janus SOAP</var> product. In version 7.5 of Model 204, these features were incorporated into <var class="product">Model&nbsp;204</var> such that <var class="product">SOUL</var> applications continue to work as they always have. <var class="product">Janus SOAP</var> remains as an add-on product that provides support for [[Janus SOAP|XML processing]]. </p>
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Highlights of this version include the integration of Fast/Unload with the Model&nbsp;204 Online load module, the broader availability of zIIP exploitation, and the change of the product version number to match the version number of Model 204.  


===64-bit enablement of the Model 204 infrastructure===
The main features in this release (January, 2017) are described in the [[Release notes for Model 204 version 7.7#Fast.2FUnload enhancements|Release notes for Model 204 version 7.7]].
Model 204 moves “Above the Bar” to increase scalability, performance, and growth potential. With this release of Model 204, 64-bit addressing becomes the de-facto standard for all subsequent versions. This might bring new challenges to customers who have written assembler language functions for use within Model 204, and Rocket Software has prepared a new set of service offerings to help accommodate upgrade and conversion needs.


===Physical field groups===
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Model 204 supports non-relational, denormalized data structures, and its efficient processing of multiply-occurring fields provides significant cost and performance benefits. This processing is enhanced by the availability of physical field groups, which let you view and process groups of fields as logical entities.


===Range searching by Ordered Index (OI) chunk===
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The new CHUNK attribute of the DEFINE FIELD command offers significantly more efficient searching on Ordered Index numeric (ORDERED NUMERIC) field ranges. The storage for the file's values of these fields is automatically maintained, divided into ordered sub-ranges ("OI chunks") whose interval-size is part of the CHUNK definition. Finds of value ranges of these fields search by OI chunk rather than by individual value, so they entail fewer scans of the Ordered Index entries.


===Expanded file-record limit===
==DROWN security threat to Janus SSL ports==
In version 7.5 of Model 204, the record limit per file increases from sixteen million records to forty-eight million records.
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[[Janus Network Security]] customers should be aware of a security threat known as the "DROWN attack" (https://drownattack.com/). The DROWN threat exploits a security vulnerability of network SSL ports that use SSL V2.


===New debugging tools===
See the [[DROWN security threat]] page for recommendations for responding to this threat.
Developing web and screen applications that use Model 204 is made easier by newly acquired debuggers: <var class="product">Janus Debugger</var>, <var class="product">TN3270 Debugger</var>, and <var class="product">SoftSpy</var>.
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Latest revision as of 17:49, 14 July 2017

This page contains recent and forthcoming additions of note to Model 204 documentation.

RKTools Version 7.7

RKTools 7.7 is commercially available in July, 2017.

The main features in this release are summarized below and described in greater detail in the Release notes for RKTools V7.7.

Web interface

New in version 7.7 is RKWeb, an easy-to-use web interface for managing the entire Model 204 environment. The RKWeb tools framework provides a highly productive web interface to common Model 204 functionality.

RKWeb is mobile-ready and provides a task-based UI for SOUL application development. Using RKWeb utilities, you can:

  • Build applications
  • Manage SOUL code, passwords, groups, and SSL Certificates
  • Monitor performance

RKWeb also includes a journal scanner, command interface, and readers for SirTune reports and SirFact dumps.

Ease of installation

As of version 7.7, all code for all Rocket-provided, SOUL-based products and utilities resides in the M204PROC file. This includes all the Dictionary/204 components (SUBSYSMGMT, FILEMGMT, etc.), all the SQL Server support code, and all code for the former UL/SPF products such as SirPro, SirMon, and SirScan.

Security

In version 7.7, JANSSL (Janus Network Security) is integrated with the other components in the RKWeb interface. Its operation is the same as before, and it is available without RKWeb from a Janus port as before.

V7.7 JANSSL also includes support for SHA2 SSL Certificates, including SHA384.

Integration of Dictionary/204

As of version 7.7, Dictionary/204 is integrated into RKTools, and it is accessible through both the RKTools and RKWeb interfaces, as well as from the Model 204 command line as before.

SQL Server utilities

As of RKTools 7.7, the RKWeb interface makes available the SQL Server Table Specification facility (TSF) and the catalog reporting utility (CCACATREPT).

Downloading instructions

To download RKTools version 7.7:

  1. Navigate to the SOUL files for Rocket Software page.
  2. Provide security credentials when prompted.
  3. Locate the RKTools V7.7 link and click its Download procfile link.


Janus/TN3270 Debugger Build 66 and 67

On July 5, 2017, Build 67 of the Janus/TN3270 Debugger Client was released. On April 3, 2017, Build 66 was released.

When Build 66 is used with Model 204 version 7.7, you can configure automatic creation of a new Client log file on a daily basis to prevent excessive growth of the log. You can also turn logging off.

Build 67 lets you specify how many days worth of previous Client logs to retain. The new daily log is always named log.txt; the names of previous daily logs include their creation dates.

Build 67 also lets you relocate and optionally rename the installed default locations of the Debugger Client Help file, its PDF-file representation, or both.

See the Debugger User's Guide for details (Builds 66 and 67 in the "Release Notes" chapter).


Model 204 Version 7.7

Model 204 7.7 is commercially available in January, 2017.

The main features in this release are summarized below and described in greater detail in the Release notes for Model 204 version 7.7.

Category Feature
Performance
Security
Add-on enhancements


Fast/Unload Version 7.7

Highlights of this version include the integration of Fast/Unload with the Model 204 Online load module, the broader availability of zIIP exploitation, and the change of the product version number to match the version number of Model 204.

The main features in this release (January, 2017) are described in the Release notes for Model 204 version 7.7.


DROWN security threat to Janus SSL ports

Janus Network Security customers should be aware of a security threat known as the "DROWN attack" (https://drownattack.com/). The DROWN threat exploits a security vulnerability of network SSL ports that use SSL V2.

See the DROWN security threat page for recommendations for responding to this threat.


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