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Configuring the z/OS system for Zowe

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Configuring the z/OS system for Zowe

Learn how to configure the z/OS system for Zowe. Before you begin, check the following table to understand which steps you need to perform based on your settings.

Configuration stepPurpose
Configure an ICSF cryptographic services environmentRequired if you want to use Zowe desktop. This step will generate random numbers for zssServer that the Zowe desktop uses.
Configure security environment switchingRequired if you want to allow users to log on to the Zowe desktop through impersonation.
Configure address space job namingRequired if you want to set the names for the different z/OS UNIX address spaces for the Zowe runtime components.
Configure multi-user address space for TSS onlyRequired for TSS only. A TSS FACILITY needs to be defined and assigned to the ZWESLSTC started task.
Configure user IDs and groups for the Zowe started tasksRequired if you have not run ZWESECUR and are manually creating the user ID and groups in your z/OS environment.
Configure ZWESLSTC to run Zowe high availability instances under ZWESVUSR user IDRequired if you have not run ZWESECUR and are configuring your z/OS environment manually. This step describes how to configure the started task ZWESLSTC to run under the correct user ID and group.
Configure the cross memory server for SAFRequired if you have not run ZWESECUR and are configuring your z/OS environment manually. This step describes how to configure the cross memory server for SAF to guard against access by non-priviledged clients.
Configure main Zowe server to use identity mappingRequired for API Mediation Layer to map client certificate to a z/OS identity.
Configure signed SAF Identity tokens IDTRequired to configure SAF Identity tokens on z/OS so that they can be used by Zowe components like zss or API Mediation Layer.
Configure the main Zowe server to issue SMF recordsRequired for API Mediation Layer to issue SMF records.

Configure an ICSF cryptographic services environment​

The zssServer uses cookies that require random number generation for security. To learn more about the zssServer, see the Zowe architecture. Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) is a secure way to generate random numbers.

If you have not configured your z/OS environment for ICSF, see Cryptographic Services ICSF: System Programmer's Guide for more information. To see whether ICSF has been started, check whether the started task ICSF or CSF is active.

If you run Zowe high availability on a Sysplex, ICSF needs to be configured in a Sysplex environment to share KDS data sets across systems in a Sysplex. For detailed information, see Running in a Sysplex Environment

The Zowe z/OS environment configuration JCL member ZWESECUR does not perform any steps related to ICSF that is required for zssServer that the Zowe desktop uses. Therefore, if you want to use Zowe desktop, you must perform the steps that are described in this section manually.

To generate symmetric keys, the ZWESVUSR user who runs Zowe server started task 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 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 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 Zowe server 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 Zowe server 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 Zowe server 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 Top Secret, issue the following commands:
    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.SERVER)
    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(BPX.DAEMON)
  • If you use ACF2, issue the following commands:
    SET RESOURCE(FAC)
    LIST BPX

If the user ZWESVUSR who runs the Zowe server 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 Zowe server 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(<zowe_stc_user>) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      PERMIT BPX.DAEMON CLASS(FACILITY) ID(<zowe_stc_user>) ACCESS(UPDATE)

      where <zowe_stc_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 Top Secret, complete the following steps:

    1. Define the BPX Resource and access for <zowe_stc_user>.
      TSS ADD(`owner-acid`) IBMFAC(BPX.)
      TSS PERMIT(<zowe_stc_user>) IBMFAC(BPX.SERVER) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      TSS PERMIT(<zowe_stc_user>) IBMFAC(BPX.DAEMON) ACCESS(UPDATE)
      where <zowe_stc_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 ACF2, complete the following steps:

    1. Define the BPX Resource and access for <zowe_stc_user>.
      SET RESOURCE(FAC)
      RECKEY BPX ADD(SERVER ROLE(<zowe_stc_user>) SERVICE(UPDATE) ALLOW)
      RECKEY BPX ADD(DAEMON ROLE(<zowe_stc_user>) SERVICE(UPDATE) ALLOW)
      where <zowe_stc_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

You must also grant READ access to the OMVSAPPL profile in the APPL class to the Zowe STC user as well as all other Zowe users using various Zowe features. Skip the following steps when the OMVSAPPL profile is not defined in your environment.

  • If you use RACF, complete the following steps:

    1. Check if you already have the required access defined as part of the environment configuration. Skip the following steps if access is already granted.

      RLIST APPL OMVSAPPL AUTHUSER

    2. Issue the following commands and review the output to check if permission has been successfully granted:

      PERMIT OMVSAPPL CLASS(APPL) ID(<zowe_user>) ACCESS(READ)
      SETROPTS RACLIST(APPL) REFRESH

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

    1. Check if you already have the required access as part of the environment configuration. Skip the following steps if access is already granted.

      TSS WHOHAS APPL(OMVSAPPL)

    2. Issue the following commands and review the output to check if permission has been successfully granted:

      TSS PERMIT(<zowe_user>) APPL(OMVSAPPL)

  • If you use ACF2, complete the following steps:

    1. Check if you already have the required access defined as part of the environment configuration. Skip the following steps if access is already granted.

      SET RESOURCE(APL)
      LIST OMVSAAPL

    2. Issue the following commands and review the output to check if permission has been successfully granted:

        SET RESOURCE(APL)
        RECKEY OMVSAPPL ADD(SERVICE(READ) ROLE(<zowe_user>) ALLOW)
        F ACF2,REBUILD(APL)

Configure address space job naming​

The user ID ZWESVUSR that is associated with the Zowe started task 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.

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.

Configure multi-user address space (for TSS only)​

The Zowe server started task ZWESLSTC is multi-user address space, and therefore a TSS FACILITY needs to be defined and assigned to the started task. Then, all acids signing on to the started task will need to be authorized to the FACILITY.

The following example shows how to create a new TSS FACILITY.

Example:

In the TSSPARMS, add the following lines to create the new FACILITY:

FACILITY(USER11=NAME=ZOWE)
FACILITY(ZOWE=MODE=FAIL)
FACILITY(ZOWE=RES)

For more information about how to administer Facility Matrix Table, see How to Perform Facility Matrix Table Administration.

To assign the FACILITY to the started task, issue the following command: 

TSS ADD(ZWESVUSR) MASTFAC(ZOWE)

To authorize a user to sign on to the FACILITY, issues the following command:

TSS ADD(user_acid) FAC(ZOWE)

Configure user IDs and groups for the Zowe started tasks​

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

Zowe requires a user ID ZWESIUSR to execute the cross memory server started task ZWESISTC. This user ID 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.

If you have run ZWESECUR, you do not need to perform the steps described in this section, because the TSO commands to create the user IDs and groups are executed during the JCL sections of ZWESECUR. 

/* group for started tasks                          */
...
/* userid for ZOWE main server                      */
...
/* userid for XMEM cross memory server              */
...

If you have not run ZWESECUR and are manually creating the user ID and groups in your z/OS environment, the commands are described below for reference.

  • 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 ZWESLSTC to run Zowe high availability instances under ZWESVUSR user ID​

You need Zowe started task ZWESLSTC for Zowe high availability. When the Zowe started task ZWESLSTC 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 have run ZWESECUR, you do not need to perform the steps described in this section, because they are executed during the JCL section of ZWESECUR. 

/* started task for ZOWE Launcher in high availability               */
...

If you have not run ZWESECUR and are configuring your z/OS environment manually, the following steps describe how to configure the started task ZWESLSTC to run under the correct user ID and group.

  • If you use RACF, issue the following commands:

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

  • If you use ACF2, issue the following commands:

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

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

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

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.

If you have run ZWESECUR you do not need to perform the steps described in this section.

/* permit Zowe main server to use XMEM cross memory server       */
...

If you have not run ZWESECUR and are configuring your z/OS environment manually, the following steps describe how to configure the cross memory server for SAF.

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 main Zowe started task 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 Zowe server 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(<zowe_stc_user>) ACCESS(READ)
      where <zowe_stc_user> is the user ID ZWESVUSR under which the Zowe server 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 user ID with READ access.

  • If you use ACF2, issue the following commands:

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

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

    ```
    TSS ADD(`owner-acid`) IBMFAC(ZWES.)
    ```
    ```
    TSS PERMIT(ZWESVUSR) 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 main Zowe server to use client certificate identity mapping​

This security configuration is necessary for API ML to be able to map client certificate to a z/OS identity. A user running API Gateway must have read access to the SAF resource IRR.RUSERMAP in the FACILITY class. To set up this security configuration, submit the ZWESECUR JCL member. For users upgrading from version 1.18 and lower use the following configuration steps.

Using RACF​

If you use RACF, verify and update permission in the FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify user ZWESVUSR has read access.

    RLIST FACILITY IRR.RUSERMAP AUTHUSER

  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.

    PERMIT IRR.RUSERMAP CLASS(FACILITY) ACCESS(READ) ID(ZWESVUSR)

  3. Activate changes.

    SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY) REFRESH

Using ACF2​

If you use ACF2, verify and update permission in the FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify user ZWESVUSR has read access.
    SET RESOURCE(FAC) 
    LIST LIKE(IRR-)
  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.
    RECKEY IRR.RUSERMAP ADD(SERVICE(READ) ROLE(&STCGRP.) ALLOW)
  3. Activate changes.
    F ACF2,REBUILD(FAC)

Using TSS​

If you use TSS, verify and update permission in FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify user ZWESVUSR has read access.
    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(IRR.RUSERMAP)
  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.
    TSS PER(ZWESVUSR) IBMFAC(IRR.RUSERMAP) ACCESS(READ)

Configure main Zowe server to use distributed identity mapping​

This security configuration is necessary for API ML to be able to map the association between a z/OS user ID and a distributed user identity. A user running the API Gateway must have read access to the SAF resource IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY in the FACILITY class. To set up this security configuration, submit the ZWESECUR JCL member. For users upgrading from version 1.28 and lower, use the following configuration steps.

Using RACF​

If you use RACF, verify and update permission in the FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify that user ZWESVUSR has read access.

    RLIST FACILITY IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY AUTHUSER

  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.

    PERMIT IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY CLASS(FACILITY) ACCESS(READ) ID(ZWESVUSR)

  3. Activate changes.

    SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY) REFRESH

Using ACF2​

If you use ACF2, verify and update permission in the FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify that user ZWESVUSR has read access.

    SET RESOURCE(FAC) 
    LIST LIKE(IRR-)

  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.

    RECKEY IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY ADD(SERVICE(READ) ROLE(&STCGRP.) ALLOW)

  3. Activate changes.

    F ACF2,REBUILD(FAC)

Using TSS​

If you use TSS, verify and update permission in FACILITY class.

Follow these steps:

  1. Verify that user ZWESVUSR has read access.

    TSS WHOHAS IBMFAC(IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY)

  2. Add user ZWESVUSR permission to read.

    TSS PER(ZWESVUSR) IBMFAC(IRR.IDIDMAP.QUERY) ACCESS(READ)

Configure signed SAF Identity tokens (IDT)​

This section provides a brief description of how to configure SAF Identity tokens on z/OS so that they can be used by Zowe components like zss or API Mediation layer (Implement a new SAF IDT provider)

General steps are:

  1. Create PKCS#11 token
  2. Generate a secret key for the PKCS#11 token (you can use the sample program ZWESECKG in the SZWESAMP dataset)
  3. Define a SAF resource profile under the IDTDATA SAF resource class

Details with examples can be found in documentation of external security products:

  • RACF - Signed and Unsigned Identity Tokens and IDT Configuration subsections in z/OS Security Server RACROUTE Macro Reference book, link.
  • Top Secret - Maintain Identity Token (IDT) Records subsection in Administrating chapter, link.
  • ACF2 - IDTDATA Profile Records subsection in Administrating chapter, link.

A part of the Signed SAF Identity token configuration is a nontrivial step that has to generate a secret key for the PKCS#11 token. The secret key is generated in ICSF by calling the PKCS#11 Generate Secret Key (CSFPGSK) or Token Record Create (CSFPTRC) callable services. An example of the CSFPGSK callable service can be found in the SZWESAMP dataset as the ZWESECKG job.

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