VM news and site changes
Keep apprised of news, announcement and events with this handy reference to highlights and news links, organized by month.


Updated: 15 Dec.2009
December 2009
2010 IBM Technical Conferences
Mark your calendar for 2010 IBM System z Technical Universities featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z

IBM System z Technical University
May 17- 21, 2010
Berlin - Hotel Berlin

IBM System z (Expo) Technical University
Oct. 4-8, 2010
Boston MA (Marriott Copely Place)


z/VM V6.1 and z/VM V5.4 SDO Update
We've updated our SDO information for z/VM V6.1 and z/VM V5.4. (Thanks to Willian Rampazzo)
VM Licensed Products (LP)
The VM LP Migration Matrix has been updated.
(Thanks to Denny Refsnider)
Interesting Articles
Enjoy a continuous flow of articles in the trade press that cover System z, z/VM and Linux on System z. For example:


November 2009


A z/VM V6.1, V5.4, V5.3 Red Alert (Oct. 28, 2009)
View the z/VM Red Alert for users of OSA-Express3 devices with microcode level 7.31.0 and beyond who have a z/VM TCP/IP stack configuration that includes a VIPA interface.
PK98608 OSA-EXPRESS3 DEVICES FAIL DURING STARTUP WITH RESETTING EVENTS
IBM Announcement: Hardware Withdrawal

November 17, 2009
Hardware withdrawal: IBM System z9 - Replacements available
US 909-120
Effective June 30, 2010, IBM® will withdraw from marketing the IBM System z9® Business Class (z9™ BC) and System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC), all models, features, and upgrades. This includes all upgrades from IBM eServer™ zSeries® 800 (z800), or IBM eServer zSeries 890 (z890), to z9 BC and IBM eServer zSeries 900 (z900), or IBM eServer zSeries 990 (z990) to z9 EC.

See full announcement letter US 909-120 for details and replacement information.


2010 Events and User Groups
Mark your calendar for 2010 z/VM and Linux Events.
When you know the dates of your VM and Linux user groups, workshops and courses, let us know so that we can include them in the events calendar.


2010 IBM Technical Conferences
Mark your calendar for 2010 IBM System z Technical Conferences featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z

IBM System z Technical Conference
May 17- 21, 2010
Berlin - Hotel Berlin

IBM System z Expo
Oct. 4-8, 2010
Boston MA (Marriott Copely Place)


Solutions on System z
System z solutions combine the foundation of IBM hardware, software and middleware with flexible financing and packaging options to help your business meet and overcome the challenges of doing business in the on demand world and Linux on System z.
For example, see IBM System z Solution Edition Series and IBM System z Solution Edition for Enterprise Linux .


Required z/VM Service to Support System z10
Please see z/VM required service to support Crypto Express3 by z/VM V6.1, V5.4, and V5.3 and also prior to using 3590 and 3592 tapes with z/VM, including install of z/VM from tape.


October 2009
A z/VM V6.1, V5.4, V5.3 Red Alert (Oct. 28, 2009)
View the z/VM Red Alert for users of OSA-Express3 devices with microcode level 7.31.0 and beyond who have a z/VM TCP/IP stack configuration that includes a VIPA interface.
PK98608 OSA-EXPRESS3 DEVICES FAIL DURING STARTUP WITH RESETTING EVENTS
General Availability
z/VM V6.1 is generally availabile on October 23, 2009.
IBM z/VM Announcements - October 2009

IBM z/VM V6.1 - Foundation for future virtualization growth
US - 209-401
Europe/LA: ZP09-0459
AP - AP09-0381
Canada: A09-1311

New and Updated materials for z/VM 6.1 Announcement and General Availability


New and Updated materials for z/VM 5.4

Several IBM Announcements - October 2009
October 20, 2009

System z10 security-rich offerings to protect your data
US - 109-678

IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager for Linux on System z , V4.2 helps you monitor and manage the power and thermal usage of your IT environment
US - 209-400

Preview: IBM z/VSE Version 4 Release 3 - More capacity for future growth
US - 209-319


One-day updates and User Groups
Consider spending a day with one of the regional user groups for z/VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities these valuable one-day events!
Listen to IBM Webcast
Register for this webcast. Responding to Today's Demands with a Dynamic Infrastructure planned for Tuesday, October 20, 11:00am EST


New Linux Paper and tar file
Sharing and maintaining RHEL 5.3 Linux under z/VM
Thanks for Attending, Speaking, and/or Exhibiting at IBM System z Expo

IBM System z Expo
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
Oct. 5-9, 2009
Orlando, Florida




September 2009
Service news
Newest service levels for HCM for support of WWPN Prediction Tool (WPT)
One-day IBM Redbooks Workshops around the world
Enroll in this one day workshop in a city near you:
System z Virtualization (z/VM and Linux)

This 1-day technical seminar provides information about the exciting way System z provides virtualization using z/VM and Linux. Students in this session will learn how virtualization technology works as well as how the IBM mainframe is an important part of the picture.


One-day updates and User Groups
Consider spending a day with one of the regional user groups for z/VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities these valuable one-day events!
New ITSO Redbook Draft
Practical Migration to Linux on System z


August 2009
IBM Announcements - August 2009
August 4, 2009
Software withdrawal and service discontinuance: IBM Selected System z products - Replacements available

z/VSE Update
Listen to the z/VSE update presented as a Live Virtual Class (LVC)
Date: August 05, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM ET (NY) / 10:00 AM CT / 8:00 AM PT / 4:00 PM London / 5:00PM Frankfurt
Duration: 75 Minutes
View Abstract
Speaker: Siegfried Langer, IBM
Register for this event
z/VM 5.4 SDO Update
We've updated our z/VM 5.4 SDO information. (Thanks to Willian Rampazzo)


July 2009
IBM Announcements - July 21 2009
Faster data access with FICON Express8 for System z10
US 109-417

IBM Systems Director VMControl Image Manager for Linux on System z , V2.1 lets you create, manage, and deploy images across various operating systems and virtual environments
US 209-095

New and/or updated z/VM materials for July 21 announcements


IBM Announcement - July 7 2009
Preview: IBM z/VM V6.1 - Foundation for future virtualization growth

New or updated z/VM materials for this preview


Enroll by 31 July for early-bird registration
The next IBM Technical Conference for System z is:

IBM System z Expo
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
Oct. 5-9, 2009
Orlando, Florida


developerWorks for Linux on System z
Keep apprised of the updates for Linux on System z via developerWorks.


June 2009
Introducing IBM z Rewards Program
IBM z Rewards Program , a new program that simplifies migrating applications from HP, SUN and other competitive servers to IBM System z10. (June 2009)
Contacting IBM about z/VM Publications
A new feedback form is available for conveying your comments about z/VM publications, z/VM Reader's Comment Form
You can find the form by clicking on the " Contact z/VM" entry in the blue left navigation on z/VM web pages.
One-day updates and User Groups
Consider spending a day with one of the regional user groups for z/VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities these valuable one-day events!


May 2009
Mark your 2009 Calendar ...
The next IBM Technical Conferences for System z are:

IBM System z Expo
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
Oct. 5-9, 2009
Orlando, Florida

IBM System z and Systems Storage Technical Symposium
May 18-21, 2009
Chennai, India


Article: Securing A Virtual World
Read the article by Alan Altmark in the May-June 2009 edition of Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition:
Securing a Virtual World,
IBM's z/VM is a proven solution for today's IT environments
Upcoming ITSO Redbook Residencies

Service news
Newest service levels for HCD for support of WWPN Prediction Tool (WPT)
z/VM 5.4 SDO Update
We've updated our z/VM 5.4 SDO information. (Thanks to Willian Rampazzo)
Catch the WAVV !
Enroll today to attend WAVV World Alliance of VSE and VM and Linux for a long weekend of technical education with product expo.


April 2009
Mark your 2009 Calendar ...
The next IBM Technical Conference for System z is:

IBM System z Technical Conference
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
May 4-8, 2009
Brussels, Belgium


A z/VM V5.4 Red Alert
View the z/VM Red Alert for TPF users (April 17)
VM64644 WAIT9050 CPOWNED PACKS IN TPF MODE
IBM Announcement - April 28, 2009
IBM System z enhancements, continuing to manage risk

z/VM materials updated for this announcement


One-day updates and User Groups
Consider spending a day with one of the regional user groups for z/VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities these valuable one-day events!
The Strength of System z: Customer Video
Satisfied users of IBM System z discuss the strength of the platform.
- View/Listen to the video
- Read the transcript
New ITSO RedPapers
Implementing the Poughkeepsie Green Data Center
  -- Showcasing a DynamicInfrastructure

Multiple z/OS Virtual Machines on z/VM


Call for MONWRITE Data
To help improve our understanding of customer environments, IBM z/VM Performance is requesting specimens of MONWRITE data from customer systems.

RSU (Recommended Service Upgrade)
View the contents z/VM 5.4 RSU for March 2009.

See also the chart of RSU schedules anticipated for 2009


z/VM V5.2 Service Ends soon
Just a reminder that central service for z/VM V5.2 ends April 30, 2009.

See the z/VM Upgrade page on how to upgrade to a current release of z/VM.


45th Anniversary of the IBM Mainframe
Some of you may be too young to remember, but can surely appreciate this day in history, April 7, 1964, when the IBM System/360 mainframe was announced.

Read Jim Elliott's presentation entitled IBM Mainframes - 45 Years of Evolution PDF

Be sure to read about the newest IBM Mainframes, IBM System z10 EC and z10 BC




March 2009
z/VM 5.4 SDO Update
We've updated our z/VM 5.4 SDO information. (Thanks to Robert Schneider)
Ordering z/VM via ShopzSeries

New Paper about Virtualization
z/VM and Xen Virtualization Performance (January 2009)
by Juergen Doelle (IBM) and Eugene Ong (IBM)
The paper analyzes the performance of the Hypervisors z/VM on IBM System z and Xen on IBM System x when the level of CPU and memory over commitment was scaled.

IBM System z: Myth vs Truth
New ads and video for System z with the theme Myth vs Truth

IBM System z Can do IT
Read about System z Advantages at z Can Do IT
View these System z videos on You Tube:


IBM Redbooks Draft




February 2009
2009 Events, Classes, Training, Conferences
The VM and Linux events calendar has been updated with several user groups meetings, IBM training, z/VM and Linux workshops from VM Resources, Ltd.
SHARE User Group
Consider spending a day or two, or even the whole week with SHARE User Group in Austin, TX.
Excerpt from SHARE web site:
SHARE in Austin will feature hundreds of hours of technical education to take you further in your profession. You will find content that covers a variety of enterprise IT topics, including the 2009 themes - "Total Enterprise Virtualization" and "Service Orientation - The Foundation for IT Modernization."

VM Licensed Products (LP)
The VM LP Migration Matrix has been updated.
(Thanks to Denny Refsnider)
IBM Redbooks for Linux on System z and z/VM

z/Journal
  • The February/March 2009 edition of the PDF z/Journal is available for your reading pleasure.

z/Architecture
Recent Announcements


January 2009
2009 Events, Classes, Training, Conferences
The VM and Linux events calendar has been updated with several user groups meetings, IBM training, z/VM and Linux workshops from VM Resources, Ltd.
One-day updates
Consider spending a day with one of the regional user groups for VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities for one-day events!
z/VM V5.4: PTFs providing CMS based SSL support
The list of PTFs for the enablement of the z/VM 540 SSL server are available and can be ordered.
Mark your 2009 Calendar ...
The next IBM Technical Conferences for System z are:

IBM System z Technical Conference
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
May 4-8, 2009
Brussels, Belgium
IBM System z Expo
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
Oct. 5-9, 2009
Orlando, Florida


New Paper about Linux on System z
Concocting 500 Virtual Linux Servers in Three Days by Mike MacIsaac (IBM) describes one process to create 500 Linux systems on two LPARs
(January 2009)

IBM Redbooks for Linux on System z and z/VM



December 2008
z/VM 5.4 SDO Update
We've updated our z/VM 5.4 SDO information.
Hear about z10, z/VM, or Linux on System z
Consider spending a day with a regional user group for VM and Linux updates and to connect with colleagues. Below are opportunities for one-day events!
  • December 04, 2008
    PDF HILLGANG - The DC area Linux and z/VM users group in Herndon, VA

Live Virtual Classes (Webcasts) in December

Big Blue Goes Green: Update on Project Big Green
Speaker:
Mr. Bill Reeder, IBM System z Sales and Strategy; Americas Group
Day: Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008
Two Times: 11:00 AM ET or 4:00 PM ET (US & CANADA)
View Abstract


Smart, Cool, Affordable - A VSE Perspective of the IBM System z10 Business Class
Speaker:
Mr. Mike Augustine, IBM - Offering Manager, System z
Day: Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM Eastern U.S. (New York)
View Abstract


Mark your 2009 Calendar ...
The next IBM Technical Conferences for System z are:

IBM System z Technical Conference
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
May 4-8, 2009
Brussels, Belgium
IBM System z Expo
... featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux on System z
Oct. 5-9, 2009
Orlando, Florida


Software withdrawal - December 2, 2008
Selected IBM System z products. Some replacements available
US 908-280





Historical information
Link or view news or changes made during these years:
2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996.