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Installing Node.js on z/OS

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Before you install Zoweâ„¢, you must install IBM SDK for Node.js on the same z/OS server that hosts the Zowe Application Server. Review the information in this topic to obtain and install Node.js.

Supported Node.js versions#

The following Node.js versions are supported to run Zowe. See the Hardware and software prerequisites section for the prerequisites that are required by Zowe.

The corresponding IBM Knowledge Center for Node.js - z/OS lists all the prerequisites for Node.js. Some software packages, which might be listed as prerequisites there, are NOT required by Zowe. Specifically, you do NOT need to install Python, Make, Perl, or C/C++ runtime or compiler. If you can run node --version successfully, you have installed the prerequisites required by Zowe.

  • v6.x starting with v6.14.4

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

  • v8.x (except v8.16.1)

    • z/OS V2R2: PTFs UI62788, UI46658, UI62416 (APARs PH10606, PI79959, PH10740)

    • z/OS V2R3: PTFs UI61308, UI61376, and UI61747 (APARs PH07107, PH08353, and PH09543)

      Known issue: There is a known issue with node.js v8.16.1 and Zowe desktop encoding. See the GitHub issue 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.

  • v12.x

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 edition through your IBM representative for production use
  • Use the PAX evaluation edition for non-production deployments

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

Hardware and software prerequisites#

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

The corresponding IBM Knowledge Center for Node.js - z/OS lists all the prerequisites for Node.js. Some software packages, which might be listed as prerequisites there, are NOT required by Zowe. Specifically, you do NOT need to install Python, Make, Perl, or C/C++ runtime or compiler.

If you can run node --version successfully, you have installed the Node.js prerequisites required by Zowe.

Hardware:

IBM zEnterprise® 196 (z196) or newer

Software:

  • z/OS UNIX System Services enabled

  • Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) configured and started

    ICSF is required for Node.js to operate successfully on z/OS. If you have not configured your z/OS environment for ICSF, see z/OS Cryptographic Services ICSF Administrators Guide. To see whether ICSF has been started, check whether the started task ICSF or CSF is active.

Installing the PAX edition of Node.js - z/OS#

Follow these steps to install the PAX edition of Node.js - z/OS to run Zowe.

  1. Download the pax.Z file 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.

Installing the SMP/E edition of Node.js - z/OS#

To install the SMP/E edition 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.

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