Last Updated: 21 October 2024


z/VM Continuous Delivery News

Upcoming and available new function for z/VM 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4.

Change Summary

  • October 21, 2024: Added TLS 1.3 Support. Minor content edits.
  • September 23, 2024: Minor content edits.


Introduction

Not all enhancements to z/VM are part of a new release or even a formal IBM announcement letter. This page is a resource to learn about enhancements going out through continuous delivery for z/VM. It's also different from formal announcements as it shows work in progress. Think of it as a living preview announcement for z/VM. As significant changes take place, this page will be updated. Check back often or subscribe. Note: The z/VM Web site subscription service is intended to provide email alerts when specific z/VM pages are updated. If you are interested in receiving APAR updates, click the link for the individual APAR and subscribe to updates on that page.

We invite you to shape the future of z/VM by submitting and voting for ideas that matter most to you with the IBM Z Hardware and Operating Systems Ideas Portal.

You may notice that some new functions are actively seeking sponsor users. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor user for a particular function, visit the z/VM Sponsor User page for more details. Also important, these and other ideas from customers and vendors are frequently discussed at the z/VM Council. For more information and details on how to join, please see the z/VM Council web page.


Characteristics of a New Function APAR

New Function Information
Name The name of the project. This can include any previous names the project was known by.
Description A brief summary of what changes, who it effects, and why you would care.
Status Along with the current status, this will give indication of key changes since the last iteration of this page.
Target availability Depending on the project, where it is in the cycle, and other factors, this will list TBD, a quarter, a month, or, in cases where it has become available, a date. This is not a commitment and as more is learned about the work and priorities the target availability date will likely be adjusted.
Compatibility This will describe how compatible an item is. In most cases, this will say 'No known incompatibilities'. It is not meant to list all details like a migration guide, but to give some indication of what to expect.
Enablement This will briefly describe how enablement is managed for this Small Product Enhancement. Can it be enabled or disabled? What is the default? Can it be done dynamically? Is it on a virtual machine basis or system wide basis? It is not meant to describe all details of that process, but to give an idea of what's involved. Will also give indication of whether an IPL of the z/VM system is required, or just recycle of virtual machines or new CMS modules.
Effect Describes what effect enabling the code may have beyond the compatibility statement above. Such as may slightly elongate logoff time or CCW translation code paths changed. These are basically meant to be hints as to how the system may respond or behave differently.
ISV impact Indicates any impacts to ISV related products that are known, such as "If using a directory manager product, see vendor for required updates."
Linux or hardware interaction Indicates whether a special level of Linux or hardware is required because of an interaction or dependency.
Environment variable name If the CP New Function Indication API (APAR VM66439) is installed, the variable name is used to determine if the function is present on the z/VM system. Variable names are only present on CP New Function APARs released after the z/VM 7.2 GA date. For non-CP function, such as CMS, TCP/IP, Performance Toolkit, etc., or CP APARs released prior to z/VM 7.2, there will be no variable associated with the function and this field will show "N/A". Some new function APARs may introduce more than one environment variable and/or add new valid values to existing variables. Please see the z/VM New function Variable List for more information.
 
This cell has been intentionally highlighted. Cells with this shading have been recently changed.
Release(s) Indicates the releases planned for this enhancement.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR Information and link to the Authorized Program Analysis Report.
  PTF Information and link to the Program Temporary Fix.
  RSU Information and link to the Recommended Service Upgrade.

New Function APARs

New function in progress Target date Last updated
TLS 1.3 Support TBD October 21, 2024
Two-Speed Monitoring TBD October 21, 2024
GetShopz ServiceLink Support 2025031Q 2025 October 21, 2024
Root of Trust TBD June 27, 2024
Diff and Patch Tool for CMS 2025031Q 2025 October 21, 2024
REXX Sockets Enhancements TBD September 28, 2022
Timing Enhancements TBD February 4, 2021
Active Drain for PAGE Volumes TBD August 4, 2022
CPU Measurement Facility Host Sampler Exploitation TBD September 28, 2022

 
Available new function Date released Last updated
Query SCPID April 23, 2024 April 27, 2024
Digital Signature Verification of z/VM Service Packages March 9, 2024 March 11, 2024
VM Pass-Through ESA Support February 9, 2024 February 12, 2024
SCSI IPL Alternate Path Support December 7, 2023 December 7, 2023
Include Current TERSE Utility With z/VM December 4, 2023 December 7, 2023
CMS Tape Block Size Increase November 14, 2023 November 17, 2023
MONWRITE CLOSE Option Enhancement November 14, 2023 November 17, 2023
Warning Track Interruption Facility November 8, 2023 November 17, 2023
System SSL 2.5 Uplift October 4, 2023 October 24, 2023
Greater than 1TB Guest Support August 28, 2023 August 29, 2023
Large Guest LOGOFF Reset Time Mitigation August 28, 2023 October 31, 2023
Support Larger NVMe EDEVICE Page Space Allocations August 22, 2023 August 22, 2023
Thin Stack Adapter Interrupt Support August 22, 2023 August 22, 2023
Performance Data Pump August 12, 2023 August 22, 2023
Query z/VM System Security Settings June 26, 2023 June 26, 2023
VMEVENT Enhancements June 13, 2023 June 14, 2023
Guest Secure-IPL May 18, 2023 June 14, 2023
Key Vault Utility May 30, 2023 June 14, 2023
Crypto Stateless-Command Filtering May 12, 2023 May 12, 2023
SMAPI FCP EQID API Support September 23, 2022 January 18, 2023
DirMaint Automatic Sensing of Disk Volume Sizes September 16, 2022 October 24, 2022
ESM Control of DEFINE MDISK Command September 16, 2022 September 16, 2022
NVMe EDEVICE Support for z/VM September 16, 2022 September 16, 2022
CSM Fixpack September 16, 2022 September 16, 2022
SSI Eight Member Clusters September 16, 2022 September 16, 2022
Host Exploitation of Crypto Interruptions June 1, 2022 June 10, 2022
DirMaint Performance Enhancements March 16, 2022 March 21, 2022
SMAPI Query Processors API December 10, 2021 December 10, 2021
VSwitch Bridge Port Enhancements December 10, 2021 December 10, 2021
Preserve Partial Dump Across IPL December 10, 2021 December 10, 2021
Query GSKKYMAN Certificates December 10, 2021 December 10, 2021
EDEVICE Path Management August 31, 2021 September 1, 2021
Direct to Host Service Transfer August 31, 2021 March 10, 2022
Improved LGR for Mixed-Level Crypto Environments August 11, 2021 August 12, 2021
IPv6 Layer 2 Query VSwitch Support August 11, 2021 August 12, 2021
Dynamic Memory Downgrade August 6, 2021 August 12, 2021
Help File Improvements August 3, 2021 March 10, 2022
z/XC Architecture Support March 29, 2021 March 31, 2021
Improve I/O Time for Dump Processing March 1, 2021 March 10, 2022
Fast z/VM Dump Distiller March 1, 2021 March 10, 2022
Automatic STANDBY Memory for Guests March 3, 2021 March 4, 2021
Four TB Main Memory Support March 3, 2021 July 7, 2021
Spool Information Enhancements March 1, 2021 March 10, 2022
TLS / SSL OCSP Support January 6, 2021 March 10, 2022
DirMaint Health Checker December 11, 2020 March 4, 2021
CP Query Devices December 8, 2020 March 31, 2021
SET EDEVICE Optional LUN Specification December 8, 2020 March 31, 2021
Guest 1-End HyperPAV Aliases December 8, 2020 March 31, 2021
Perfkit SMT Support December 8, 2020 December 14, 2020
FlashCopy Preserve Mirror Support October 15, 2020 March 31, 2021
CP New Feature Interrogation API October 15, 2020 March 31, 2021
Centralized Service Management September 18, 2020 September 24, 2020
MSS Multi-Target PPRC Exploitation September 18, 2020 September 24, 2020

 
Host Exploitation of Crypto Interruptions
Name Host Exploitation of Crypto Interruptions (Cyrpto Interrupt Support)
Description This enhancement makes z/VM's APVIRT processing more event-driven. This avoids the overhead of polling by z/VM's control program associated with the previous implementation. This enhancement uses Crypto-related interruptions to achieve this.
Status Available June 1, 2022
Target availability May 2022
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement This support will be enabled after z/VM is IPL'd with the APAR. It cannot be disabled.
Effect There is no effect to systems that do not use APVIRT. For those with APVIRT, there is a potential performance improvement in terms of the lower IBM Z or LinuxONE processor resources associated with managing APVIRT.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.CRYPTO.INTERRUPTIONS
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66534
  PTF UM35974
  RSU TBD
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
Active Drain for PAGE Volumes
Name Active Drain for PAGE Volumes
Description A new Active Drain feature will allow moving all pages from in-use PAGE slots off a volume marked DRAIN to other, non-draining, PAGE volumes. This allows PAGE volumes to fully drain and be removed without a system outage.
Status Currently in development.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement TBD
Effect No known side-effects when not being used. Does require resources to determine page slot content to move and additional I/O proportional to the number of allocate slots that must be drained. IBM intends to provide more details in performance report in the future.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name TBD
Release(s) TBD
Service details TBD
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
Automatic STANDBY Memory for Guests
Name Automatic STANDBY Memory for Guests
Description To dynamically increase the amount of memory a guest can bring online requires two steps:
1. Raising the maximum in the directory
2. Issuing a DEFINE STORAGE command to add this to the guest's STANDBY memory.
 
Often step 2 is issued via a COMMAND statement in the directory or in a PROFILE EXEC. Forgetting to update the DEFINE STORAGE command when the guest's maximum memory is updated can result in an extra IPL of the guest. This item will add INITIAL and REMAINDER keyword to the DEFINE STORAGE command. This will mean all memory from the AS (configured) amount up to the guest's maximum will be put to STANDBY.
Note that this is different than CP SET RESERVED.
Status Available March 3, 2021
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities, but existing commands may need to change to use the new keywords.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code. Update existing DEFINE STORAGE command to say DEFINE STORAGE INITIAL STANDBY REMAINDER to use the new support.
Effect No effect to current usage of DEFINE STORAGE, current keywords will remain unchanged.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction at this time.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details Delivered with z/VM Four TB Main Memory Support
  APAR See Four TB Main Memory Support
  PTF See Four TB Main Memory Support
  RSU TBD

 
Centralized Service Management
Name Centralized Service Management (CSM)
Description Enhances z/VM service process by allowing service to be applied in a multiple z/VM system environment (without SSI) from a centralized system. This initial effort would apply to the z/VM base system and associated priced features.
Status Available September 18, 2020
Target availability September 18, 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Install 7.2 release on all z/VM systems that will be centrally managed. Inititialize and configure master and target z/VM systems. Initially, CSM will not be supporting z/VM systems within an SSI cluster.
Effect While it adds more options to service process, if not using the new capability, there should be only minor effects to current usage.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.2 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
CSM fixpack
Name Centralized Service Management (CSM) fixpack
Description Enhancements are planned for the Centralized Service Management (CSM) and is a collection of multiple follow-on functionality improvements. There are four specific enhancements planned each as described below.
  1. Improvements to the SERVMGR QUERY command which will allow queries specific to individual components in a service level rather than output for all components being given on every command invocation.
  2. The SERVLVL QUERY command will be expanded to allow wildcard (*) support, allowing mutilple service levels in a CSM to be queried together under one command.
  3. Adding the ability to query CSM managed systems for current PUT2PROD state. If a Pending Service Level has stalled during PUT2PROD, CSMQUERY now allows a query option to retrieve the $PRODS file and display the contents in human-readable format.
  4. A modification to the way localmods are output during a query.
Status Available September 16, 2022
Target availability September 2022
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.3 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
CMS Tape Block Size Increase
Name CMS Tape Block Size Increase; Increase the block size that CMS supports for tape devices
Description This enhancement increases the block size supported by CMS native tape I/O functions from 64K-1 (65,535 bytes) to roughly 1 Megabyte (1,114,094 bytes).
Status Available November 14, 2023
Target availability November 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities. However, the block size supported by CMS OS simulation does not increase beyond the current 64K-1 (65,535 bytes) limit.
Enablement This support will be enabled after the APAR is applied. It cannot be disabled.
Effect There is no effect on systems that do not exploit the new capabilities.
ISV impact This may enable ISV software to take advantage of larger tape block sizes.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66724
  PTF UM90377
  RSU TBD

 
CP New Feature Interrogation API
Name CP New Feature Interrogation API (CP New Function Indication API)
Description Provides an interface for interrogating whether a named capability is present in the running CP system. This enhancement simplifies scripting and automation written by customers and vendors sensitive to the function level of CP. It facilitates adaptation of vendor products to varying CP code levels.
Status Available October 15, 2020
Target availability October 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No other effects when not using the new API.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66439
  PTF UM35761
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2101

 
CP Query Devices
Name CP Query Devices
Description The CP QUERY DEVICES project adds the DEVICES subcommand of the QUERY command to report real device settings established by the DEVICES configuration statement and the SET DEVICES command. The objective of the CP QUERY DEVICES project is to allow clients to confirm that device settings are as intended. It is an extension of the existing support that is intended to simplify configuration management and problem determination.
Status Available December 8, 2020
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Installation and re-IPL of the z/VM system required.
Effect No known effects.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.QUERY.DEVICES
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66469
  PTF UM35797
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2101

 
CPU Measurement Facility Host Sampler Exploitation
Name CPU Measurement Facility Host Sampler Exploitation
Description A z/VM system programmer can exploit existing hardware sampling to help IBM Service shed light on an LPAR's performance behavior.
  • System programmer uses IBM Z CPU Measurement Facility to capture data associated with the performance experience of processors, caches, and memory
  • System programmer sends collected data to IBM for analysis
Status Currently in development.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement
  • A new CP command to initialize and control data collection
  • Directory statement to authorize access to the Sampler-specific DCSS for data capture
  • To be used only under IBM direction
Effect While the capability is not in use, there should be no performance effects. Real memory must be temporarily reserved for use during the measurement and data extraction process, and can then be returned to general use. Performance impact during this period is to be studied during development.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction. CMS tools to dump and pack experiment data. z13 or later hardware is required.
Environment variable name TBD
Release(s) TBD
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
Crypto Stateless-Command Filtering
Name Crypto Stateless-Command Filtering
Description The Crypto Stateless-Command Filtering enhancement provides support for the Stateless-Command Filtering (SLCF) facility available on CEX8C adapters. z/VM's exploitation of this new hardware capability will replace the crypto stateless command filtering performed by z/VM for APVIRT crypto users, thus eliminating the need for future z/VM updates to allow new stateless CCA operations.
Status Available May 12, 2023.
Target availability June 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect APVIRT crypto users can exploit new stateless CCA operations.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction A CEX8S adapter configured in CCA Coprocessor mode is required to exploit this enhancement.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.CRYPTO.HW_CCA_FILTERING
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66423
  PTF UM90279
  RSU TBD

 
Diff and Patch Tool for CMS
Name Diff and Patch Tool for CMS
Description The Diff and Patch tool for CMS is an implementation of the unified DIFF and PATCH using the unified diff format. The DIFF utility generates a diff file from two input files, while the PATCH utility applies the changes from an input diff file to an input source file. Diff files can be distributed and applied to other copies of the original source file to apply these changes, much like the XEDIT update facility.
Status Currently in test; soliciting sponsor user feedback.
Target availability First Quarter 2025
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact Vendors will need to use the Diff and Patch tool to implement code changes for their products that are integrated with z/VM. In a future release, z/VM will be removing sequence numbers and adopting full-part replacement. Note: z/VM 7.4 will still include sequence numbers.
Linux or hardware interaction The intent is to provide a platform-agnostic solution to update z/VM parts, which may be executed on either the CMS operating system or on UNIX/Linux.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.4 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD

 
Digital Signature Verification (DSV) of z/VM Service Packages
Name Digital Signature Verification (DSV) of z/VM Service Packages
Description Tool provided to verify the authenticity and integrity of the z/VM Service packages.
Status Available March 9, 2024
Target availability First Quarter 2024
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement With the PTF for the APAR installed, the verification will be done by GetShopz. GetShopz option to be provided to verify service packages transferred to z/VM without GetShopz.
Effect The verification will now be done by default with GetShopz.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information
  APAR VM66732
  PTF UM90411
  RSU TBD
Additional information GetShopz Utility

 
Direct to Host Service Transfer
Name z/VM Direct to Host Service Transfer
Description This new function provides an optional way to transfer service to your z/VM system. A new web interface will simplify downloading z/VM service ordered through IBM Shopz. The service files can be transferred either through direct-to-host connection or uploading the files from a workstation. The data is verified and unpacked during transfer to the z/VM host system.
Status Available August 31, 2021
Target availability September 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF, configure SSL, ensure enough space is available for the service you want to transfer, run CMS program using the MAINT720 user ID to transfer the service files.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66540
  PTF UM35899
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102
Additional information GetShopz - Direct to Host Service Download information

 
DirMaint Automatic Sensing of Disk Volume Sizes
Name DirMaint Automatic Sensing of Disk Volume Sizes
Description DirMaint uses volume sizes when managing minidisk allocation. Prior to this support, the size of a volume was defined based solely on the device type. The device type and its size were defined either in a DEFAULTS DATADVH data file maintained by IBM or within the DEFAULTS section of the EXTENT CONTROL file when updated by the installation. Basing size solely on the device type can lead to incorrect assumptions for maximum size of a volume and lead DirMaint to fail minidisk allocation because the size of the device type does not match the actual size of the volume.
 
This support enhances DirMaint to use CP QUERY DASD DETAILS to obtain the maximum size of volumes. DirMaint queries the DASD details when it builds the VCONTROL file for the volume. The VCONTROL file is used during minidisk allocation. DirMaint performs this query for volumes defined in the EXTENT CONTROL file or the source user directory. The size is obtained for volumes attached to the system on which the DIRMAINT server is running and in an SSI environment from the systems where satellite servers are defined. If the size of the volume cannot be obtained then the device type size as specified in the DEFAULTS DATADVH data fle or the DEFAULTS section of the EXTENT CONTROL file is used.
Status Available September 16, 2022
Target availability September 2022
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement This support is automatically enabled.
Effect The construction of VCONTROL files as part of reload the EXTENT CONTROL file (RLDEXTN command) will take a little bit longer in an SSI environment as the DIRMAINT server performs the CP queries on the SSI members. The construction is performed when the RLDEXTN command is issued on once a day as part of new day processing.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.3 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
DirMaint Health Checker
Name DirMaint Health Checker
Description This support provides an automated set of procedures to validate the configuration and health of the DirMaint servers on a daily basis and on demand. The tests are orchestrated by the DirMaint server and run on the DirMaint server, datamove and satellite servers. Installation support are notified of the results of the tests.
Status Available December 11, 2020
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement The DirMaint configuration files control whether the tests are automatically run. Defaults are provided in that automatically run the tests once a day as the result of DirMaint New Day processing (dirven by the DVHNDAY exec). The installation may specify:
 
  • who to contact with the results of the tests,
  • whether to send the results: always, on a significant warning/error, on any warning.
  • which DirMaint servers to test,
  • which tests to run,
  • modifications to individual test parameters in order to change defaults.
In addition to being automatically run, the health checker can be invoked by the new IVP command. If submitted to the DirMaint machine, the health checker will check the health of the DirMaint server and any configured datamove and satellite servers. The command can also be invoked from the console of a datamove or satellite server to only check the health of that server.
Effect The DirMaint Health Checker code is automatically driven daily as part of DirMaint New Day processing (driven by the DVHNDAY exec).
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66175
II14866
  PTF UV99389
  RSU TBD

 
DirMaint Performance Enhancements
Name DirMaint Performance Enhancements
Description Performance improvements to DirMaint processing of user and server requests. Additional tests related to performance and reliability are added to the Automated IVP that was introduced as a new function APAR for z/VM 7.2 in December 2020.
Status Available March 16, 2022
Target availability March 2022
Compatibility As part of this support, DirMaint monitor files introduced with the IVP support in December 2020 will be maintained on the A-disk of the DirMaint server for each DirMaint server (DIRMAINT, satellite and datamove server) rather than only on the DIRMAINT server's E disk.
Enablement Applying this support and restarting the DirMaint servers enables the support.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66298
  PTF UV99411
  RSU TBD

 
Dynamic Memory Downgrade
Name Dynamic Memory Downgrade (DMD)
Description Dynamic Memory Downgrade, also known as Memory or Storage Reclamation, extends the real storage dynamic management characteristics of z/VM to include removing up to 50% of the real storage from a running z/VM system. Previous versions of z/VM allow adding storage dynamically, but not removing it.
Status Available August 6, 2021
Target availability August 2021
Compatibility Several commands associated with dynamic memory management will have incompatible changes.
Enablement Applying PTFs will enable code, use of new function will be from commands and configuration file settings. Requires an IPL of the z/VM system to activate the code for this PTF.
Effect Most mainline paths are unaffected by these changes, but code paths for initialization and adding memory have significant changes.
ISV impact Some monitor changes are needed. Fields in the RSMBK control block will change offsets. If you have a performance product, please see your vendor.
Linux or hardware interaction Will require z14 or higher. No known Linux interaction at this time.
Environment variable name CP.LIMIT.MEMORY.RECONFIG
CP.FUNCTION.MEMORY.RECLAIM
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details CP Perfkit
  APAR VM66271 VM66285
  PTF UM35561 UM35562
  RSU TBD TBD
Additional information Dynamic Memory Downgrade information

 
EDEVICE Path Management
Name EDEVICE Path Management
Description The component responsible for path management in the SCSI-FCP device driver has been upgraded in the areas:
  1. Path selection
  2. Path state tracking
  3. Path health checking
New path optimization means better path selection when ALUA storage devices are in use and internal changes to the state machine should provide the user a more robust system. Externals have also been changed to accommodate additional path states and status information.
Status Available August 31, 2021
Target availability August 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No known effects at this time when ALUA storage devices are not in use but expect EDEV path selection to have significant updates to code. Expands the usage of 'QUERY EDEV <rdev>'.
ISV impact Some monitor changes are needed. If you have a performance product, please see your vendor.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction. ALUA storage devices would be needed to take advantage of path optimization.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.EDEVICE.PATH_MANAGEMENT
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66507
  PTF UM35902
  RSU TBD

 
ESM Authorization and Auditing of SMAPI Requests
Name ESM Authorization and Auditing of SMAPI Requests
Description When an ESM is present, programs can use the ESM for all SMAPI authorization decisions at the same granularity used with the SMAPI existing authorization mechanism. The ESM logs the decision (or not) that is based on its active policy, without SMAPI knowledge or intervention.
 
When an ESM defers its authorization decision to SMAPI, one of the following actions are taken based on a configuration option:
 
  • SMAPI's authorization decision uses the existing authorization process. SMAPI calls the ESM to log the decision in the ESM-managed security log. SMAPI has no knowledge if the ESM audit logging is enabled or disabled.
  • SMAPI treats the request as unauthorized.
Status Available September 27, 2018
Target availability September 2018
Compatibility Properties in the DMSSICNF COPY file control the ESM authorization setting. If you are migrating from a release prior to z/VM 7.1, the contents of your DMSSICNF COPY file will include duplicates of properties found in the IBMCNF COPY file. You can remove from DMSSICNF COPY any properties that are also found in IBMCNF COPY.
Enablement First, configure your ESM to control system APIs by (a) enabling the FACILITY class and (b) creating new ESM profiles which map to your desired security policy. Your ESM will not need to be restarted; however, a REFRESH may be necessary for updated policy to be detected.
 
Then, update DMSSICNF to indicate either Authorization_Policy = Authorization_Policy_EsmList (default) or Authorization_Policy = Authorization_Policy_EsmOnly.
 
For details, refer to the z/VM 7.1 System Management Application Programming manual
Effect Security policy for control and/or audit of API usage will now be handled by your ESM, if available.
ISV impact This function is available with non-IBM External Security Manager programs; refer to local documentation for instructions on ESM set-up.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.1 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66167
  PTF UM35358
  RSU TBD

 
ESM Control of DEFINE MDISK Command
Name External Security Manager (ESM) Control of DEFINE MDISK Command
Description Addition of CP and RACF support to allow CP DEFINE MDISK to be a command controlled by an External Security Manager.
Status Available September 16, 2022
Target availability September 2022
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement After application of the PTFs, security administrators may define controls upon the DEFINE MDISK command, and permit users to access same. In the case of RACF/VM, this would be accomplished via:
 
RDEFINE VMCMD DEFINE.MDISK AUDIT(ALL,(READ)) UACC(NONE)
PERMIT DEFINE.MDISK CLASS(VMCMD) ID(SYSOP1) ACCESS(UPDATE)
SETROPTS REFRESH RACLIST(VMCMD)
Effect A z/VM user not authorized to use this support will receive pertinent error messages from the ESM when attempting to execute DEFINE MDISK.
ISV impact If using an External Security Manager from Broadcom (formerly CA), consult with their support for availability of a PTF.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction.
Environment variable name CP.ESM.CONTROL.DEFINE.MDISK
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.3 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
Fast z/VM Dump Distiller
Name Fast z/VM Dump Distiller
Description Some dumps CP takes include large structures (frame table and/or pageable PGMBKs) to aid diagnosis of memory management problems. A new "DISTILL" option on DUMPLOAD extracts an abridged dump omitting these structures from a hard abend dump or snapdump on spool. This smaller dump is easier to manage and faster to transmit to IBM, allowing diagnosis to begin sooner. The complete dump remains in spool and can be loaded and sent later if needed.
Status Available March 1, 2021
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and rebuild DUMPLOAD MODULE.
Effect None anticipated.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No interaction or dependency is anticipated.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66430
  PTF UM35823
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102

 
FlashCopy Preserve Mirror Support
Name FlashCopy Preserve Mirror Support
Description Provides new operands to z/VM FlashCopy commands to allow FlashCopy relationships between PPRC primary devices without affecting the PPRC status of the target devices. This particularly avoids PPRC suspend conditions on the target device of the FlashCopy.
Status Available October 15, 2020
Target availability October 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to access the new operands.
Effect Preserve Mirror prevents FlashCopy from affecting full duplex PPRC relationships.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction Disk hardware must support preserve mirror to be able to exploit the new operands. Command response will indicate if specified devices do not support the feature.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.COPYSERVICES.FC_PRESERVE_MIRROR
Release(s) z/VM 7.1 and 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66433
  PTF R710 UM35762
R720 UM35763
  RSU z/VM 7.1 - 2101
z/VM 7.2 - 2101

 
Four TB Main Memory Support
Name Four Terabyte Main Memory Support
Description Four TB Main memory support, would support the definition and use of real memory up to the four TB line for first level z/VM systems. Over-commitment of total virtual memory across all guests beyond four TB would be supported. The per guest limit of one TB of virtual memory would remain unchanged.
Status Available March 3, 2021.
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement LPAR would need four TB memory defined.
Effect TBD
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction at this time. System needs enough paging DASD to support >4 TB paging.
Environment variable name CP.LIMIT.MEMORY.REAL_TOTAL
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details TBD
  APAR VM66173
  PTF UM35834
  RSU TBD
Additional information March 22, 2021: z/VM customers with RACF installed will receive message VMFAPP2120W indicating that rework is required for part HCPRPP TXT when applying the PTF for APAR VM66173. See March 22, 2021 z/VM Red Alert for more details.
 
July 1, 2021: APAR VM66173 (PTF UM35834) for 4TB REAL MEMORY SUPPORT is in error. Apply PTF UM35556 for APAR VM66289 as soon as possible. See July 1, 2021 z/VM Service Red Alert for more details.

 
GetShopz ServiceLink Support
Name GetShopz ServiceLink Support
Description Provide support in GetShopz for direct to host transfer of service packages from IBM ServiceLink. GetShopz currently has the function to securely transfer z/VM service packages directly from Shopz. This new function APAR will provide the same ability for orders from ServiceLink.
Status Currently in test; soliciting sponsor user input.
Target availability First Quarter 2025
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement With the PTF for the APAR installed, the GetShopz program will support direct to host transfer of service packages from ServiceLink.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.4 Feature Pack
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD
Additional information GetShopz - Direct to Host Service Download information

 
Greater than 1TB Guest Support
Name Greater than 1TB Guest Support; >1TB Guest Support
Description Support guests that are defined with more than 1TB of memory, subject to a set of documented guidelines and considerations.
Status Available August 28, 2023
Target availability September 2023
Compatibility This support is upward compatible. While there is no associated code change, it is advisable to apply the PTF UM90339 for the APAR associated with the "Large Guest LOGOFF Reset Time Mitigation" function prior to exploiting this capability.
Enablement Enabled when such a guest is defined.
Effect Guests can exploit larger memory, subject to some considerations.
ISV impact To exploit large memory effectively with Oracle, patch 33787325 should be applied.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details No code changes. Once finalized, follow the guidelines and considerations.
  APAR None
  PTF None
  RSU N/A

 
Guest 1-End HyperPAV Aliases
Name Guest 1-End HyperPAV Aliases
Description Allows client to use the DEFINE HYPERPAVALIAS command to define and associate virtual HyperPAV Alias devices with Base minidisks defined with the MDISK directory statement from real cylinder 1 to END.
Status Available December 8, 2020
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
MDISK user directory statement defining Base device from real cylinder 1 to END and DEFINE HYPERPAVALIAS command. User directory example:
COMMAND DEFINE HYPERPAVALIAS 2F0 FOR BASE 200
MDISK 200 3390 1 END SW2112 MWV
Effect Protects real volume label and allocation map by preventing access from guest virtual machine.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction Linux guest must be configured to exploit HyperPAV Base and Alias devices.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.DASD.HYPERPAV_1_END
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66421
  PTF UM35784
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2101

 
Guest Secure-IPL
Name Guest Secure-IPL
Description Provide support to allow guest secure IPL (load and dump) for both ECKD and SCSI devices. A z/VM user can request that the machine loader validate the signed IPL code by using the security keys that were previously loaded by the customer on the HMC certificate store. The validation ensures that the IPL code is intact, unaltered, and originates from a trusted build-time source.
Status CP and DirMaint support available May 18, 2023; SMAPI support available June 30, 2023.
Target availability June 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement The program to be loaded must be signed and at a level that supports secure IPL. The HMC certificate store must be loaded with any necessary matching security certificates. Then the SET LOADDEV or SET DUMPDEV command must be issued to set the appropriate LOADDEV or DUMPDEV parameters that includes the SECURE option. The IPL command is then issued to request a secure list-directed IPL.
Effect The machine loader will use the certificates in the HMC certificate store to validate that the signature of the code being loaded matches the signature on the program.
ISV impact Directory maintenance products like DirMaint and SMAPI may be affected although the changes made are upwardly compatible. Check with your vendor for updates.
Linux or hardware interaction New levels of both hardware and Linux are required if the guest is to do a secure IPL.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.SECURITY.IPL
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details CP DirMaint SMAPI
  APAR VM66434 VM66424 VM66650
  PTF UM90281 UV99435 UM90300
  RSU TBD TBD TBD

 
Help File Improvements
Name Help File Improvements
Description Provides improvements to the z/VM Help facility by adding help information for CP Directory Statements and for CP System Configuration Statements.
Status Available August 4, 2021
Target availability July 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs, re-access the help minidisk.
Effect No known effects.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details CP CMS VMSES
  APAR VM66511 VM66512 VM66513
  PTF UM35886 UM35885 UM35875
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102

 
Improve I/O Time for Dump Processing
Name Improve I/O Time for Dump Processing
Description This project exploits DASD zHPF I/O, when available, when writing CP Hard Abend and Snap Dumps to CP Dump / Spool space. The goal is to reduce the amount of time a system is unavailable while a dump is being taken, before the system is re-IPLed. This will shorten unplanned outages on systems with large amounts of real memory. This can be especially advantageous combined with the Fast z/VM Dump Distiller project, which reduces the time required to load and send a dump to IBM for diagnosis.
Status Available March 1, 2021
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and rebuild CPLOAD MODULE. Also requires zHPF to be enabled on storage controller containing dump spool space.
Effect Reduced time to take CP Hard and Snap Dumps. This enhancement has potential to reduce elapsed dump time by about 50%. Customers' actual results will depend upon their workloads and configurations.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction zHPF must be enabled on storage controller that contains the dump spool space. No Linux interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.DUMP.SPEEDUP
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66431
  PTF UM35822
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102

 
IPv6 Layer 2 Query VSwitch Support
Name IPv6 Layer 2 Query VSwitch Support
Description For ETHERNET VSwitches, support has been added to collect and report IPv6 addresses on the Query Vswitch, Query Virtual NIC and DIAG 26C. As IPv6 usage becomes more prevalent, this information will be more important for diagnostics. In addition, the VSwitch Unicast IP table structure has changed from a linked list to a hash table.
Status Available August 11, 2021
Target availability August 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect The Unicast IP hash table will allow for more efficient table searches.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.VSWITCH.IPV6QUERY
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66485
  PTF UM35894
  RSU TBD

 
Include Current TERSE Utility With z/VM
Name Include Current TERSE Utility With z/VM
Description This enhancement ships the TERSE compression tool with the z/VM product as part of CMS.
Status Available December 4, 2023
Target availability December 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF to access the utility.
Effect TERSE can be used to compress or decompress CMS files and may be useful for submitting problem determination information such as dumps to IBM.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66725
  PTF UM90383
  RSU TBD
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
Key Vault Utility
Name Key Vault Utility, CMS Password Vault
Description A new CMS password/key management utility -- KEYVAULT -- is planned to allow applications to securely store and retrieve user ID keys (logon passwords) that are needed for data transfers (such as using FTP/FTPS) or automated login procedures.
Status Available May 30, 2023
Target availability May 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details CMS SES TCP/IP
  APAR VM66453 VM66457 PH51239
  PTF UM90280 UM90289 UI91775
  RSU TBD TBD TBD

 
Large Guest LOGOFF Reset Time Mitigation
Name Large Guest LOGOFF Reset Time Mitigation; Mitigate Effects of Guest Memory Reset Time on Logoff
Description Reduce the amount of time that a large guest is unavailable for LOGON because of memory reset during LOGOFF.
Status Available August 28, 2023
Target availability August 2023
Compatibility Once a guest enters the memory reset phase, its virtual devices have been released and it can be logged on again. The old instance of the guest is still in memory reset, but its user ID has been translated to lower case and it cannot be observed except by the QUERY NAMES, INDICATE PAGING, and LOCATE VMDBK commands, all of which will report its status as "LOGOFF" or, for QUERY NAMES, "LOF". The response to INDICATE PAGING has a new column appended to report the guest status (either "LOGOFF" or "---").
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect Because the memory reset process is underway for the old guest, its memory demand will still exist but will decrease over time. Restarting a memory-intensive workload on the guest may not be advisable unless there is adequate real memory configured to accommodate that. The intention is to allow a new instance of the guest to be activated prior to the completion of memory reset so that configuration, operating system or application maintenance can be applied without delay.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.FAST_GUEST_LOGOFF
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66673
  PTF UM90339
  RSU TBD

 
Improved LGR for Mixed-Level Crypto Environments
Name Improved Live Guest Relocation for Mixed-Level Crypto Environments. Formerly known as, LGR Improvements for APVIRT, and Mixed-APVIRT LGR.
Description This support enables successful Live Guest Relocation (LGR) for APVIRT crypto users when the type of the shared crypto resource on the source system does not match the type of shared crypto resource on the target system. QUERY VIRTUAL CRYPTO on any system in a relocation domain will report the lowest level of crypto express adapter available in the shared pools of all systems in a relocation domain. By reporting the functional capability of the lowest level adapter, APVIRT crypto users are able to determine the level of functionality that can be used to enable relocation between systems in the relocation domain without using the FORCE ARCHITECTURE option.
Status Available August 11, 2021
Target availability August 2021
Compatibility When running in an SSI environment, QUERY VIRTUAL CRYPTO will report the lowest level of shared crypto express adapter available in a relocation domain.
Enablement IPL the z/VM system with the LGR Improvements for APVIRT support to activate.
Effect In an SSI environment with mixed levels of Crypto Express adapters and guests in relocation domains that span those mixed levels, they will see the lower level attributes even when running on the member with the higher level Crypto Express (with all members having the PTF applied). When a subset of the members have the PTF applied, there will be a mixture of the rules in place, dependent on the source and target of an relocation. Additional information will be available when the PTF is released. No effect when not in an SSI environment.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction Linux currently uses the results of an AP crypto instruction to determine the level of function available in a relocation domain. No updates to Linux are required.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.CRYPTO.MIXED_APVIRT_LGR
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66496
  PTF UM35893
  RSU TBD

 
MONWRITE CLOSE Option Enhancement
Name MONWRITE CLOSE Option Enhancement
Description This enhancement allows the file mode of the Monitor data file collected by MONWRITE to be specified so that they are no longer restricted to being written to the A-disk.
Status Available November 14, 2023
Target availability December 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement This support will be enabled after the APAR is applied. It cannot be disabled.
Effect There is no effect on systems that do not use the new option. MONWRITE will continue to write Monitor data files to the A-disk unless the command invocation is changed.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66726
  PTF UM90376
  RSU TBD
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
MSS Multi-Target PPRC Exploitation
Name MSS Multi-Target PPRC Exploitation
Description Multi-target PPRC allows both a local and a remote target. One Metro Mirror target could be in the same data center as the local production to protect from a single storage controller failure. A secondary Metro Mirror or Global Mirror target could be in a separate location to protect against a more widespread issue that affects the entire local data center.
 
Multi-Target PPRC is currently supported by z/VM. However, all PPRC target (secondary) devices must reside in subchannel set zero (the default subchannel set). The new z/VM support will add support for up to 3 alternate subchannel sets allowing each PPRC secondary target device of a Multi-Target primary device to exist in a separate alternate subchannel set. This support will also allow Alias devices associated with each secondary target device to reside in the secondary device's corresponding alternate subchannel set. This support will be interlocked with related GDPS xDR support.
 
With this enhancement, the aliases of the primary devices must reside in the same subchannel set as their base devices, even if that is the default subchannel set 0. This differs from the z/OS implementation where all aliases can exist in a separate alternate subchannel set.
Status Available September 18, 2020
Target availability September 18, 2020
Compatibility The concept of logical subchannel set 1, no matter the real subchannel set ID, will be removed in the VM externals. A real device defined in an alternate subchannel set will maintain its real subchannel set ID, even after a Hyperswap. There will however still be the concept of an Active vs. Stand-by set of DASD devices.
Enablement Installation and re-IPL of the z/VM system required.
Effect No effect when not exploiting the new capability, but will impact any client who exploits VMs current alternate subchannel set support.
ISV impact No known ISV impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux interaction. Does require storage server that allows mutli-target PPRC.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.2 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
NVMe EDEVICE Support for z/VM
Name NVMe EDEVICE Support
Description This support allows Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) devices connected via PCI Express (PCIe) adapters to be defined and managed as Fixed-Block Architecture (FBA) emulated devices (EDEVICEs).
Status Available September 16, 2022
Target availability September 2022
Compatibility FEATURES ENABLE PCI is no longer required - PCI support is always enabled and FEATURES ENABLE PCI and FEATURES DISABLE PCI are accepted but ignored.
Enablement Install PCIe adapter and NVMe device. Define device with SET EDEVICE command. Customer is responsible for acquiring a supported NVMe SSD and for device monitoring and management. A sample CMS-based monitoring utility is provided.
Effect TBD
ISV impact Monitor records are enhanced and produced in new combinations, reflecting support for multiple HyperPAV bases and aliases associated with a single EDEVICE.
Linux or hardware interaction LinuxONE hardware required.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.EDEVICE.NVME
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 Base
Service details N/A part of z/VM 7.3 base
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A
Sign up Contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com to become a Sponsor User.

 
Perfkit Support for SMT
Name Performance Toolkit Support for Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT)
Description This enhancement provides new reports within the Performance Toolkit Feature in support of SMT. New reports will display SMT metrics for each core in a partition, and for each core type. Reports will also display the three views of user processor time: raw time, MT-1 equivalent time, and prorated core time. These reports will assist in understanding processor usage and efficiency.
Status Available December 8, 2020
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and recycle Perfkit to pick up SMT enhancements.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66215
  PTF UM35495
  RSU z/VM Perfkit 7.2 - 2101

 
Performance Data Pump
Name Performance Data Pump
Description The z/VM Performance Data Pump extends Performance Toolkit with the ability to extract real-time performance data and send that to enterprise observability products for visualization and analysis, leveraging the customer processes for alerting and reporting. The Data Pump includes support for Splunk. For customers who can use open source, a solution is demonstrated using InfluxDB and Grafana. Sample dashboards for Grafana will be provided. The IBM Z Container Registry offers container images for use with Linux on z/VM.
Status Available August 12, 2023
Target availability August 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement In addition to installing the PTF, customers will define an extra CMS virtual machine for the Data Pump and create a minimal configuration file. Splunk users need to define an event collector and index for the VM performance data and define the required reports and dashboards. To use Grafana dashboards, users need to deploy and configure InfluxDB and Grafana instances or use an existing installation.
Effect The Data Pump is technically independent of the current PERFSVM function. Customers can run either PERFSVM or the Data Pump, or both, depending on the requirements.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction The Data Pump runs in a CMS virtual machine. To run InfluxDB and Grafana containers in a Linux guest on z/VM, Podman or Docker is needed.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66687 (Perfkit)
  PTF UM90334
  RSU TBD
Additional information z/VM Performance Data Pump information
z/VM Grafana dashboards
View spotlight video
View education and demo video

 
Preserve Partial Dump Across IPL
Name Preserve Partial Dump Across Initial Program Load (IPL)
Description Preserving partial dumps caused by a re-IPL of the partition before the dump completion. Currently, dumps which are terminated by a re-IPL of the partition are not preserved across the re-IPL.
Status Available December 10, 2021
Target availability December 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No interaction or dependency is anticipated.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.DUMP.PRESERVE_PARTIAL
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66560
  PTF UM35921
  RSU TBD

 
Query GSKKYMAN Certificates
Name Query GSKKYMAN Certificates
Description Provides support in z/VM TCPIP for querying ceritficates within a specific GSKKYMAN certificate database. The query will list certificate labels and display certain attributes of the certificates. This item is part of the z/VM TCP/IP Streamlined SSL Configuration project.
Status Available December 10, 2021
Target availability December 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities. While new interfaces may be introduced, there is currently no intention to remove existing interfaces, programmatic or otherwise.
Enablement A new CERTMGR command will be shipped with a QUERY option. The CMS DEFAULTS command will be used for setting the defaults certificate database.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details TCP/IP CMS VMSES
  APAR PH40080 VM66561 VM66581
  PTF UI78359 UM35911 UM35914
  RSU TBD TBD TBD

 
Root of Trust
Name Secure Host IPL, KEYSTORE, and Root of Trust
Description Provide support to allow host secure IPL of SAPL and CPLOAD for both ECKD and SCSI devices. A z/VM administrator can request that the machine loader validate the signed IPL code by using the security keys that were previously loaded by the customer on the HMC certificate store. The validation ensures that the IPL code is intact, unaltered, and originates from a trusted build-time source.
 
Additionally, provide support for a local code-signing facility which can securely maintain private keys for code signing purposes. This facility must be used to re-sign code after modification of the hypervisor kernel, either for local modifications or for the application of service.
Status Currently in design.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement SAPL and CPLOAD must be signed and at a level that supports Host Secure IPL. The HMC certificate store must be loaded with any necessary matching code-signing certificates. A secure list-directed IPL must be issued to load the hypervisor kernel for validation. If CP is modified by local installations, updated by vendors, or extended via CPXLOAD, local signing with a customer-provided private key will be required. Recommendations and guidance on signing and validation will be provided by IBM.
Effect The machine loader will use the certificates in the HMC certificate store to validate that the signatures of SAPL and CPLOAD match the signatures on the program.
ISV impact For vendor products which provide new signed text decks for CPXLOAD, the vendor must provide a public key for inclusion by the customer on the HMC.
Linux or hardware interaction IBM z16 or IBM LinuxONE 4 with appropriate service levels applied.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.SECURITY.IPL = 2
Release(s) z/VM 7.4 Feature Pack
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD

 
Query z/VM System Security Settings
Name Query z/VM System Security Settings
Description This item will provide a centralized 'collector' program which gathers security-relevant configuration information from the running z/VM system and its services and provides them to a system programmer or security administrator via a single pane of glass. This item will also provide an API (via SMAPI) by which z/VM management programs, or compliance programs, can collect this data if authorized.
Status Available June 26, 2023
Target availability June 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement After application of PTF, an authorized virtual machine may execute the function via issuance of the relevant invocation string. Program will detect how (or if) security relevant features are enabled.
 
Configuration and control of SMAPI will be required in order to use the API functionality provided by this item.
Effect TBD
ISV impact Directory manager and/or security manager software provided by vendors may need additional enablement support in order to provide data via this interface.
Linux or hardware interaction API support is intended for use by the IBM zSCC (Security & Compliance Center).
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66646
  PTF UM90295
  RSU TBD

 
Query SCPID
Name Query SCPID
Description This enhancement allows the control program identification provided by z/VM guests to be displayed, similar to the HMC Systems Management "Partitions" display. It also provides this information in Monitor domain 1 sample configuration record 15 (MRMTRUSR), "Logged on User" and in new domain 4 event record 14 (MRUSESCP), "SCP Identification". CMS is enhanced to provide its control program identification to z/VM.
Status Available 23, 2024
Target availability April 2024
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement This support will be enabled after z/VM is IPL'd with the APAR. It cannot be disabled.
Effect There is no effect on normal system operation.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.QUERY.SCPID
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details CP CMS
  APAR VM66758 VM66759
  PTF UM90431 UM90430
  RSU TBD TBD

 
REXX Sockets Enhancements
Name REXX Sockets Enhancements
Description This project augments REXX Sockets with additional IOCTL functions to support TLS, adds support for IPv6, improves Domain Name Server support, implements two new socket functions and enhances diagnostics. As a side-effect, it also removes addressability constraints, allowing code to be added easily and naturally in future.
Status Currently in test; soliciting sponsor user feedback.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility TBD
Enablement TBD
Effect TBD
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) TBD
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD
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SCSI IPL Alternate Path Support
Name SCSI IPL Alternate Path Support
Description Alternate paths can be defined for list-directed SCSI IPL via the SET LOADDEV command and the User Directory LOADDEV statement. If IPL fails using the primary path, alternate paths will be used automatically.
Status Available December 7, 2023
Target availability December 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement TBD
Effect No known side-effects.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.SCSI.IPL.ALTERNATE_PATH
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66727
  PTF UM90384
  RSU TBD

 
SET EDEVICE Optional LUN Specification
Name SET EDEVICE Optional LUN Specification
Description SET EDEVICE Optional LUN Specification will allow the LUN operand on the SET EDEVICE command and the EDEVICE system configuration statement to be optional after the first path has been established.
Status Available December 8, 2020
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No effect on current SET EDEVICE command or EDEVICE statement.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.EDEVICE.DEFINITION
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66420
  PTF UM35785
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2101

 
SMAPI FCP EQID API Support
Name SMAPI FCP EQID API Support
Description A new z/VM System Management API (SMAPI) called System_FCP_EQID_Set is created to provide a SMAPI API to enable modification of device equivalency IDs (EQID) for real FCP Adapter devices. This new API is particularly beneficial for customers who use SCSI disks connected via FCP (not edevices) and desire to utilize Live Guest Relocation (LGR) in an SSI environment.
Status Available September 23, 2022
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-start SMAPI to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known ISV impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66626
  PTF UM36014
  RSU TBD

 
SMAPI Query Processors API
Name SMAPI Query Processors API
Description A Systems Management API (SMAPI) that provides information about the real processors available to a z/VM system.
Status Available December 10, 2021
Target availability December 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement No impact to any existing z/VM functionality. This new function will be available via a SMAPI API call.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known ISV impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) New Function APAR for z/VM 7.2.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66568
  PTF UM35922
  RSU TBD

 
Spool Information Enhancements
Name Spool Information Enhancements
Description The Spool Information Enhancements project enhances spool subsystem interfaces to provide additional information. Its objective is to enable spool management software such as z/VM Operations Manager to facilitate client DASD migration and backup activities. These extensions to the existing interfaces will allow clients to manage spool files and volumes more effectively.
Status Available March 1, 2021
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect Diagnose X'D8' can return information indicating which CP-owned volumes contain at least one page of a designated spool file.
Diagnose X'D8' and the *SPL IUCV System Service can process spool files on the System Data File (NSS/DCSS, UCR, IMG, NLS, and TRF files) queue.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time, although ISVs may choose to exploit the new functions to deliver new capabilities.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction at this time.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.SPOOL.EXTENSIONS
Release(s) New Function APAR for z/VM 7.2.
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66479
  PTF UM35825
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102

 
SSI Eight Member Clusters
Name SSI Eight Member Clusters
Description This New Function APAR increases the maximum size of a Single System Image (SSI) cluster from four members to eight members. Four-member clusters may be installed initially, and then additional members may be added to the cluster. This will allow customers to grow their SSI clusters to allow for more workload, and more flexibility in using live guest relocation (LGR) for non-disruptive upgrades and workload balancing.
Status Available September 16, 2022
Target availability September 2022
Compatibility TBD
Enablement TBD
Effect TBD
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.LIMIT.SSI.MEMBERS
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 Base
Service details Part of z/VM 7.3 base. See pre-requisisite service below.
  APAR N/A
  PTF N/A
  RSU N/A

 
Support Larger NVMe EDEVICE Page Space Allocations
Name Support Larger NVMe EDEVICE Page Space Allocations
Description Allow paging space to be allocated anywhere on an NVMe EDEVICE and to be of any size up to the available capacity. Requires a corresponding ICKDSF APAR to Enhance CPFMTXA to enhance FBA allocation.
Status Available August 22, 2023
Target availability August 2023
Compatibility This support is upward compatible. It depends on an updated version of ICKDSF.
Enablement Enabled when the PTFs are applied and NVMe EDEVICEs are allocated with large extents using CPFMTXA (ICKDSF).
Effect NVMe FBA EDEVICEs can handle large paging workloads more effectively.
ISV impact No known impacts. No impact to Broadcom products.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.EDEVICE.NVME
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details ICKDSF CP
  APAR PH52513 VM66675
  PTF UI92308 UM90336
  RSU TBD TBD

 
System SSL 2.5 Uplift
Name System SSL 2.5 Uplift
Description An update of the cryptographic services library is planned to allow for enhanced certificate diagnostic enhancements, improved algorithmic support, and future enablement of TLS 1.3 for secure connectivity to the z/VM platform.
Status Available October 4, 2023.
Target availability Fourth Quarter 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM TLS Server(s) or z/VM LDAP Server(s) to activate the code.
Effect No known effect.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR PH56199
  PTF UI93720
  RSU TBD

 
Thin Stack Adapter Interrupt Support
Name Thin Stack Adapter Interrupt Support
Description This enhancement updates the Thin Stack FCP SCSI device driver and associated IO routines to exploit adapter interruptions. It also provides improved error handling to the SCSIDISC command. Use of adapter interruptions is required for Thin Stack to be compatible with future models of the z processor.
Status Available August 22, 2023
Target availability August 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Required the use of an updated SALIPL (CMS command), SCSIDISC (CMS command), and CPLOAD. All three component may be used independently, however the full benefit of this line item is not achieved until all three items are installed and the IPL record for FCP SCSI based z/VM system has been re-written using the updated SALIPL. The new SALIPL will install an updated SAPL system loader program.
Effect This enhancement impacts: IPL from FCP SCSI devices, dump to FCP SCSI devices using abend and SNAPDUMP processing, the SALIP and SCSIDISC commands.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.THINSTACK
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66654
  PTF UM90335
  RSU TBD

 
Timing Enhancements
Name z/VM Timing Enhancements
Description The z/VM Timing Enhancements line item will improve the current support of the Server Time Protocol (STP) by including leap seconds in several key interfaces where z/VM reports on civil time. When leap seconds are properly configured to the Central Processor Complex (CPC), this will mean that time generated by z/VM and time generated by other operating systems that support STP and are part of the same timing network, will be consistent.
Status Currently in development; soliciting sponsor user feedback.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement TBD
Effect TBD
ISV impact TBD
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name TBD
Release(s) TBD
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD
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TLS 1.3 Support
Name TLS 1.3 Support
Description TLS 1.3 Support will introduce support in z/VM for TLS 1.3. This enhancement will modernize the z/VM SSL offering, allowing customers to adhere to current requirements related to cryptographic algorithms and key usage.
Status Currently in design.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and configure SSL to exploit TLS 1.3.
Effect No known effect
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.4 Feature Pack
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD

 
TLS / SSL OCSP Support
Name TLS / SSL OCSP Support
Description This support provides general peer certificate cross-checking against an external source, via OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol) and via the CRL (Certificate Revocation List) Distribution Points (CDP) mechanisms embedded as part of the z/VM System SSL Cryptographic library, when the peer certificate is built with the extension(s) for CDP and OCSP. Online Certificate Protocol was codified in RFC 6960 and CDP was documented as part of RFC 5280. Support for these has been part of z/OS System SSL for some time; this deliverable allows enablement and configuration of that support on z/VM 7.2.
Status Available January 6, 2021
Target availability December 2020
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement This function is enabled and configured through new DTCPARMS configuration parameters for the SSL/TLS Server. Changes made to the SSL configuration parameters will require a restart of the SSL servers. A small enhancement is also made to the TCPIP stack so a restart of TCP/IP will be required after the PTF is applied.
Effect Security is enhanced by verifying that a client certificate has not been revoked. When this support is enabled, the handshake time will increase when a peer certificate is presented with CDP and/or OCSP extensions, since a connection needs to be made to an external server.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR PH28216
  PTF UI72963
  RSU z/VM 7.2 - 2102

 
Two-Speed Monitoring
Name Two-Speed Monitoring
Description Two-Speed Monitoring provides a mechanism for collecting z/VM Monitor data at two different sampling rates. The underlying requirement is to be able to allow some guests to collect detailed data for a relatively brief period so it can be preserved if a situation arises that requires it for analysis, while allowing other guests to collect data less frequently and over longer time periods for customary purposes such as real-time monitoring or feeding the z/VM Performance Data Pump. This avoids disrupting existing client processes that rely on Monitor data collection.
Status Currently In test; soliciting sponsor user input.
Target availability TBD
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code. Change an existing MONWRITE guest or create a new one to use the new support.
Effect No effect on current use of MONITOR command; current keywords will remain unchanged. Some changes to QUERY MONITOR responses.
ISV impact No known impact but opportunity for exploitation by products that consume Monitor data.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.LIMIT.MONITOR.SUBINTERVAL
Release(s) z/VM 7.4 Feature Pack
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR TBD
  PTF TBD
  RSU TBD

 
VM Pass-Through ESA Support
Name VM Pass-Through ESA Support
Description Eliminate VM Pass-Through dependencies on the 370 Accommodation facility and remove support for deprecated devices, enabling PVM to run on either CMS or z/CMS.
Status Available February 9, 2024
Target availability January 2024
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Install PTF and restart the PVM facility.
Effect No known side-effects.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name N/A
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66733
  PTF UV99447
  RSU TBD

 
VMEVENT Enhancements
Name *VMEVENT Enhancements
Description Additional information is provided through the *VMEVENT CP system service:
  • Events are presented for virtual-machine disconnection from and reconnection to a terminal session.
  • Identification of the connected terminal session (e.g., device type, address, host virtual machine, and IP address, as appropriate) is included on the existing logon event and the new reconnect event.
  • Full-precision timeout values are added to the logoff-timeout-started and logoff-timeout-service events, to represent times above 65535 seconds accurately.
  • Redundant runnable-state-entered events are eliminated in cases where the virtual machine was already in runnable state.
Status Available June 13, 2023
Target availability June 2023
Compatibility This support is upward compatible. Where existing event record formats are modified, the new information is appended at the end. Existing fields retain their prior content, with one exception: previously, a logoff-timeout value above 65535 seconds was incorrectly truncated to 16 bits; the maximum representable value, 65535, will be presented in this field instead.
 
Existing programs that consume *VMEVENT data must be able to tolerate (e.g., ignore) new record types as well as content appended to existing record types.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code.
Effect No known effects.
ISV impact No known impacts.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.VMEVENT
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66679
  PTF UM90293
  RSU TBD

 
VSwitch Bridge Port Enhancements
Name VSwitch Bridge Port Enhancements
Description VSwitch Bridge Port Enhancements adds a new NICDISTRIBUTION option to the VSwitch HiperSockets Bridge. When activated, this new option enables the Bridge to distinguish and manage separately the traffic generated by various HiperSocket connections on the same HiperSocket CHPID used by the Bridge. Traffic entering and exiting the Bridge Port via an OSA link aggregation group will be more evenly distributed among the assigned OSAs in the group. Activation of the new option also enables the VSwitch to extract IPv4 and IPv6 address assignments for display in QUERY VSWITCH.
Status Available December 10, 2021
Target availability December 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTFs and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code. The NICDISTRIBUTION feature can be set on a VSwitch basis. The default behavior is how it currently works. It can be changed dynamically with the SET VSWITCH BRIDGEPORT NICDISTRIBUTION command.
Effect With a NICDISTRIBUTION ON configuration, there is additional processing to interrogate each Ethernet frame and inspect the source MAC Address. Performance measurements indicate no noticeable impact by this change. It is, of course, work load dependent. With NICDISTRIBUTION OFF, the extra frame inspection is not performed.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No known Linux or hardware interaction.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.VSWITCH.NICDISTRIBUTION
Release(s) z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details See below for the IBM service information.
  APAR VM66557
  PTF UM35920
  RSU TBD

 
Warning Track Interruption Facility
Name Warning Track Interruption Facility
Description Warning Track Interruption Facility will be exploited at z/VM host level to receive warnings that PR/SM will undispatch a logical CPU from its backing physical CPU. With these warnings, CP can undispatch work running on said logical CPU to make it redispatchable elsewhere.
Status Available November 8, 2023.
Target availability December 2023
Compatibility No known incompatibilities.
Enablement Apply PTF and re-IPL z/VM to activate the code. The function will be enabled by default. The support will include a new SRM configuration statement option as well as a new SET SRM dynamic command option to enable/disable Warning Track exploitation in z/VM.
Effect Warning Track intends to reduce suspend time and other poor performance symptoms observed when low entitlement LPARs consume more than their entitlement.
ISV impact Some monitor changes will be included in the support. If you have a performance product, please see your vendor.
Linux or hardware interaction Requires z14 or higher. No known Linux interaction at this time.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.SRM.WARNINGTRACK
Release(s) z/VM 7.3 New Function APAR
Service details CP Perfkit
  APAR VM66678 VM66709
  PTF UM90375 UM90372
  RSU TBD TBD

 
z/XC Architecture Support
Name z/XC Architecture Support
Description z/XC Architecture support will add a new virtual machine architecture mode that enables CMS applications running in z/Architecture to take advantage of multiple address spaces. A z/XC guest will be able to exploit VM Data Spaces with z/Architecture in the same way that an ESA/XC guest can exploit them with Enterprise Systems Architecture. This support will allow z/Architecture CMS (z/CMS) to use VM Data Spaces for functions such as accessing Shared File System (SFS) Directory Control (DIRCONTROL) directories. It will also allow use of programs employing z/Architecture instructions and registers (within the limits of z/CMS support) and exploiting data spaces in the same CMS session.
Status Available March 31, 2021
Target availability March 2021
Compatibility No known incompatibilities. Statement of support for z/VM 7.1 may be limited.
Enablement Apply the PTF and re-IPL CP. Then, in a virtual machine, SET MACHINE XC and IPL ZCMS.
Effect None anticipated.
ISV impact No known impacts at this time.
Linux or hardware interaction No interaction or dependency is anticipated.
Environment variable name CP.FUNCTION.ZXC
Release(s) z/VM 7.1 and z/VM 7.2 New Function APAR
Service details CP CMS PTK
  APAR VM66201 VM66425 VM66489
  PTF UM35770, UM35771 UM35820, UM35821 UM35816
  RSU TBD TBD TBD

 
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If you have interest in a project above and would like more information, feel free to contact Kerry Wilson - kerryw@us.ibm.com. Please understand that we may need to limit participation and there are other requirements that may vary from project to project.