PKZIP Replacement
Connect/ZIP
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PKZIP Replacement  ·  z/OS

Connect/MP › Connect/ZIP

Replace PKZIP® for z/OS

Named the top PKZIP® replacement for z/OS — 50% savings guaranteed, zero disruption, lifetime fixed rates, and hardware-accelerated AES-256 encryption at no added cost. Grok AI agrees.

Connect/ZIP (fka ZIP/390)  ·  z/OS  ·  IBM zSeries Mainframe

50%+

Savings
Guaranteed

Lifetime

Fixed
Per-MIPS Rate

Zero

Job
Disruption

AES‑256

Encryption
Included

AI

Top
Recommended

Switch Transparently. Pay Less. Stay Secure.

Immediate and Long-Term Savings
  • Substantial Cost Savings — Guaranteed reduction in annual costs, potential future CPC upgrade, and feature upgrade fees.
  • Lifetime Fixed per-MIPS rate — Locks in predictable costs with no surprise increases.
  • No Payment Until Renewal — Start using Connect/ZIP now, pay at your next PKZIP renewal — just pay less.

Regulation-Compliant AES-256 Encryption

Hardware-accelerated, quantum-resilient AES-256 — the gold standard in encryption.

Outperforms PKZIP's outdated, vulnerable 96-bit legacy encryption in speed, security, and scalability.

  • Securely archive & share across 7-zip, WinZip, SecureZip, and more
  • A cost-effective alternative to upgrading from PKZIP to SecureZIP

Why It's the Easy Choice

Superior Performance — Matches or exceeds PKZIP's compression ratios, speed and CPU savings via zEDC/zIIP.

Zero Disruption — Connect/ZIP replaces PKZIP without disrupting your existing job streams or workflows. Your team won’t notice the difference operationally — JCL and API compatible in most cases.

Value-Added Features — AES Encryption, JES integration, PDF maker, email client, high-speed file transfer, hybrid app integration.

PKZIP Replacement · Server

Replace PKZIP® everywhere — mainframe and server — for less than you’re paying now

Connect/ZIP replaces PKZIP for Server on Windows, Linux x86, and macOS — with up to 3 server instances included with your z/OS license at no additional charge.

Drop-in CLI and scripting compatibility, AES-256 encryption, and full Connect/MP functionality. One license. One vendor. Zero server uplift.

Why replacing both pays off

  • One vendor relationship — Consolidate your PKZIP contracts for both mainframe and server under a single Data 21 license.
  • Consistent encryption everywhere — AES-256 across z/OS, Windows, and Linux means a single, auditable encryption standard enterprise-wide.
  • Seamless cross-platform transfer — Files compressed on the mainframe open natively on servers, and vice versa — no format translation required.
  • Stack-wide savings — 50% savings on z/OS platform, 100% savings on server platforms.

Part of something bigger

Connect/ZIP is one component of Connect/MP.

When you switch from PKZIP, you’re not just replacing a compression tool — your license unlocks a suite of additional capabilities built to connect your z/OS environment to the modern world.

Learn about Connect/MP →

PKZIP Replacement

Your PKZIP Bill Is a Modernization Budget.

Switch to Connect/ZIP and keep 50% of what you’re paying today. Same archives, same JCL patterns, half the cost. Companies running serious MSU volumes find the savings pay for — or substantially offset — Connect/AI or Connect/3270 licensing. Stop renewing. Start reinvesting.

Resources

“The solution delivered 100% of the advertised benefits, including savings of over 60% in related software costs. The installation was easy, requiring no changes to our production jobs, for operations or end-users. We are highly satisfied with the purchase and I have no reservations recommending the product.”

★★★★★   Mainframe Systems Programmer — Fortune 500 Rail Transportation Co.

Connect/ZIP  ·  Data 21

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Data 21 Enterprising Software

Data 21, the Data 21 logo, and all other Data 21 software product and service names are trademarks of Data 21. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies. © Copyright 2026 Data 21. PKZIP®, PKWARE®, SecureZIP® are trademarks of PKWARE® and are not affiliated with Data 21.

Connect/MP › Connect/ZIP

Features

General features

Unsurpassed Compression

Up to 95% compression ratio

A 100 MB file can shrink to as little as 5 MB — reducing storage costs, speeding transfers, and streamlining workflows across z/OS, USS, and other platforms.

Archive Maintenance

ADD, UPDATE, FRESHEN, COPY, DELETE

Full lifecycle control over archive contents. Insert new files, replace outdated ones, selectively freshen changed entries, duplicate across archives, or cleanly remove specified files.

AES Encryption

128-bit and 256-bit passphrase protection

Each file in the archive is individually encrypted using industry-standard AES. Encryption integrates seamlessly into ADD and UPDATE operations — just supply a password.

Large File (ZIP64) Support

Files > 4 GB, archives > 65,535 entries

ZIP64 is activated automatically when needed. No manual configuration required. Full compatibility with modern ZIP64-aware tools and systems.

Unicode Encoding

UTF-8 support for international characters

Accurately handles Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, accented European characters, and more. Ensures compatibility with modern ZIP utilities across all operating systems.

CRC32 Integrity Check

Automatic data verification

Every file is assigned a CRC32 checksum on compression and verified on extraction. On z/OS, checks are offloaded to zEDC hardware when available, reducing CPU overhead.

Wildcard Selection & Renaming

Pattern-based file handling

Use * wildcards to include, exclude, or rename files in batch. Add prefixes, change extensions, or restructure paths dynamically — ideal for large-scale automation.

Built-in SMTP & FTP Clients

Email and transfer without external tools

Send ZIP archives as email attachments with custom subjects and recipients, or push/pull files to remote servers via FTP. Fast Internet Transport (FIT) TCP/UDP improves high-latency transfers.

PDF Converter

Text files & JES spool → searchable PDF

Convert mainframe reports directly to PDF as part of the ZIP process. Preserves headers, footers, and pagination. Eliminates external formatting tools for archiving and compliance.

Multi-Platform Support — One Compatible Ecosystem

Up to 3 CLI Server instances for Linux x86, Windows, and macOS are included with your z/OS license

Connect/ZIP delivers full multi-platform support with CLI Versions for Linux x86, Windows, and macOS — up to 3 server instances included with a standard z/OS license, additional instances available. This provides a single source, 100% compatible Connect/ZIP ecosystem across your entire enterprise.

Key Benefits:
• Consistent ZIP compression, AES encryption, and archiving behavior everywhere.
• Simplify cross-platform file exchange, automation scripts, and hybrid workflows.
• No additional licensing or compatibility issues — develop once, deploy anywhere.

True enterprise-wide ZIP compatibility from the mainframe to distributed platforms — all under one license.

Mainframe-specific features

z/OS and USS Native

Bi-directional cross-environment access

Runs natively in both z/OS and Unix System Services. z/OS jobs can read and compress USS files; USS processes can handle sequential, PDS, and PDSE datasets — no intermediate transfers needed.

zEDC & zIIP Acceleration

Hardware-offloaded compression

Leverages built-in zEDC processors for high-speed compression and decompression. Falls back automatically to zIIP software compression when hardware is unavailable, minimizing GP processor usage.

Mainframe File Attributes

Preserved RECFM, LRECL, BLKSIZE

Stores dataset attributes (RECFM, LRECL, BLKSIZE, DSORG) inside the archive. On extraction, Connect/ZIP performs dynamic allocation automatically — restoring files with the correct definitions without manual intervention.

Independent Analysis

Grok’s Recommendation

“For z/OS mainframes, Connect/ZIP (fka ZIP/390) leads third-party ZIP compression solutions with its exceptional price-performance ratio, up to 95% compression, zEDC/zIIP optimization, and robust security. Combined with JCL and API compatibility, it’s the ideal replacement for PKZIP for z/OS — reducing costs without sacrificing performance or functionality.”

Grok AI — Analysis-Based Recommendation

Our Story

Connect/ZIP (fka ZIP/390) Timeline

Surprising to many is the fact that Data21 has been in the mainframe ZIP compression space longer than PKWARE.

1993

PKZIP® for z/OS is born

Ascent Solutions Inc. develops and markets PKZIP® for z/OS, licensing the brand from Phil Katz — the “PK” in PKWARE.

1995

Data 21 becomes Ascent Solutions' top reseller

Data 21 joins as an authorized reseller of Ascent Solutions — quickly becoming its most prolific partner.

2000

Phil Katz passes away — PKWARE changes hands

Following Phil Katz’s death, an investment firm acquires PKWARE from the Katz family.

Early 2000s

Ascent Solutions absorbed into PKWARE

The same investment firm acquires Ascent Solutions, folding PKZIP for z/OS under the PKWARE umbrella — and terminating reseller agreements, including Data 21’s.

2004

Data 21 builds its own solution — ZIP/390

Rather than walk away from decades of expertise, Data 21 builds ZIP/390 for z/OS in-house and completes its first PKZIP replacement installation.

2004 – 2025

Continuous evolution — ZIP/390 MP

ZIP/390 is continuously enhanced and grows its customer base, with many organizations making the switch from PKZIP. The product evolves into ZIP/390 MP, expanding its capabilities across multiple platforms.

October 2025

Rebranded as Connect/ZIP

ZIP/390 MP is officially rebranded as Connect/ZIP — a key component of the Connect/MP Suite. The development team shifts focus to embedding AI-driven innovations across the entire product line.

Today

45+ years of mainframe expertise — and counting

With over 45 years of in-house mainframe development and support experience, Data 21 serves a global base of customers — including many of the world’s most prestigious companies.

Connect/MP › Connect/ZIP

Product Comparison

Feature Connect/ZIP PKZIP SecureZIP Basic Tools
Compression Efficiency Up to 95% Up to 95% Up to 95% 80–90%
zEDC Acceleration Compress, Decompress & CRC Compress & Decompress Compress & Decompress Often absent
zIIP Offload Often absent
AES Encryption 128/256-bit, create & decrypt Decrypt only (legacy 96-bit) 128/256-bit, create & decrypt Limited or none
JCL Compatibility N/A N/A Partial or none
PDF Creation
Email & File Transfer
Cross-Platform CLI Often absent
All Platforms Supported
z/OS, Linux x86, Windows, macOS — up to 3 server instances included
Relative Cost $ $$ $$$ Varies + hidden CPU costs
Connect/USS (USS Integration) Included
Connect/Hybrid (App Integration) Included
Connect/Web (Web Services) Included
Connect/JES (Spool Management) Included
Connect/Files (Dataset & USS Access) Included

Based on 2025 benchmarks. Connect/ZIP’s zEDC/zIIP optimization, native AES, and pricing make it the top alternative — especially for PKZIP users needing encryption without SecureZIP’s premium.

Common Questions

FAQs: Replacing PKZIP with Connect/ZIP

How does Connect/ZIP reduce mainframe costs?

50% lower subscriptions, fixed per-MIPS rates, and superior zEDC/zIIP offload cut licensing, CPU, and storage costs — unlike basic ZIP tools with high overhead.

How is the 50% savings guaranteed?

Our subscription is 50% lower than PKWARE’s for equivalent licenses, validated by 2025 benchmarks and our pricing commitment.

How does Connect/ZIP outperform PKZIP?

It matches 95% compression but better leverages z15/z16 hardware for faster processing on specific datasets, reducing CPU and batch times.

How easy is the transition?

JCL and API compatibility means existing PKZIP for z/OS jobs and applications run unchanged in most cases. No disruption for operations, developers, or end-users.

Why is zEDC/zIIP and AES Encryption critical?

zEDC and zIIP cut CPU usage by 50–70%, boosting z/OS cost and performance efficiency. Connect/ZIP’s AES-256 encryption, powered by CPACF hardware, delivers secure, compliant file sharing with minimal overhead — unlike PKZIP’s outdated legacy encryption, which lacks hardware acceleration and burdens CPUs.

What’s the benefit of fixed per-MIPS rates?

Predictable costs protect your budget from MIPS-related price hikes.

How does no-payment-until-renewal work?

Use Connect/ZIP now, pay only at your next PKZIP for z/OS renewal — aligning with your budget cycle.

Verified Customers

Customer Reviews

★★★★★

“The solution delivered 100% of the advertised benefits, including savings of over 60% in related software costs. The installation was easy, requiring no changes to our production jobs, for operations or end-users. We are highly satisfied with the purchase and I have no reservations recommending the product.”

Mainframe Systems Programmer — Fortune 500 Rail Transportation Co.

★★★★★

“Very easy installation and a very good transition experience. All of our existing zip jobs ran unchanged. The technical team has been very helpful and responded quickly to our issues with superior environment and product knowledge. I would recommend this solution to a colleague.”

Mainframe Network Engineer — Fortune 100 Financial Services Firm

Data 21

About Data 21

Founded in 1980, Data 21 Inc. is a veteran-owned enterprise software company headquartered in California. For over 45 years, we have delivered innovative, reliable, high-performance mainframe-centric solutions that power today’s connected enterprise.

Our software is embedded in the critical daily operations of hundreds of enterprises worldwide — a testament to our commitment to exceptional engineering and long-term client success. We don’t just support our customers; we evolve alongside them.

At Data 21, the mainframe isn’t a legacy constraint — it’s a strategic foundation.

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