Preview: IBM z/OS V1.7 and z/OS.e V1.7: World-class computing for On Demand Business
IBM United States Software Announcement 205-034February 15, 2005
 ENUS205-034.PDF (60KB)
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Overview
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| Overview |
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z/OS® and z/OS.e are designed to deliver world class computing for on demand business, positioning
the IBM 
zSeries® platform
as the enterprise data vault and interconnect point for business logic.
z/OS V1.7, planned to be available in September 2005, further strengthens the zSeries platform with enhancements designed to deliver increased availability of z/OS UNIX® System Services (z/OS UNIX), to support new security standards, and to improve enterprise-wide workload management.
Additional improvements in z/OS V1.7, as announced in Software Announcement 204-180 , dated August 10, 2004, include function intended to simplify z/OS with the integrated IBM Health Checker for z/OS and Sysplex, to provide enhanced z/OS UNIX file serving, and to provide high availability improvements for TCP/IP in a sysplex.
z/OS V1.7 can help improve security with new Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards that address the interaction of integrated IPSecurity (IPSec) and Network Address Translation (NAT). A new Dynamic Service Activation function can help provide improved availability for z/OS UNIX, and Unicode Services has also been designed to help provide improved availability.
Networking capabilities will be strengthened in z/OS V1.7. The z/OS Communications Server continues to enhance support for IPv6. Also, file transfers performed by the z/OS FTP client and server in z/OS V1.7 can be further checked for successful completion.
In an Enterprise Workload Manager (EWLM) environment, new interfaces can allow you to measure transaction performance across multiple tiers of a heterogeneous infrastructure. The existing enclave services have been enhanced and are intended to allow middleware applications such as DB2® Distributed Data Facility (DDF) to participate in EWLM with minor changes. For more information about EWLM, refer to Software Announcement 204-305 , dated December 14, 2004.
All statements apply to both z/OS and z/OS.e, unless stated otherwise.
Previews provide insight into IBM plans and direction. Availability, prices, ordering information,
and terms and conditions will be provided when the product is announced.
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| Key prerequisites |
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z/OS V1.7 runs on the following zSeries servers, or equivalents:
- z900
- z990
- z800
- z890
z/OS.e V1.7 runs on the following zSeries servers, or equivalents:
- z800
- z890
For a complete description of z/OS and z/OS.e V1.7 software prerequisites, refer to
z/OS and z/OS.e Planning for Installation
(GA22-7504).
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| Planned availability |
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September 2005
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| Description |
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A summary of some previously announced z/OS V1.7 capabilities found in Software Announcement 204-180 , dated August 10, 2004, is provided below, followed by details on additional improvements planned for the general availability of z/OS V1.7:
- Greater scalability with support for 32 processors in a single image, support for sequential and EXCP data sets larger than 65,535 tracks, more than 255 extents per VSAM component, and CICS® socket enhancements
- Application integration with enhancements to the zSeries File System (zFS) and ISO C99 support
- Enhanced security with Communications Server support for IP filtering, Internet Key Exchange (IKE), and Virtual Private network (VPN), without requiring the use of the Integrated Security Services Firewall Technologies
- Security Server (RACF®) support for mixed-case passwords
- Improved availability with TCP/IP Sysplex Autonomics and TCP/IP Sysplex operational enhancements
- Self-optimizing capabilities with Virtualization Engine™ support; new functions for WLM, including support for capacity on demand; System Logger and XRC+ optimization of duplexing log data; and Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex™ (GDPS™) enhancements
- Greater ease of use with the integration of IBM Health Checker for z/OS and Sysplex as a z/OS base function
Scalability
Scalability enhancements are planned to include:
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Scale up and scale out:
z/OS V1.6 currently allows you to scale up in a single logical partition from 1 processor to 24
with good scalability and to scale out in a Parallel Sysplex® for higher availability. IBM plans
to support up to 32 processors in a single logical partition on z990 servers on z/OS V1.6 in
June 2005. Scalability is expected to be good all the way from 1 processor to 32.
Notes
- This is based on internal IBM lab measurements.
- Performance data for this new function is planned to be published after general availability.
- When you are using the new zSeries Application Assist Processor (zAAP), which provides a specialized z/OS Java™ execution environment, the total number of processors defined in a z/OS logical partition is the sum of general purpose processors (CPs) and zSeries zAAPs.
- VSAM RLS 64-bit virtual can allow continued growth for applications using VSAM RLS.
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DFSMShsm™ scalability enhancements
are planned to:
- Extend Tape Table of Contents (TTOC) records to raise the DFSMShsm limit on the number of data sets per tape to support more than 330,000 data sets per volume. This can provide better DFSMShsm exploitation of new larger capacity tape cartridges by allowing over 1,000,000 data sets per migration or backup tape volume. ( Note: Other factors also affect the number of data sets that can be stored on a tape.)
- Support DFSMShsm journal data sets larger than 65,535 tracks. A larger journal data set can be used to allow more DFSMShsm activity to take place between journal backups and help avoid journal full conditions.
- DFSMSrmm™ is planned to support data sets larger than 65,535 tracks for the journal, journal backup, and certain temporary data sets. A larger journal data set can be used to allow more removable media activity to take place between journal backups and help avoid journal full conditions.
- DFSMSdss™ virtual storage constraint relief: DFSMSdss will be changed to exploit Format-1 Channel Command Words (CCWs) so that it can use storage obtained above the 16-MB line during EXCP processing. This can allow DFSMSdss to process more volumes during COPY and DUMP operations and can help improve performance.
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Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) Input Output Definition File (IODF) improvements:
With the requirement for more device definitions (for example, for Parallel Access Volumes and
Virtual Tape Subsystems), the number of devices is increasing rapidly in the IODF. A new IODF
format will be introduced that can allow larger configurations to be defined. This new format can
also reduce the amount of space used for existing configurations.
Also, HCD is expected to use less virtual storage and require less processing time for the same configuration, which can result in better performance. An upgrade function will be provided to change an existing V4 IODF into a new V5 IODF, and PTFs will be made available for lower-level systems to support activating Version 5 IODFs.
- XES locking constraint relief: XES is planned to support many more locks per lock structure connector. This can help provide constraint relief for workloads that obtain and hold large numbers of sysplex locks, such as SAP workloads using DB2. Support is also planned to be made available via PTF for z/OS V1.4, z/OS V1.5, and z/OS V1.6.
Application integration
Deploying applications quickly and easily is important. In z/OS V1.7, planned improvements in this area include hexadecimal floating point support for AMODE 64 C/C++ applications: z/OS XL C/C++ applications compiled using LP64 and FLOAT(HEX) are planned to be able to use the C/C++ run-time library math, numeric conversion, and formatted I/O functions that work with float, double, and long double data types. The initial C/C++ run-time library for AMODE 64 C/C++ applications on z/OS V1.6 provided floating point support for applications compiled using FLOAT(IEEE). This new support will complete IBM's planned floating point support within the C/C++ run-time library for AMODE 64 C/C++ applications.
Security
Planned improvements in security include:
- NAT Traversal: Interaction problems between IP Security (IPSec) and Network Address Translation (NAT) occur when IPSec is used to protect traffic that traverses a NAT device. New IETF standards address the interaction of IPSec and NAT. This support, known as NAT Traversal, is planned to be provided in z/OS Communications Server, and is intended to allow IPSec protected data to traverse a NAT device.
- Application Transparent TLS support in z/OS Communications Server will provide Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) as a function of the TCP/IP stack. Application Transparent TLS is designed to remove the need to provide support in each z/OS application, which can help reduce development and maintenance cost. This support is planned to be provided for C/C++, High Level Assembler (including z/OS UNIX support), COBOL, PL/I, REXX, CICS C sockets, and CICS and IMS™ CALL instructions. z/OS applications that use this support are intended to communicate with TLS/SSL enabled partners on z/OS and other operating systems.
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CICS Sockets and Application Transparent TLS:
Applications that use IP CICS Sockets will be able to take advantage of the Application Transparent
TLS support. A new CICS Listener configuration option is planned to be provided that can allow
listeners using this support to obtain the user ID associated with the connecting client, using the
client's digital certificate and a security manager, such as Security Server (RACF). This is
designed to allow remote clients to be authenticated without the need for passing user IDs and
passwords in application data streams.
In addition, the client's user ID can be associated with the child server transactions started by the CICS Listener, allowing access control to CICS resources to be performed based on the client's user ID.
Availability
Application and network availability are crucial to the success of your business. Planned enhancements in z/OS V1.7 to help you improve availability include:
- z/OS UNIX dynamic service activation: Many customers need 24x7 availability for all system components, including the z/OS UNIX kernel. Previously, an IPL was always required to refresh the kernel after installing maintenance. A new dynamic service activation function will be designed to provide a function not typically found on other UNIX platforms--continuous availability even when certain maintenance is applied. In some cases, this is designed to allow you to install z/OS UNIX service without an IPL.
- JES2 checkpoint problem recovery: JES2 is planned to be enhanced to detect and correct certain additional kinds of checkpoint control block corruption when JES2 is restarted. This can help prevent cold starts.
- Unicode control block problem recovery: Unicode Services will maintain a copy of certain critical control blocks, and compare them periodically to those in use. When a problem is found, Unicode Services will be designed to repair the in-use control blocks automatically without the need for an IPL.
- A new direct access device space management/Common VTOC Access Facility (DADSM/CVAF) device support address space is planned to be started during a system IPL. This recoverable and restartable address space can also support component trace for the DADSM and CVAF components, which can help allow First Failure Data Capture, and help improve availability and serviceability.
- IDCAMS FROMKEY/TOKEY support in REPRO MERGECAT is planned to help make it easier to move catalog entries from one catalog to another, which can make it easier to split catalogs and can help reduce recovery time for damaged catalogs.
Self-optimization
Self-optimization is important because it can help free you from having to manage system resources while making effective use of them. The following new self-optimizing capabilities are planned to be included in z/OS V1.7:
- OAM immediate recall to disk will implement the immediate recall of objects currently residing on removable media to DB2 for an installation-specified number of days. This can allow subsequent requests to read the objects from DB2 disk, rather than from a tape or optical volume. It can provide a significant performance improvement.
- New function for Resource Measurement Facility (RMF™): zFS support: RMF Monitor III is planned to provide overview and performance information about zFS file systems. You can use this information to help optimize cache sizes, monitor zFS-related I/O, and check zFS aggregate sizes.
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New functions for the Workload Manager (WLM):
- z/OS load balancing optimizations: WLM and TCP/IP Sysplex Distributor will be designed to work together to route work to systems that are achieving response time goals. DB2 Connect® will also use this new function. In addition, routing will be designed to be sensitive to resource shortages (such as reaching MAXDBAT in a DRDA® region).
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EWLM and ARM agent integration:
WLM will support the on demand operating environment (ODOE) initiative by allowing a z/OS system to
be an EWLM managed server. Also, a new set of application instrumentation interfaces for C and Java
programs is planned to be provided that is designed to follow the Open Group ARM standard.
In an EWLM environment these interfaces can allow you to measure transaction performance across multiple tiers of a heterogeneous infrastructure. Existing enclave services have been enhanced, and are now intended to allow middleware applications such as DB2 DDF to participate in EWLM with minor changes. For more information about EWLM, refer to Software Announcement 204-305 , dated December 14, 2004.
- System Logger is planned to provide new support for XRC+ by allowing you to choose asynchronous writes to staging data sets for logstreams. Previously, all writes had to be synchronous. This limited the throughput for high-volume logging applications, such as CICS and IMS. The ability to do asynchronous writes can allow the use of XRC for some applications for which it was not previously practical.
Networking
z/OS V1.7 is planned to include networking improvements in several areas:
- IPv6 advanced socket API: The IPv6 advanced socket API support provided in z/OS V1.4 is planned to be expanded to include additional API options defined in RFC3452. The new options include interfaces designed to allow applications to read and change information in IPv6 headers and extension headers. These API extensions are intended to be used by specialized network applications that require low-level controls over their communications. Services are provided in z/OS UNIX assembler callable services and C/C++ programs using the z/OS Language Environment®.
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z/OS Communications Server FTP
enhancements are planned:
- FTP Client API support for C/C++: New C/C++ header files and functions will be provided that can allow C/C++ applications to use the FTP Client API.
- FTP confidence of success level reporting: For certain types of transfers, the z/OS FTP client and server can be configured to perform additional checks and report a level of confidence that transfers have completed successfully. This is designed to provide an additional safeguard against data loss by including checks not provided for in the FTP protocol.
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Enterprise Extender (EE) and SNA
are planned to offer serviceability improvements:
- Autologon will provide a new VTAM® operator command to initiate autologon sessions for LUs with pending autologon requests. Additionally, enhancements to the Display Autologon command are planned to allow operators to determine which controlling applications and LUs no longer have sessions. These new operational enhancements can help provide a VTAM operator with an efficient way to determine whether autologon LUs have lost sessions with controlling applications, and can help make it easier to initiate logons for such applications.
- Model Cross Domain Resource (CDRSC) support will provide functional support for a CDRSC definition to be configured in a CDRSC major node. This will extend previously available predefined and dynamic CDRSC definitions. Support for models can provide many configuration benefits; for example, it can allow you to use fewer predefined CDRSCs.
- A new Display EEDIAG command will be provided to display performance-related information about EE connections, including the ability to display those experiencing excessive retransmission rates. This information will be able to be displayed on an interval basis, and can be helpful in determining whether problems exist in the network. It will also provide statistics that can help you tune EE timer operands (LIVTIME, SRQRETRY, and SRQTIME).
- Command to remove a generic resource: A new MODIFY GR operator command will be provided to delete the generic resource representation from the coupling facility. This can allow a USERVAR of the same name to be created.
- An update to an IBM statement of direction on SNA support in 2005: A statement of direction was issued in Software Announcement 204-180 , dated August 10, 2004, describing IBM's intent to introduce an SNA solution in 2005 that uses NCP (Network Control Program) software running within Linux™ on zSeries. This statement of direction is planned to be fulfilled in the first half of 2005 with the availability of the IBM Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries product.
Ease of use
z/OS continues to improve ease of use in many areas. z/OS V1.7 is planned to provide these usability improvements:
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DFSMShsm usability enhancements
are planned to help make DFSMShsm more efficient and easier to use. DFSMShsm will be designed to:
- Allow fast subsequent migration to apply to data sets that were migrated to ML2 without a valid backup copy. Tape Mount Management candidates often fall into this category.
- Allow an ABARS Aggregate to be defined without an INCLUDE statement.
- Eliminate multiple error messages that are sometimes issued when attempting to migrate already-migrated data sets.
- Change RECYCLE processing for connected sets so the first volume of the connected set need not meet the PERCENTVALID requirement, as long as the average for the connected sets meets the requirement.
These enhancements can allow storage administrators to be more productive, and can allow DFSMShsm to be more efficient and effective in space and availability management.
- Unicode dynamic table loading: Unicode support will be enhanced to dynamically load conversion tables on demand. This can help eliminate the setup tasks previously required for Unicode, including the CUNUNIxx parmlib member IMAGE statement updates. A new operator command will be provided that can allow tables to be added, removed, and replaced.
- OAM volume management stage 2 can help improve the efficiency and ease of use of tape management in OAM environments by providing a new dynamic exit point that can be used to notify tape management systems such as DFSMSrmm each time an OAM object tape volume has expired and can be returned to the tape scratch pool.
- System Managed Storage (SMS) will provide an operator command to change the SMS status of a volume. This will supplement the current method of changing an inactive configuration and activating it using ISMF. SMS will also provide new volume selection analysis messages for successful and failed allocations. These enhancements can help storage administrators more effectively maintain an efficient SMS environment.
- DFSMSrmm enterprise enablement: In z/OS V1.6, support was provided for a z/OS client and server and for class libraries for using the RMM API to issue RMM subcommands. In z/OS V1.7, this function will be enabled via Web services to allow it to be used on behalf of any application or platform in the enterprise. This is designed to allow the use of DFSMSrmm for managing all the removable media in an enterprise, including tapes, which can help you make better use of your tapes and other removable media.
- New function for the Hardware Configuration Manager (HCM) Check Configuration File will allow HCM users to check configuration files for structural consistency. This is intended to improve serviceability.
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| Statement of general direction |
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More detail on the items listed in this section can be found under the Statement of general direction topic in the Additional information section.
IBM plans to take the following actions effective with the general availability of z/OS V1.7:
- z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to allow mounting zSeries File System (zFS) file systems contained in multi-file system aggregates that are to be shared across systems in a sysplex. IBM has previously recommended that these multi-file system aggregates not be shared in a sysplex environment. Once this support has been removed, attempts to mount zFS file systems contained in multi-file system aggregates will fail in a z/OS UNIX System Services shared file system environment. Mounting zFS compatibility mode aggregates, which have a single file system per data set, will continue to be supported in all environments.
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z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to include the Firewall Technologies component of the
Integrated Security Services element. Many Firewall Technologies functions have been stabilized for
some time and can be replaced using comparable or better functions provided by or planned for
Communications Server, notably, IPSecurity. In addition, a functionally rich downloadable tool is
planned to replace the IPSecurity and IP Filtering configuration GUI support. The following
functions will be removed without replacement:
- FTP Proxy services
- Socks V4 services
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- RealAudio support
For more information about migration actions, refer to z/OS V1R7 Migration , when available.
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z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release in which z/OS Communications Server will support the
following functions, after which they will be removed from the product:
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TCP/IP configuration profile block definition statements:
- ASSORTEDPARMS
- ENDASSORTEDPARMS
- KEEPALIVEOPTIONS
- ENDKEEPALIVEOPTIONS
- PAGTSNMP subagent
- The option of defining parallel Enterprise Extender TGs by specifying multiple SAP addresses
- AnyNet®
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TCP/IP configuration profile block definition statements:
- z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to support 1-byte Console IDs. With z/OS V1.7, support for 1-byte Console IDs and external interfaces supporting migration console IDs will be removed from the WTO, WTOR, and MCSOPER macros; and from operator commands. Programs compiled using older versions of the macros will continue to work. In the release following z/OS V1.7, however, all 1-byte Console ID support will be completely removed.
IBM plans to take the following actions effective in 2005, or later: In an ongoing effort to simplify ordering, delivery, and installation of z/OS service, emphasis will continue to be on electronic delivery rather than physical shipment of service. The number of ordering interfaces will be reduced to establish a uniform service methodology and enable timely delivery of new function. The following change is being announced at this time:
Effective January 15, 2006, the S/390® Service Update Facility will be discontinued. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you begin using ShopzSeries or another service option before the above change takes effect. For more information on ShopzSeries, visit the ShopzSeries Web site at
Existing electronic worldwide fee services offerings that deliver z/OS software service will continue to provide electronic delivery via SoftwareXcel, Resolve.
In a future release, IBM plans to withdraw support for zFS multi-file system aggregates. When this support is withdrawn, only zFS compatibility mode aggregates will be supported. (A zFS compatibility mode aggregate has a single file system per data set.)
For more information, and for all previously announced statements of direction affecting z/OS V1.7 and future releases, visit
These statements represent current intentions of IBM.
Any reliance on these statements of direction are at the relying party's sole risk and will not create any liability or obligation for IBM.
All statements regarding IBM's plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice.
Business Partner information
If you are a Direct Reseller - System Reseller acquiring products from IBM, you may link directly to Business Partner information for this announcement. A PartnerWorld ID and password are required (use IBM ID).
BP Attachment for Announcement Letter 205-034
Trademarks
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| Additional information |
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Installation and customization
ProductPac® enhancements
- Allow you to include products from multiple zones
- Include a product currency report and a migration assistance report
The product currency report shows you whether the products that are installed on your system, based on your submitted Consolidated Software Inventory (CSI), are current or at the latest level available. It also provides the end-of-marketing and end-of-service dates of the products, if available. The migration assistance report provides you, by zone and FMID, the latest level of products available.
Functional withdrawals
As previously announced, support for these functions is planned to be withdrawn in z/OS® V1.7:
- ISAM data sets
- JOBCAT and STEPCAT JCL statements
- JES2 Compatibility Mode ($ACTIVATE and $DEACTIVATE)
- The OS/390® V2.10 level of the C/C++ compiler
- z/OS Communications Server support for OROUTED
For more information about these and future functional withdrawals, visit
Related information
TotalStorage® DS6000 and DS8000: z/OS V1.4 and above will support the TotalStorage DS6000 and DS8000, which offer a simplified storage management system. For zSeries and z/OS environments, these storage devices support a new 65,520 cylinder 3390 volume. This new volume option has a capacity of approximately 55.7 GB. It can help relieve addressing constraints, improve disk resource utilization, and improve storage administrator productivity by providing the ability to consolidate multiple disk volumes into a single address. These devices also use I/O priority information provided by the z/OS Workload Manager to manage the processing sequence of I/O operations.
These functions are available now on z/OS V1.4 and above. For information about the requirements for using these functions, refer to the DS6000 and DS8000 Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets. The PSP UPGRADE names are 1750DEVICE and 2107DEVICE.
For more information about IBM TotalStorage DS6000, refer to Hardware Announcement 104-384 , dated October 12, 2004 (IBM TotalStorage DS6000 series offers enterprise disk technology on a modular platform). For information about DS8000, refer to Hardware Announcement 104-383 , dated October 12, 2004 (IBM TotalStorage DS8000 Series Function Authorizations).
Cancellation of individual DFSMShsm™ tasks: This enhancement allows DFSMShsm users to cancel all active DFSMShsm data movement tasks, including ABARS tasks that process in their own address space. Previously, when you needed to cancel an active individual DFSMShsm data movement task, you had to bring down the entire DFSMShsm address space. Now an active data movement task can be cancelled without impacting other ongoing DFSMShsm activity. This enhancement will promote higher DFSMShsm availability and better end-user satisfaction.
This capability will be incorporated into z/OS V1.7. Support is planned to be made available via PTFs for z/OS V1.4 and higher in 2005.
IBM Virtualization Engine™ Enterprise Workload Manager for z/OS V1.1.0: IBM Virtualization Engine Enterprise Workload Manager for z/OS V1.1.0 (EWLM for z/OS) allows system administrators to define business-oriented performance objectives for workloads running across different platforms, and then view actual performance compared to those objectives. It provides the capability for z/OS to be a managed server for monitoring z/OS applications within EWLM. The z/OS managed server can be added to an existing Virtualization Engine EWLM domain that has a Domain Manager running on AIX®, OS/400®, Linux™, or Microsoft™ Windows™. For details, refer to Software Announcement 204-305 , dated December 14, 2004.
OSA-Express2: Large send support: z/OS Communications Server plans to exploit the OSA-Express2 Large Send feature that was announced in Hardware Announcement 104-346 , dated October 7, 2004. The OSA-Express2 Large Send feature, also referred to as TCP segmentation offload, can help improve performance by offloading outbound TCP segmentation processing from the host to the OSA-Express2 by employing a more efficient memory transfer into the OSA-Express2. The z/OS Communications Server support is planned for TCP/IP IPv4 traffic only. The z/OS support is planned for z/OS V1.7. A z/OS V1.6 PTF for this support is planned to be provided in the second quarter of 2005.
Unicode conversion techniques: This function, available with APAR OA08723 on December 17, 2004, allows users of Unicode Services to search conversion tables with greater granularity. Before this APAR, conversion requests would terminate when the technique search order specified on a conversion request did not exactly match the conversion tables in storage. With this function, character conversion requests will search additional conversion tables based on the different technique search orders specified.
The following PTFs are required:
z/OS release PTF number z/OS V1.4 UA14768 z/OS V1.5 UA14769 z/OS V1.6 UA14770
Internet delivery of ServerPac: Effective January 10, 2005, ShopzSeries, which provides an easy way to plan for and order z/OS platform software and service, was enhanced to add Internet delivery as a delivery option. ServerPac (z/OS, DB2®, CICS®, IMS™, WAS, NCP) is now available for Internet delivery for orders placed using ShopzSeries. The integration of ShopzSeries with the ServerPac dialogs provides a seamless experience for ordering and installing your ServerPac orders, while leveraging the automation capabilities of Internet delivery with new SMP/E functions.
Support for Internet delivery of ServerPac is an extension of existing capabilities to download products and service orders placed using ShopzSeries. Internet delivery provides ease of use advantages with its elimination of tape handling and automation of many operations for download and installation. ShopzSeries also provides you with the flexibility to download your orders either directly to z/OS or z/OS.e, or to a workstation used as an intermediate node.
For prerequisites and related planning information, visit
z/Series Electronic Service Agent™ (5655-F17): Electronic Service Agent is available to z/OS licensees at no additional charge. It can collect event and system inventory data and send it to IBM. While your IBM server is under warranty or being maintained under an IBM maintenance agreement, hardware error data can also be sent to IBM. This information is available to IBM service representatives and can help them diagnose problems and respond proactively to maintain high availability. Also, the software product and maintenance data collected can help you filter searches in the IBM Knowledge Data Base. To learn more about Electronic Service Agent, visit
Statement of general direction
IBM plans to take the following actions effective with the general availability of z/OS V1.7:
- z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to allow mounting zFS file systems contained in multi-file system aggregates that are to be shared across systems in a sysplex. IBM has previously recommended that these multi-file system aggregates not be shared in a sysplex environment. Once this support has been removed, attempts to mount zFS file systems contained in multi-file system aggregates will fail in a z/OS UNIX® shared file system environment. Mounting zFS compatibility mode aggregates, which have a single file system per data set, will continue to be supported in all environments.
-
z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to include the Firewall Technologies component of the
Integrated Security Services element. Many Firewall Technologies functions have been stabilized for
some time and can be replaced using comparable or better functions provided by or planned for
Communications Server, notably, IPSecurity. In addition, a functionally rich downloadable tool is
planned to replace the IPSecurity and IP Filtering configuration GUI support. The following
functions will be removed without replacement:
- FTP Proxy services
- Socks V4 services
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- RealAudio support
For more information about migration actions, refer to z/OS V1R7 Migration , when available.
-
z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release in which z/OS Communications Server will support the
following functions, after which they will be removed from the product:
-
TCP/IP configuration profile block definition statements:
- ASSORTEDPARMS
- ENDASSORTEDPARMS
- KEEPALIVEOPTIONS
- ENDKEEPALIVEOPTIONS
Equivalent capability is provided for the ASSORTEDPARMS statements by the GLOBALCONFIG, IPCONFIG, TCPCONFIG, and UDPCONFIG statements. Equivalent capability is provided for the KEEPALIVEOPTIONS statements by INTERVAL and SENDGARBAGE on the TCPCONFIG statement. For information on TCP profile and configuration statements, refer to z/OS Communications Server IP Configuration Reference .
- The SNMP Service Level Agreement (SLA) Version 1 MIB and the PAGTSNMP subagent. In z/OS V1.5, Communications Server provided a new SNMP SLA Version 2 MIB and NSLAPM2 subagent. IBM recommends that you migrate to the new Version 2 MIB and NSLAPM2.
- The option of defining parallel Enterprise Extender TGs by specifying multiple SAP addresses. Beginning in z/OS V1.5, parallel EE TGs may be defined by using different EE VIPAs on one (or both) of the endpoints.
- AnyNet®. You may implement other IBM solutions such as Enterprise Extender (EE) as a replacement for AnyNet.
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TCP/IP configuration profile block definition statements:
- z/OS V1.7 is planned to be the last release to support 1-byte Console IDs. With z/OS V1.7, support for 1-byte Console IDs and external interfaces supporting migration console IDs will be removed from the WTO, WTOR, and MCSOPER macros; and from operator commands. Programs compiled using older versions of the macros will continue to work. In the release following z/OS V1.7, however, all 1-byte Console ID support will be completely removed.
IBM plans to take the following actions effective in 2005 or later:
In an ongoing effort to simplify ordering, delivery, and installation of z/OS service, emphasis will continue to be on electronic delivery rather than physical shipment of service. The number of ordering interfaces will be reduced to establish a uniform service methodology and enable timely delivery of new function. The following change is being announced at this time:
Effective January 15, 2006, the S/390® Service Update Facility will be discontinued. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you begin using ShopzSeries or another service option before the above change takes effect. For more information on ShopzSeries, visit the ShopzSeries Web site at
Existing electronic worldwide fee services offerings that deliver z/OS software service will continue to provide electronic delivery via SoftwareXcel, Resolve.
In a future release, IBM plans to withdraw support for zFS multi-file system aggregates. When this support is withdrawn, only zFS compatibility mode aggregates will be supported. (A zFS compatibility mode aggregate has a single file system per data set.)
For more information, and for all previously announced statements of direction affecting z/OS V1.7 and future releases, visit
These statements represent current intentions of IBM.
Any reliance on these statements of direction are at the relying party's sole risk and will not create any liability or obligation for IBM.
Important Web sites
- z/OS Web site:
- z/OS.e Web site:
- General Q & A:
- Previously announced statements of direction:
- IBM zSeries Internet Library:
- Descriptions of courses worldwide:
- z/OS Downloads:
- CustomPac:
- ShopzSeries:
Reference information
- Software Announcement 204-180 , dated August 10, 2004 (IBM z/OS V1.6: Integrating new applications and Preview: z/OS V1.7)
- Software Announcement 204-305 , dated December 14, 2004 (IBM Virtualization Engine Enterprise Workload Manager for z/OS V1.1.0)
- Hardware Announcement 104-384 , dated October 12, 2004 (IBM TotalStorage DS6000 series offers enterprise disk technology on a modular platform)
- Hardware Announcement 104-346 , dated October 7, 2004 (Significant IBM zSeries mainframe security, SAN, and LAN innovations)
Customized offerings: Most product media is shipped only via Customized Offerings (for example, CBPDO, ServerPac, SystemPac®). Non-customized items (CDs, DVDs, and publications) will continue to be shipped via the stand-alone product.
Trademarks
