VM (Virtual Machine) has long been recognized as a robust computing platform, spanning the family of IBM mainframe servers.

z/VM offers a base for customers who want to exploit IBM virtualization technology on one of the industry’s bestof- breed server environments, the IBM System z™ family. With virtualization technology, customers can easily create many virtual machines consisting of virtualized processor, communications, storage, networking, and I/O resources.

The z/VM hypervisor is designed to help clients extend the business value of mainframe technology across the enterprise by integrating applications and data while providing exceptional levels of availability, security, and operational ease. z/VM virtualization technology is designed to allow the capability for clients to run hundreds to thousands of Linux servers on a single mainframe running with other System z operating systems, such as z/OS(R), or as a large-scale Linux-only enterprise server solution. z/VM V5.3 can also help to improve productivity by hosting non-Linux workloads such as z/OS, z/VSE, and z/TPF.

A series of announcements for z/VM builds on more than 35 years of VM innovation:

z/VM information
z/VM V5.3 resources
z/VM V5.3 General Information manual 02-2008
z/VM Reference Guide 02-2008
z/VM V5.2 resources
z/VM V5.2 General Information manual

z/VM V5.3 is designed to offer:

• Improved scalability and constraint relief
  • Support for more than 128 GB real storage
  • Up to 32 real processors in a single z/VM image
  • Enhanced memory management for Linux guest
  • Enhanced memory utilization using VMRM between z/VM and Linux guests
  • HyperPAV support for IBM System Storage DS8000
  • Enhanced FlashCopy support
• Virtualization technology and Linux enablement
  • Support for IBM System z specialty engines (processors)
  • Enhanced VSWITCH and guest LAN usability
  • Modified Indirect Data Address Words (MIDAWs) for guests
  • Guest ASCII console support
  • Enhanced SCSI support
• Network virtualization
  • Improved virtual network management
  • Enhanced failover support for IPv4 and IPv6 devices
  • Virtual IP Address (VIPA) support for IPv6
• Security
  • Delivery of LDAP server and client
  • Enhanced system security with longer passwords
  • Conformance with industry standards
  • SSL server enhancements
  • Tape data protection with support for encryption
• Systems management
  • Enhanced management functions for Linux and other virtual images
  • New function level for DirMaint
  • Enhancements to the Performance Toolkit
  • Enhanced guest configuration
• Installation, service, and packaging changes
  • Additional DVD installation options
  • Enhanced status information
  • RSCS repackaged as an optional feature
  • New RACF Security Server for z/VM
  • U.S. Daylight Saving Time effect on z/VM
  • z/Architecture CMS shipped as a sample program
  • Withdrawal of the ROUTED and BOOTP servers

z/VM V5.2 Includes:

• Virtualization enhancements for Linux and other guests
  • Enhanced exploitation of large real memory providing 2 GB real-storage constraint relief
  • Improved memory management for Linux guests
  • Improved performance of z/VM Control Program (CP) use of SCSI disk I/O
  • Definition and operation of Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP)-attached SCSI disks with capacities of nearly 1 TB with the PTFs for APAR VM63700 (DirMaint) and VM63664 (DFSMS/VM)
  • Secure Sockets Layer SSL server support for additional Linux distributions
  • Enhanced performance assists for cooperating z/VM guests using OSA-Express, FCP, and HiperSockets
  • Enhanced systems management APIs for improved management of Linux and other guests
• Networking virtualization and security enhancements
  • Improved problem determination for guest LANs and virtual switches
  • Enhanced dynamic routing capabilities with new MPRoute server
• Technology exploitation
  • – Exploitation of selected features of the IBM System z9™ Enterprise Class (z9 EC), formerly the System z9 109 (z9-109) and the System z9 Business Class (z9 BC):
    • Support for new instructions 2
    • Support for FICON® Express4 (4 Gbps FICON)
    • TCP/IP and guest LAN Support for HiperSockets using IPv6 protocol
    • Simplified VLAN management with support for Generic Attribute Registration Protocol (GARP) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Registration Protocol (GVRP)
    • Crypto Express2 Accelerator for SSL acceleration
    • Support for OSA-Express2 OSA for NCP (OSN)
    • Improved FCP channel utilization and sharing among guests through N-Port ID virtualization (NPIV) support
    • Support for hardware capability to add and delete logical partition (LPAR) names
    • Support for hardware capability to provide up to 60 LPARs on the z9 EC and 30 on the z9 BC
    • Additional exploitation of IBM TotalStorage® DS6000 and IBM TotalStorage DS8000 series 2
    • Support for Parallel Access Volumes (PAVs) as minidisks 2
• Systems management improvements
  • Improved management for Linux and other virtual images
  • Simplified user administration with the coordination of DirMaint and RACF changes
  • Improved DirMaint directory management performance
  • Enhanced Performance Toolkit for VM to support updated control blocks and new monitor data
  Service and installation enhancements

• Engine-based Value Unit pricing and a reduced entry price
• Virtualization technology and Linux enablement:
  • Deployment of a Linux server farm on z/VM using only SCSI disks
  • Reduced dependence on tape with installation from DVD
  • Ability to swap from faulty disks using the new HyperSwap command
  • Improved cryptographic performance with guest support for PCIXCC
• Network virtualization and security:
  • Enhanced network recovery with virtual switch failover support
  • Improved authorization for z/VM guest LANs and virtual switches
• Technology exploitation:
  • Support for the IBM eServer zSeries 990 (z990) and 890 (z890):
    • Four Logical Channel Subsystems (LCSSs) on the z990 and two on the z890
    • Transparent sharing of external and internal spanned channels across LCSSs
    • Support for the OSA-Express Integrated Console Controller
  • Use of SCSI disks by guests that support FBA disks without requiring their own SCSI support
  • Capability to route IPv6 packets and develop IPv6 applications
• Systems management:
  • Enhanced Performance Toolkit for VM
    • Functional equivalence to the Performance Reporting Facility (PRF)
    • New reports for Linux and for SCSI disks

See also ...
VM V5.3 resources
VM V5.2 resources
VM and Linux resources
VM with z/OS
VM with VSE
VM and the EURO