Skip to main content
Version: v1.8.x

Configuring the z/OS system for Zowe

Last updated
:  |
0 min read
|
Edit this page
PDF
Open doc issue

Configuring the z/OS system for Zowe

Configure the z/OS security manager to prepare for launching the Zowe started tasks.

If Zowe has already been launched on a z/OS system from a previous release of Version 1.8 or later, then you are applying a newer Zowe build. You can skip this security configuration step unless told otherwise in the release documentation.

A SAMPLIB JCL member ZWESECUR is provided to assist with the security configuration. You can submit the ZWESECUR JCL member as-is or customize it depending on site preferences. The JCL allows you to vary which security manager you use by setting the PRODUCT variable to be one of RACF, ACF2, or TSS. 

//         SET PRODUCT=RACF          * RACF, ACF2, or TSS

If ZWESECUR encounters an error or a step that has already been performed, it will continue to the end, so it can be run repeatedly in a scenario such as a pipeline automating the configuration of a z/OS environment for Zowe installation.

It is expected that security administrator at a site will want to review, edit where necessary, and either execute ZWESECUR as a single job or else execute individual TSO commands one by one to complete the security configuration of a z/OS system in preparation for installing and running Zowe.

If you want to undo all of the z/OS security configuration steps performed by the JCL member ZWESECUR, Zowe provides a reverse member ZWENOSEC that contains the inverse steps that ZWESECUR performs. This is useful in the following situations:

  • You are configuring z/OS systems as part of a build pipeline that you want to undo and redo configuration and installation of Zowe using automation.
  • You have configured a z/OS system for Zowe that you no longer want to use and you prefer to delete the Zowe user IDs and undo the security configuration settings rather than leave them enabled.

If you run ZWENOSEC on a z/OS system, then you will no longer be able to run Zowe until you rerun ZWESECUR to reinitialize the z/OS security configuration.

User IDs and groups for the Zowe started tasks#

Zowe requires a user ID ZWESVUSR to execute its main z/OS runtime started task ZWESVSTC. This userid must have a valid OMVS segment.

Zowe requires a user ID ZWESIUSR to execute the cross memory server started task ZWESISTC. This userid must have a valid OMVS segment.

Zowe requires a group ZWEADMIN that both ZWESVUSR and ZWESIUSR should belong to. This group must have a valid OMVS segment.

The JCL member ZWESECUR contains the TSO commands to create the user IDs.

  • To create the ZWEADMIN group, issue the following command:

    ADDGROUP ZWEADMIN. OMVS(AUTOGID) -DATA('STARTED TASK GROUP WITH OMVS SEGEMENT')

  • To create the ZWESVUSR user ID for the main Zowe started task, issue the following command:

    ADDUSER  ZWESVUSR. -  NOPASSWORD -  DFLTGRP(ZWEADMIN) -  OMVS(HOME(/tmp) PROGRAM(/bin/sh) AUTOUID) -  NAME('ZOWE SERVER') -  DATA('ZOWE MAIN SERVER')

  • To create the ZWESIUSR group for the Zowe cross memory server started task, issue the following command:

    ADDUSER ZWESIUSR. -  NOPASSWORD -  DFLTGRP(ZWEADMIN) -  OMVS(HOME(/tmp) PROGRAM(/bin/sh) AUTOUID) -  NAME('ZOWE XMEM SERVER') -  DATA('ZOWE XMEM CROSS MEMORY SERVER')

Configure ZWESVSTC to run under ZWESVUSR user ID#

When the Zowe started task ZWESVSTC is started, it must be associated with the user ID ZWESVUSR and group ZWEADMIN. A different user ID and group can be used if required to conform with existing naming standards.

  • If you use RACF, issue the following commands:

    RDEFINE STARTED ZWESVSTC.* UACC(NONE) STDATA(USER(ZWESVUSR) GROUP(ZWEADMIN) PRIVILEGED(NO) TRUSTED(NO) TRACE(YES))  SETROPTS REFRESH RACLIST(STARTED)

  • If you use CA ACF2, issue the following commands:

    SET CONTROL(GSO)INSERT STC.ZWESVSTC LOGONID(ZWESVUSR) GROUP(ZWEADMIN) STCID(ZWESVSTC)F ACF2,REFRESH(STC)

  • If you use CA Top Secret, issue the following commands:

    TSS ADDTO(STC) PROCNAME(ZWESVSTC) ACID(ZWESVUSR)

Grant users permission to access z/OSMF#

TSO user IDs using Zowe must have permission to access the z/OSMF services that are used by Zowe. They should be added to the group with appropriate z/OSMF privileges, IZUUSER or IZUADMIN by default.

  • If you use RACF, issue the following command:

    CONNECT (userid) GROUP(IZUUSER)

  • If you use CA ACF2, issue the following commands:

    ACFNRULE TYPE(TGR) KEY(IZUUSER) ADD(UID(<uid string of user>) ALLOW)F ACF2,REBUILD(TGR)

  • If you use CA Top Secret, issue the following commands:

    TSS ADD(userid)  PROFILE(IZUUSER)TSS ADD(userid)  GROUP(IZUUSRGP)

Configure the cross memory server for SAF#

Zowe has a cross memory server that runs as an APF-authorized program with key 4 storage. Client processes accessing the cross memory server's services must have READ access to a security profile ZWES.IS in the FACILITY class. This authorization step is used to guard against access by non-priviledged clients.

Activate the FACILITY class, define a ZWES.IS profile, and grant READ access to the user ID ZWESVUSR. This is the user ID that the Zowe started task ZWESVSTC runs under.

To do this, issue the following commands that are also included in the ZWESECUR JCL member. The commands assume that you run the ZWESVSTC under the ZWESVUSR user.

  • If you use RACF, issue the following commands:

    • To see the current class settings, use:
      SETROPTS LIST
    • To define and activate the FACILITY class, use:
      SETROPTS GENERIC(FACILITY)SETROPTS CLASSACT(FACILITY)
    • To RACLIST the FACILITY class, use:
      SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY)
    • To define the ZWES.IS profile in the FACILITY class and grant Zowe's started task userid READ access, issue the following commands:
      RDEFINE FACILITY ZWES.IS UACC(NONE)
      PERMIT ZWES.IS CLASS(FACILITY) ID(<zwesvstc_user>) ACCESS(READ)
      where <zwesvstc_user> is the user ID ZWESVUSR under which the ZWESVSTC started task runs.
      SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY) REFRESH
    • To check whether the permission has been successfully granted, issue the following command:
      RLIST FACILITY ZWES.IS AUTHUSER
      This shows the user IDs who have access to the ZWES.IS class, which should include Zowe's started task userid with READ access.

  • If you use CA ACF2, issue the following commands:

    SET RESOURCE(FAC)
    RECKEY ZWES ADD(IS ROLE(IZUSVR) SERVICE(READ) ALLOW)
    F ACF2,REBUILD(FAC)

  • If you use CA Top Secret, issue the following commands, where owner-acid can be IZUSVR or a different ACID:

    ```TSS ADD(`owner-acid`) IBMFAC(ZWES.)``````TSS PERMIT(IZUSVR) IBMFAC(ZWES.IS) ACCESS(READ)```

    Notes:

  • The cross memory server treats "no decision" style SAF return codes as failures. If there is no covering profile for the ZWES.IS resource in the FACILITY class, the request will be denied.

  • Cross memory server clients other than Zowe might have additional SAF security requirements. For more information, see the documentation for the specific client.

Configure an ICSF cryptographic services environment#

To generate symmetric keys, the ZWESVUSR user who runs ZWESVSTC requires READ access to CSFRNGL in the CSFSERV class.

Define or check the following configurations depending on whether ICSF is already installed:

  • The ICSF or CSF job that runs on your z/OS system.

  • The configuration of ICSF options in SYS1.PARMLIB(CSFPRM00), SYS1.SAMPLIB, SYS1.PROCLIB.

  • Create CKDS, PKDS, TKDS VSAM data sets.

  • Define and activate the CSFSERV class:

    • If you use RACF, issue the following commands:
      RDEFINE CSFSERV profile-name UACC(NONE)
      PERMIT profile-name CLASS(CSFSERV) ID(tcpip-stackname) ACCESS(READ)
      PERMIT profile-name CLASS(CSFSERV) ID(userid-list)   ... [for userids IKED, NSSD, and Policy Agent]
      SETROPTS CLASSACT(CSFSERV)
      SETROPTS RACLIST(CSFSERV) REFRESH
    • If you use CA ACF2, issue the following commands (note that profile-prefix and profile-suffix are user-defined):
      SET CONTROL(GSO)
      INSERT CLASMAP.CSFSERV RESOURCE(CSFSERV) RSRCTYPE(CSF)  
      F ACF2,REFRESH(CLASMAP)
      SET RESOURCE(CSF)
      RECKEY profile-prefix ADD(profile-suffix uid(UID string for tcpip-stackname) SERVICE(READ) ALLOW)   
      RECKEY profile-prefix ADD(profile-suffix uid(UID string for IZUSVR) SERVICE(READ) ALLOW)
      (repeat for userids IKED, NSSD, and Policy Agent)
      F ACF2,REBUILD(CSF)
    • If you use CA Top Secret, issue the following command (note that profile-prefix and profile-suffix are user defined):
      TSS ADDTO(owner-acid) RESCLASS(CSFSERV)              
      TSS ADD(owner-acid) CSFSERV(profile-prefix.)
      TSS PERMIT(tcpip-stackname) CSFSERV(profile-prefix.profile-suffix) ACCESS(READ)
      TSS PERMIT(user-acid) CSFSERV(profile-prefix.profile-suffix) ACCESS(READ)
      (repeat for user-acids IKED, NSSD, and Policy Agent)

Notes:

Configure security environment switching#

Typically, the user ZWESVUSR that the ZWESVSTC started task runs under needs to be able to change the security environment of its process to allow API requests to be issued on behalf of the logged on TSO user ID, rather than the server's user ID. This capability provides the functionality that allows users to log on to the Zowe desktop and use apps such as the File Editor to list data sets or USS files that the logged on user is authorized to view and edit, rather than the user ID running the Zowe server. This technique is known as impersonation.

To enable impersonation, you must grant the user ID ZWESVUSR associated with the ZWESVSTC started task UPDATE access to the BPX.SERVER and BPX.DAEMON profiles in the FACILITY class.

You can issue the following commands first to check whether you already have the impersonation profiles defined as part of another server configuration, such as the FTPD daemon. Review the output to confirm that the two impersonation profiles exist and the user ZWESVUSR who runs the ZWESVSTC started task has UPDATE access to both profiles.

  • If you use RACF, issue the following commands:
    RLIST FACILITY BPX.SERVER AUTHUSER
    RLIST FACILITY BPX.DAEMON AUTHUSER
  • If you use CA Top Secret, issue the following commands:
    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.SERVER)
    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.DAEMON)
  • If you use CA ACF2, issue the following commands:
    SET RESOURCE(FAC)
    LIST BPX

If the user ZWESVUSR who runs the ZWESVSTC started task does not have UPDATE access to both profiles follow the instructions below.

  • If you use RACF, complete the following steps:

    1. Activate and RACLIST the FACILITY class. This may have already been done on the z/OS environment if another z/OS server has been previously configured to take advantage of the ability to change its security environment, such as the FTPD daemon that is included with z/OS Communications Server TCP/IP services. 

      SETROPTS GENERIC(FACILITY)SETROPTS CLASSACT(FACILITY) RACLIST(FACILITY)

    2. Define the impersonation profiles. This may have already been done on behalf of another server such as the FTPD daemon. 

      RDEFINE FACILITY BPX.SERVER UACC(NONE)
      RDEFINE FACILITY BPX.DAEMON UACC(NONE)

    3. Having activated and RACLIST the FACILITY class, the user ID ZWESVUSR who runs the ZWESVSTC started task must be given update access to the BPX.SERVER and BPX.DAEMON profiles in the FACILITY class.

      PERMIT BPX.SERVER CLASS(FACILITY) ID(<zwesvstc_user>) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      PERMIT BPX.DAEMON CLASS(FACILITY) ID(<zwesvstc_user>) ACCESS(UPDATE)

      where <zwesvstc_user> is ZWESVUSR unless a different user ID is being used for the z/OS environment.

      / Activate these changes /

      SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY) REFRESH

    4. Issue the following commands to check whether permission has been successfully granted:

      RLIST FACILITY BPX.SERVER AUTHUSER
      RLIST FACILITY BPX.DAEMON AUTHUSER

  • If you use CA Top Secret, complete the following steps:

    1. Define the BPX Resource and access for <zwesvstc_user>.
      TSS ADD(`owner-acid`) IBMFAC(BPX.)
      TSS PERMIT(<zwesvstc_user>) IBMFAC(BPX.SERVER) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      TSS PERMIT(<zwesvstc_user>) IBMFAC(BPX.DAEMON) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      where <zwesvstc_user> is ZWESVUSR unless a different user ID is being used for the z/OS environment.
    2. Issue the following commands and review the output to check whether permission has been successfully granted:
      TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.SERVER)
      TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.DAEMON)

  • If you use CA ACF2, complete the following steps:

    1. Define the BPX Resource and access for <zwesvstc_user>.
      SET RESOURCE(FAC)
      RECKEY BPX ADD(SERVER ROLE(<zwesvstc_user>) SERVICE(UPDATE) ALLOW)
      RECKEY BPX ADD(DAEMON ROLE(<zwesvstc_user>) SERVICE(UPDATE) ALLOW)
      where <zwesvstc_user> is ZWESVUSR unless a different user ID is being used for the z/OS environment. 
      F ACF2,REBUILD(FAC)
    2. Issue the following commands and review the output to check whether permission has been successfully granted:
      SET RESOURCE(FAC)
      LIST BPX

Configure address space job naming#

The user ID ZWESVUSR that is associated with the Zowe started task ZWESVSTC must have READ permission for the BPX.JOBNAME profile in the FACILITY class. This is to allow setting of the names for the different z/OS UNIX address spaces for the Zowe runtime components. See Address space names.

To display who is authorized to the profile, issue the following command:

RLIST FACILITY BPX.JOBNAME AUTHUSER

Additionally, you need to activate facility class, permit BPX.JOBNAME, and refresh facility class:

SETROPTS CLASSACT(FACILITY) RACLIST(FACILITY)PERMIT BPX.JOBNAME CLASS(FACILITY) ID(ZWESVUSR) ACCESS(READ)SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY) REFRESH

For more information, see Setting up the UNIX-related FACILITY and SURROGAT class profiles in the "z/OS UNIX System Services" documentation.

On this page