Installing Node.js on z/OS

Before you install Zowe™, you must install IBM SDK for Node.js on the same z/OS server that hosts the Zowe Application Server. To install Node.js for Zowe, you can follow the steps in this topic or in the IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS documentation.

Note: If you follow the steps in the Node.js documentation to install Node.js, you do NOT need to install Python, Make, Perl, or C/C++ runtime or compiler, which might be listed as prerequisites there. These software packages are NOT required by Zowe. If you can execute node --version successfully, you have installed the prerequisites required by Zowe.

How to obtain IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS

You can obtain IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS for free in one of the following ways:

• Order the SMP/E version through your IBM representative for production use
• Use the pax evaluation for non-production deployments

For details, see the blog "How to obtain IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS, at no charge".

Known issue: There is a known issue with node.js v8.16.1 and Zowe desktop encoding. See https://github.com/ibmruntimes/node/issues/142 for details.

Workaround: Use node.js v8.16.2 or later which is available at https://www.ibm.com/ca-en/marketplace/sdk-nodejs-compiler-zos. Download the pax.Z file.

Hardware and software requirements

To install Node.js for Zowe, the following requirements must be met.

Hardware:

IBM zEnterprise® 196 (z196) or newer

Software:

• Node.js Version 6 (see IBM Knowledge Center for all prerequisites):

  • z/OS V2R2 with PTF UI46658 or z/OS V2R3

• Node.js Version 8 (see IBM Knowledge Center for all prerequisites):

  • z/OS V2R2: PTFs UI62788, UI46658, UI62416 (APARs PH10606, PI79959, PH10740)
  • z/OS V2R3: PTFs UI61308, UI61376, and UI61747 (APARs PH07107, PH08353, and PH09543)

• Node.js Version 12 (see IBM Knowledge Center for all prerequisites)

• z/OS UNIX System Services enabled

• Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) configured and started.

Installing the PAX evaluation version of Node.js -z/OS

Follow these steps to installing the PAX evaluation version of Node.js - z/OS to run Zowe.

1. Download the pax.Z file from the Download section to a z/OS machine.

2. Extract the pax.Z file inside an installation directory of your choice. For example:

   pax -rf <path_to_pax.Z_file> -x pax

3. Add the full path of your installation directory to your PATH environment variable:

   export PATH=<installation_directory>/bin/:$PATH

4. Run the following command from the command line to verify the installation.

   node --version

   If Node.js is installed correctly, the version of Node.js is displayed.

5. After you install Node.js, set the NODE_HOME environment variable to the directory where Node.js is installed. For example, NODE_HOME=/proj/mvd/node/installs/node-v6.14.4-os390-s390x.

To troubleshoot or install the SMP/E version of Node.js, see the documentation for IBM SDK for Node.js - z/OS. Remember that the software packages Perl, Python, Make, or C/C++ runtime or compiler that the Node.js documentation might mention are NOT needed by Zowe.