IBM: VMADMIN and the System Administration Facility for z/VM was intended as a migration tool for VIF customers. You should be using the System Management API's that were provided beginning with z/VM V4.4 or later, or look into a system management product from an IBM Solution provider.

System Administration Facility for z/VM®

July 26, 2005
The System Administration Facility tools that were added in z/VM V4.2 to help ease migration from the IBM S/390(R) Virtual Image Facility(TM) to z/VM V4.2 are not included with z/VM V5.2. Some of the same functionality may be obtained through the z/VM Systems Management APIs, first introduced in z/VM V4.4.

The System Administration Facility of z/VM V4.2, z/VM V4.3, and z/VM V4.4, z/VM V5.1 includes ease-of-use tools that are based on function provided in the S/390 Virtual Image Facility for LINUX^® and a migration tool, VIFMIGR, to help you migrate from a Virtual Image Facility environment to a z/VM system.

Note: Use of this facility requires an unmodified z/VM system and is provided primarily as a migration tool for Virtual Image Facility (VIF) customers.

IBM intends to withdraw the System Administration Facility from a future release of z/VM. Customers using the System Administration Facility to create and manage Linux server images as guests of z/VM should start using other systems management facilities of z/VM, write a client application using the Systems Management APIs introduced in z/VM V4.4, or acquire a system management application from an IBM solution provider. Documentation is available in the System Administration Facility publication, SC24-6034, but this publication will not be included in the z/VM V5.1 library.

All statements regarding IBM's plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice.

Highlights of VIFMIGR

Migrates your Linux distribution, configuration files and your Linux images from the Virtual Image Facility to z/VM V4.2 or z/VM V4.3, z/VM V4.4, or z/VM V5.1.
Creates backup copies of key files
Generates a README file containing information on post-migration activities.

Highlights of VMADMIN

The VMADMCTL command starts the VMADMIN server and initializes the environment for issuing VMADMIN commands.
Allows you to use a Linux client or a CMS client to administer your Linux images
Commands allow you to add and delete images, manage your network for your images, manage disk partitions, obtain information about the images and the system, and perform VMADMIN server functions (add system paging space, manage your internal network, create and restore system configuration backup files, etc.)
Can be "turned off" when your level of VM expertise grows or you need additional VM functions not available through VMADMIN

Note: The functions of the System Administration Facility are intended to be used only on a non-tailored z/VM system. This is true for the VIFMIGR migration tool as well as the VMADMIN commands. If you need to migrate a Virtual Image Facility environment to a tailored VM system, you should complete the migration prior to tailoring your system.