An RSP allows a client application to access data and services on the mainframe. Workstation users or client applications on the LAN use RSPs to send requests through DirectConnect for OS/390 (hereafter called DirectConnect), optionally, using MainframeConnect for DB2 UDB (hereafter called MainframeConnect), and directly using TCP/IP.
An RSP uses standard CICS command-level services to perform its processing. It can receive arguments or data sent from the client and generate results to return to the client. You can write an RSP to do one or more of the following:
Access DB2 data or other relational databases (such as ADABAS), statically or dynamically
For example, an RSP can update all relevant host tables with a changed part number. In this case, the RSP contains multiple UPDATE statements targeted to each table.
Access non-relational data (such as VSAM, IDMS, or IMS)
For example, an RSP could retrieve data from IMS and deliver it to the workstation, where the client application converts it into an appropriate format.
Invoke other CICS programs
Schedule other CICS tasks for execution
Issue RSP commands
Access temporary storage or transient data queues
