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Driver

Control Software

Enhanced Definition

In the z/OS context, a driver refers to a specialized software component or interface program that facilitates communication, control, or data exchange between an application and a specific resource, service, or external system. It acts as an abstraction layer, providing a standardized way for applications to interact with diverse targets without needing to understand their low-level complexities.

Key Characteristics

- Abstraction Layer: Hides the intricate details of interacting with a particular resource (e.g., database, network protocol, external API) from the application developer, simplifying programming.
- Standardized Interface: Provides a consistent set of functions or APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that applications can call, regardless of the target's internal implementation.
- Resource-Specific Logic: Contains the necessary logic to translate generic application requests into specific commands, protocols, or data formats understood by the target resource.
- Connectivity Management: Often handles the establishment and termination of connections, session management, data marshalling/unmarshalling, and basic error handling.
- Performance Optimization: May incorporate techniques like connection pooling, buffering, or caching to enhance the efficiency and throughput of interactions.
- Security Integration: Can embed security mechanisms for authentication, authorization, and data encryption (e.g., SSL/TLS) when accessing protected resources.

Use Cases

- Database Connectivity: Software components that enable COBOL or PL/I applications to connect and interact with DB2 or IMS databases, abstracting SQL or DL/I call interfaces.
- Middleware Integration: Interfaces like IMS Connect or CICS Transaction Gateway that act as "drivers" for external applications (e.g., Java, .NET) to invoke IMS transactions or CICS programs on z/OS.
- Messaging Systems: Client libraries for IBM MQ (formerly MQSeries) that allow z/OS applications to send and receive messages from MQ queues, handling the underlying messaging protocol.
- API Gateways/Connectors: Software that enables z/OS applications to consume or expose REST or SOAP web services, acting as a bridge or "driver" for these internet protocols.
- Batch Job Orchestration: A COBOL or PL/I program that acts as a "driver" by sequentially calling