z/VSE V4.3 - More capacity for growth

There were already two preview announcements of z/VSE 4.3. The first one already in 2009, the second one was on July 22, 2010 along with lots of other announcements, as you undoubtedly know : 'Preview: IBM z/VSE Version 4 Release 3 offers more capacity and IBM zEnterprise exploitation (ZP10-0380)'. Last Tuesday we saw the 'real' announcement of z/VSE 4.3 : 'IBM z/VSE V4.3 - More capacity for growth (ZP10-0402)'.

The highlights :

• "Exploitation of innovative IBM® zEnterprise 196 and z10™ technology:
  • Ability to dynamically add logical CPs without preplanning.
  • Large page (1 megabyte page) support for data spaces.
  • Fast Path to Linux® on System z® function in a z/VM® mode LPAR.
  • Use of Adjunct Processor-queue adapter-interruption facility for cryptographic operations.
  • Configurable Crypto Express3 for data encryption and SSL acceleration.
• Virtual storage constraint relief for CICS® TS workload growth and system consolidation.
• Four-digit device addresses for ease of use and infrastructure simplification in mixed IT environments consisting of z/VSE, z/VM, Linux on System z, and/or z/OS®.
• IPv6/VSE V1.1, which provides both an IPv6 and IPv4 solution.
• Networking, security, and auditability enhancements.
• DOS/VS RPG II support for CICS TS.
• DL/I VSE V1.12.
• Enhanced IBM System Storage® options:
  • IBM XIV® Storage System
  • IBM System Storage TS7680 ProtectTIER Deduplication Gateway for System z"

z/VSE 4.3 will be available on November 26, 2010.

It won't hurt to take a closer look at the details. The announcement e.g. also mentions that z/VSE 4.1 is End ofSupport on April 30, 2011. It also indicates which FSUs (Fast Service Upgrades) are possible. And : "CICS/VSE V2.3 will no longer be offered as part of the z/VSE V4.3 package. The CICS coexistence environment including DL/I DOS/VS V1.10 will be removed".