z/VM Preventive Service

To prevent problems, IBM recommends you apply preventive service in the form of the Recommended Service Upgrade (RSU) along with checking any Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets. The RSU deliverable provides service for z/VM and the packaged priced features. Service for other SDO licensed products can be found using the ESO (Expanded Service Options).

Recommended Service Upgrade (RSU)
PSP Buckets
COR Service (Corrective Service)

Recommended Service Upgrade (RSU)

RSU Introduction and Criteria

  1. The RSU is a snapshot in time of frequently ordered service verified to IPL. It includes pre-req and co-req service.
  2. Although it is recommended, it does not include ALL service. z/VM carefully reviews all closed PMRs/APARs that meet the criteria.
      Criteria include but are not limited to:
    • Frequently ordered service.
    • Requisite drag is considered to keep the size and impact reduced.
  3. To see which APARs and PTFs are on a specific RSU for each component, check out the RSU page.
  4. Each z/VM release comes with the first RSU. The RSU delivered with the product often is not the latest service. It is important to follow the instructions in z/VM Installation Guide which include updating to the latest available RSU.

Keeping the current RSU applied is the best way to prevent service issues. You can subscribe to the RSU Planning page to be notified when the next one becomes available. Service for z/VM SDO products that are not shipped on the RSU can be found using the ESO (Expanded Service Options). To find the latest RSU check the RSU Content page.

In addition to installing the RSU, it is recommended to check PSP Buckets for HIPER fixes, PEs, or other required service that may not have been available at the time the RSU was created.

PSP Buckets

Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets for z/VM contain all HIPER PTFs (and other recommended service) for a specific component of z/VM. A PSP bucket has a name (upgrade ID) and contains product information ordered into different 'subsets'. The upgrade ID can be used to order a complete PSP bucket from IBM Support. To limit an order to specific products, subset IDs can be specified. A subset contains different 'sections'. HIPER APARs and a short error description can be found in section 'Service Recommendations' together with the recommended PTF number. All recommended PTFs are listed in the 'PTF Include List' for easy ordering.

When ordering a PSP bucket, you get one or more PTFs from the "Include List" of each ordered subset. PSP buckets are available to identify individual fixes. To order those individual fixes (PTFs) you can use Shopz, IBM Support Portal or ServiceLink (fee-based service). Search Shopz or the Support Portal for the specific PTFs identified in the PSP bucket (search by component). Below are PSP bucket example searches.

To see the PSP buckets available for z/VM 7.2, search on ZVM720 for the 2001RSU. Example of that search: ZVM720 PSP Bucket

To see the PSP buckets available for z/VM 7.1, search on ZVM710 for the 1902RSU. Example of that search: ZVM710 PSP Bucket

To see the z/VM 6.4 PSP buckets for the CP component, search on ZVM640,Subset CP. Example of that search: ZVM640 PSP Bucket

Note: Currently, you can order specific PSP bucket service from ServiceLink (fee-based service), IBM Shopz cannot.

COR Service

Corrective (COR) Service are APARs/PTFs that are available for a specific z/VM release and components. Because COR service can be ordered back to a given RSU level, customers who use the RSU to maintain currency with respect to preventive service will find that COR service requisite strings will be dramatically reduced. This reduction will allow a higher percentage of COR fixes to be shipped electronically.

The tools below will help you order specific APARs/PTFs.

IBM Support Portal: Search for a specific APAR/PTF or report a new problem.

Shopz APAR/PTF ordering

ServiceLink search available service hosted on IBMLink

Note: ServiceLink is a fee-based service. This service provides APAR and PTF ordering, plus service searches and the ability to query all available service for a specific product or component. Service notifications. can be setup to be notified of critical service.