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IBM Z/OS

The IBMz/OS DSM collects events from an IBM z/OS mainframe that uses IBM Security zSecure.

When you use a zSecure process, events from the System Management Facilities (SMF) can be transformed into Log Event Extended Format (LEEF) events. These events can be sent near real-time by using UNIX Syslog protocol or JSA can collect the LEEF event log files by using the Log File protocol and then process the events. When you use the Log File protocol, you can schedule JSA to collect events on a polling interval, which enables JSA to collect the events on the schedule that you define.

To collect IBMz/OS events, complete the following steps:

  1. Verify that your installation meets any prerequisite installation requirements.

  2. Configure your IBM z/OS image to write events in LEEF format.

  3. Create a log source in JSA for IBM z/OS.

  4. If you want to create a custom event property for IBM z/OS in JSA,for more information, see the JSA Custom Event Properties for IBM z/OS technical note.

Before You Begin

Before you can configure the data collection process, you must complete the basic zSecure installation process and complete the post-installation activities to create and modify the configuration.

The following prerequisites are required:

  • You must ensure parmlib member IFAPRDxx is enabled for IBM Security zSecure Audit on your z/OS image.

  • The SCKRLOAD library must be APF-authorized.

  • If you are using the direct SMF INMEM real-time interface, you must have the necessary software installed and set up the SMFPRMxx member to include the INMEM keyword and parameters. If you decide to use the CDP interface, you must also have CDP installed and running.

  • You must configure a process to periodically refresh your CKFREEZE and UNLOAD data sets.

  • If you are using the Log File protocol method, you must configure a SFTP, FTP, or SCP server on your z/OS image for JSA to download your LEEF event files.

  • If you are using the Log File protocol method, you must allow SFTP, FTP, or SCP traffic on firewalls that are located between JSA and your z/OS image.

For instructions on installing and configuring zSecure, see the IBM Security zSecure Suite: CARLa-Driven Components Installation and Deployment Guide.

Create a Log Source for Near Real-time Event Feed

The Syslog protocol enables JSA to receive System Management Facilities (SMF) events in near real-time from a remote host.

The following DSMs are supported:

  • IBM z/OS

  • IBM CICS

  • IBM RACF

  • IBM DB2

  • CA Top Secret

  • CA ACF2

If JSA does not automatically detect the log source, add a log source for your DSM on the JSA console.

The following table describes the parameters that require specific values for event collection for your DSM:

Table 1: Log Source Parameters

Parameter

Value

Log Source type

Select your DSM name from the list.

Protocol Configuration

Syslog

Log Source Identifier

Type a unique identifier for the log source.

Creating a Log Source for Log File Protocol

The Log File protocol enables JSA to retrieve archived log files from a remote host for the IBM z/OS, IBM CICS, IBM RACF, IBM DB2, CA Top Secret, and CA ACF2 DSM's.

Log files are transferred, one at a time, to JSA for processing. The Log File protocol can manage plain text event logs, compressed files, or archives. Archives must contain plain-text files that can be processed one line at a time. Multi-line event logs are not supported by the Log File protocol. IBM z/OS with zSecure writes log files to a specified directory as gzip archives. JSA extracts the archive and processes the events, which are written as one event per line in the file.

To retrieve these events, you must create a log source that uses the Log File protocol. JSA requires credentials to log in to the system that hosts your LEEF formatted event files and a polling interval.

  1. Log in to JSA.

  2. Click the Admin tab.

  3. Click the Log Sources icon.

  4. Click Add.

  5. In the Log Source Name field, type a name for the log source.

  6. In the Log Source Description field, type a description for the log source.

  7. From the Log Source Type list, select your DSM name.

  8. From the Protocol Configuration list, select Log File.

  9. Configure the Log File protocol parameters.

    The following table describes the parameters that require specific values for the DSM event collection:

    Table 2: Log File Protocol Parameters

    Parameter

    Value

    Log Source Identifier

    Type an IP address, host name, or name to identify the event source. IP addresses or host names are suggested as they allow JSA to identify a log file to a unique event source.

    For example, if your network contains multiple devices, such as multiple z/OS images or a file repository that contains all of your event logs, you must specify a name, IP address, or host name for the image or location that uniquely identifies events for the DSM log source. This specification enables events to be identified at the image or location level in your network that your users can identify.

    Service Type

    From the Service Type list, select the protocol that you want to use when retrieving log files from a remote server. The default is SFTP.

    • SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol

    • FTP - File Transfer Protocol

    • SCP - Secure Copy

    The underlying protocol that is used to retrieve log files for the SCP and SFTP service type requires that the server that is specified in the Remote IP or Hostname field has the SFTP subsystem enabled.

    Remote IP or Hostname

    Type the IP address or host name of the device that stores your event log files.

    Remote Port

    Type the TCP port on the remote host that is running the selected Service Type. The valid range is 1 - 65535.

    The options include ports:

    • FTP - TCP Port 21

    • SFTP - TCP Port 22

    • SCP - TCP Port 22

    If the host for your event files is using a non-standard port number for FTP, SFTP, or SCP, you must adjust the port value.

    Remote User

    Type the user name or user ID necessary to log in to the system that contains your event files.

    • If your log files are on your IBM z/OS image, type the user ID necessary to log in to your IBM z/OS. The user ID can be up to 8 characters in length.

    • If your log files are on a file repository, type the user name necessary to log in to the file repository. The user name can be up to 255 characters in length.

    Remote Password

    Type the password necessary to log in to the host.

    Confirm Password

    Confirm the password necessary to log in to the host.

    SSH Key File

    If you select SCP or SFTP as the Service Type, this parameter gives you the option to define an SSH private key file. When you provide an SSH Key File, the Remote Password field is ignored.

    Remote Directory

    Type the directory location on the remote host from which the files are retrieved, relative to the user account you are using to log in.

    Recursive

    If you want the file pattern to search sub folders in the remote directory, select this check box. By default, the check box is clear.

    If you configure SCP as the Service Type, the Recursive option is ignored.

    FTP File Pattern

    If you select SFTP or FTP as the Service Type, you can configure the regular expression (regex) needed to filter the list of files that are specified in the Remote Directory. All matching files are included in the processing.

    The IBM z/OS mainframe that uses IBM Security zSecure Audit writes event files by using the pattern: <product_name>.<timestamp>.gz

    The FTP file pattern that you specify must match the name that you assigned to your event files. For example, to collect files that start with zOS and end with .gz, type the following code:

    zOS.*\.gz

    Use of this parameter requires knowledge of regular expressions (regex). For more information about regex, see Lesson: Regular Expressions. (http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/regex/)

    FTP Transfer Mode

    This option displays only if you select FTP as the Service Type. From the list, select Binary.

    The binary transfer mode is needed for event files that are stored in a binary or compressed format, such as zip, gzip, tar, or tar+gzip archive files.

    SCP Remote File

    If you select SCP as the Service Type you must type the file name of the remote file.

    Start Time

    Type the time of day you want the processing to begin. For example, type 00:00 to schedule the Log File protocol to collect event files at midnight.

    This parameter functions with the Recurrence value to establish when and how often the Remote Directory is scanned for files. Type the start time, based on a 24-hour clock, in the following format: HH: MM.

    Recurrence

    Type the frequency, beginning at the Start Time, that you want the remote directory to be scanned. Type this value in hours (H), minutes (M), or days (D).

    For example, type 2H if you want the remote directory to be scanned every 2 hours from the start time. The default is 1H.

    Run On Save

    If you want the Log File protocol to run immediately after you click Save, select this check box.

    After the Run On Save completes, the Log File protocol follows your configured start time and recurrence schedule.

    Selecting Run On Save clears the list of previously processed files for the Ignore Previously Processed File parameter.

    EPS Throttle

    Type the number of Events Per Second (EPS) that you do not want this protocol to exceed. The valid range is 100 - 5000.

    Processor

    From the list, select gzip.

    Processors enable event file archives to be expanded and contents are processed for events. Files are processed after they are downloaded to JSA. JSA can process files in zip, gzip, tar, or tar+gzip archive format.

    Ignore Previously Processed File(s)

    Select this check box to track and ignore files that are already processed by the Log File protocol.

    JSA examines the log files in the remote directory to determine whether a file is previously processed by the Log File protocol. If a previously processed file is detected, the Log File protocol does not download the file for processing. All files that are not previously processed are downloaded.

    This option applies only to FTP and SFTP service types.

    Change Local Directory?

    Select this check box to define a local directory on your JSA for storing downloaded files during processing.

    It is suggested that you leave this check box clear. When this check box is selected, the Local Directory field is displayed, which gives you the option to configure the local directory to use for storing files.

    Event Generator

    From the Event Generator list, select LineByLine.

    The Event Generator applies more processing to the retrieved event files. Each line is a single event. For example, if a file has 10 lines of text, 10 separate events are created.

  10. Click Save.

  11. On the Admin tab, click Deploy Changes.

    The DSM configuration is complete. If your DSM requires custom event properties, see the JSA Custom Event Properties for IBM z/OS technical note.

IBM zOS Sample Event Message

Use this sample event message to verify a successful integration with JSA.

Note:

Due to formatting issues, paste the message format into a text editor and then remove any carriage return or line feed characters.

IBM zOS sample message when you use the Syslog protocol

The following sample event message shows event summary information.

Table 3: JSA field names and highlighted values in the IBM zOS event payload

JSA field name

Highlighted values in the event payload

Event Category

z/OS

Event ID

119-12

Event Summary (custom)

Connection initiation TLSv1.1 AES-CBC-128 server RSA-1024 client RSA-1024 local port 3000 CN=COM1,OU=ORG1,O=IBM,C=US

Source IP

172.16.0.1

Source Port

1000

Destination IP

172.16.0.2

Destination Port

3000

Username

User01