Last Updated: 31 March 2025


z/VM 7.2 Continuous Delivery Function


This page contains a list of continuous delivery function released on z/VM 7.2 after the General Availability date. The items in this list have been included in the base of z/VM 7.3 and future releases of z/VM.


Characteristics of a New Function APAR


 
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

 
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

 
Direct to Host Service Transfer
Name z/VM Direct to Host Service Transfer; GetShopz
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 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

 
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.

 
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

 
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

 
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.

 
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

 
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

 
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

 
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

 
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

 
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 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

 
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

 
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

 
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