Announcement of IMS 13 and some extra info

Yesterday IBM announced IMS 13 : 'IBM Information Management System (IMS) 13 Transaction and Database Servers delivers high performance and low total cost of ownership (ZP13-0485)' and various IMS Tools like e.g. IMS Enterprise Suite for z/OS , V3.1 : 'IBM IMS Tools enhanced to help better manage your IMS database environments (ZP13-0478)'.

The one thing that gets a lot of attention is the 100,000 transactions per second benchmarked for Fast Path processing. And if you want a short summary of all what's new, then take a look at the 'What's New' tab over here at the IBM IMS pages. Do take a look at the features tab too, because there's some interesting news on pricing as well :

IMS 13 helps lower the Total Cost of Ownership. With IMS, you can expect:

• Cost-effective zIIP solutions for some IMS workloads that lower CPU consumption by up to 15%
• Up to 62% CPU time savings for Java Applications
• Savings on network support
• Lower operating costs through exploitation of z/OS and System z
• Superior environmental efficiency in power, cooling, and space

As I already told you in my previous post, IMS claims to step up in the same way as DB2 did already. It should consume less resources/mips (out of the box) and still deliver a much better performance. By the way, I mentioned that DB2 was celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but did you also know that IMS turned 45 (!) this year.

IMS 13 becomes available on October 25, 2013 and requires at least z/OS 1.13.

While I was browsing around I also came across some interesting IMS resources.
I mentioned the IMS Newsletter quite some time ago, but the latest issue came out yesterday and also focuses of course on the new IMS 13 release. You can find it over here. One article gives more detail on how IMS 13 efficiency is improved to reduce MIPS usage. You can subscribe to the newsletter at this page.
And if you're on twitter, you can also follow @IBM_IMS to get all the breaking news on IMS. And while you're at it, just start following Helene Lyon as well : @HeleneLyon.

Announcements on price changes for IPLA and MLC softwares on z/OS

Today IBM announced DB2 11, IMS 13 and the DB2 Analytics Accelerator for z/OS V4.1 and I'll surely return to (some of) these in later posts. But there were also a couple of announcements regarding software pricing. And don't turn away yet assuming there's another round of price increases. No there's actually good news too, this time. So, keep on reading.

About the IPLA software there's a list of Websphere products that will see an increase in Belgium of 3% starting on January 1, 2014 : 'Price Changes on Selected System z and zSeries Software Program Products (ZA13-1127)'. As you know I mainly give the details for my own country but do check out the announcement itself to see what will happen in your country.

About the MLC software there's a limited list of softwares that get the same pricing as later versions : 'Price Changes in monthly license charges (MLC) on selected IBM System z Software Products (ZA13-1128)'. We've seen this mechanism before. "With these increases, DB2 for z/OS versions 8 and 9 will cost the same as version 10, IMS versions 10 and 11 will cost the same as version 12, and Enterprise COBOL for z/OS versions 3 and 4 will cost the same as version 5".

But how about the good news then ? Well, Ray Jones (IBM) mentioned it in his keynote speech at the Total Solutions Event last week in Brussels, but here it is in this same announcement : "IBM intends to price the next upcoming version of DB2 and the next upcoming version of IMS equal to the prices of DB2 10 and IMS 12 respectively". This is actually two times good news. First of all, there's no price increase between the two releases. But there's more. When DB2 10 was announced IBM did a large effort to improve the efficiency of DB2, so that the new release not only offered new functionalities but actually consumed less resources. If this happens again with DB2 11, you actually win twice ! And, I refer to Ray Jones once again, the same will now also apply to IMS 13 where the same efforts were now also delivered by the IMS development team.
All in all, this gives you a couple of good reasons to move forward to newer versions of these software products.

Updated alerts for Red Alert APAR OA42277

Last week I posted on a 'Red Alert : Potential loss of data for DB2 v10 users on z/OS 1.12 and 1.13'. Now there are two updates on this Alert.
You can check them out over here :

• 2013.05.31
  Updated alert for OA42277 - Potential loss of data for DB2 v10 users & IMS FastPath DEDB users on z/OS 1.12, 1.13 and 2.1 releases 
  It seems that not only DB2 users can be affected : "The problem may occur for DB2 V10, IMS FastPath DEDB or PDSE data sets".

• 2013.06.03
  Updated alert for OA42277 - An error has been discovered in a Pre Req for Red Alert APAR OA42277 

I'm taking over the content of this last Red Alert.

Abstract:

An error has been discovered in a Pre Req for Red Alert APAR OA42277

Potential loss of access to data in DB2 or MQSeries Log data sets greater than 2gb on z/OS 1.12, 1.13 after application of PTF's UA68675 & UA68676 for APAR OA39870 and base z/OS 2.1.

Description:

Any application using the RBA interface to Media Manager accessing Extended Format (EF) VSAM data sets greater than 2gb may lose access to the data past 2gb. Applications using the relative CI interface are not affected. Data sets defined with Extended Addressability are also not affected. This includes all current versions of DB2 and MQSeries and potentially other users of Media Manager's RBA Interface to access EF VSAM Data Sets greater than 2gb, such as IMS FastPath DEDB and other utility programs which may access these data sets.

A usermod/method is currently being developed to be able to access the data above 2gb.

Please see APAR OA42425 for more details.

Recommended Actions:

1. Do not install PTF's for Red Alert APAR OA42277 or PTF's for Pre Req OA39870.
2. To avoid the problem in Red Alert APAR OA42277, zDMF users should refrain from using zDMF until complete PTF chain can be installed. The risk of OA42277 is extremely small for those customers without zDMF.
3. If PTF's for OA39870 are installed on z/OS 1.12 or 1.13 please remove as soon as possible.
4. Extended format VSAM datasets greater than 2gb, such as DB2 Logs, MQ Logs and IMS FastPath DEDB, accessed with Media Manager using the RBA interface while the fix for OA39870 was installed, should be verified. Please see APAR OA42425 for instructions.
5. Monitor APAR OA42425 for updates regarding the availability of the usermod and recovery procedures.
6. z/OS 2.1 users will need to install the ++APAR for OA42425 when available.

IMS V13 Release Planning Book and Information Center

The IMS 13 QPP (Qualtiy Partnership Program) was announced at the beginning of this month. Hereby a number of IMS customers will be able to use IMS 13 before General Announcement.

If you're interested to learn more about IMS 13, you might want to have a look at the following sources. They were listed out by Dean Meltz from IBM on the IMS-L Digest list. You can find the archives over here.

First of all there's the general IBM IMS 13 page that you can find over here.

Then there's the first edition of the IMS V13 Release Planning book (RPG). "As always, this book will be updated and republished when the product becomes generally available". You can see the IMS V13 RPG here. A first part focuses on General planning information for IMS Version 13. "These topics provide an overview of the new functions and enhancements, describe how these new functions might affect your installation, and provide general migration considerations. IBM IMS Tools that support IMS Version 13 are also described". The second part treats the Planning for IMS Version 13 enhancements. "Planning for the IMS Version 13 enhancements includes understanding how the following areas are affected: installation, system definition, administration, troubleshooting and reference".

You see that from there on you can move to the Information Center for IMS 13. But there's more. Dean also points out that there's not only an online version of the Information Management Software for z/OS Solutions Information Center. This information Center covers DB2, IMS and Infosphere products. There's also an installable version of this Information Center that runs on Windows XP and Windows 7 which you can use without an internet connection. All information about it can be found over here. Be sure to have a good look at the readme file because there are a couple of options for installing and running the product.

IBM System z software announcements : IMS 13

Here's my last of System z sotware announcements from this week I wanted to tell you about. IBM also announced the IMS 13 (ZP12-0477) Quality Partnership Program. IMS 13 should provide, as the title mentions, extremely high performance and availablility.

Here are the hightlights :

IMS™ 13 Database Manager enhancements

• IMS full-function, high-availability database and fast-path data entry database alter support enhances availability.
• Database versioning offers greater flexibility and speed in enabling new programs and databases.
• Additional support for Java™ and SQL and tools ease IMS development and access to IMS data.
• Enhanced log, storage, and infrastructure support reduce total cost of ownership, improve performance, and enable growth.

IMS™ 13 Transaction Manager enhancements

• IMS Connect, the TCP/IP gateway to IMS transactions, operations, and data, offers improved IMS flexibility, availability, resilience, and security.
• The Intersystem Communication (ISC) connection TCP/IP link can help reduce maintenance costs and complexities.
• Synchronous program switch and enhanced callout support ease IMS application development and connectivity to assist developers with business transformation.
• Enhanced commands, security, repository, and open transaction manager access (OTMA) support simplify operations, improve availability, and can help reduce total cost of ownership.

The Quality Partnership Program implies that IBM plans to ship IMS 13 to customers already selected as participants in the QPP process. This will be done as of December 14, 2012.
General availability of IMS V13 will be announced at a later date.

Price changes for some CICS and IMS versions

On September 1, 2012 IBM announced some price changes. The first one is for CICS : ‘Price Changes on IBM CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3 and V4 Software Program Products (ZA12-1058)’. Effective with the billing period that starts on or after July 1, 2013, the monthly license charges (MLC) will increase for the following programs and its features : CICS Transaction Server for z/OS Version 3 and CICS Transaction Server for z/OS Version 4. In the meantime IBM also makes the intention to keep supporting CICS TS V3.2 until at least 3Q 2014 and CICS TS V4.2 until at least 3Q 2017.
In general, EMEA prices for these recurring charges (MLC) will increase by 9%.

Another announcement was about IMS : ‘Price Changes on IBM IMS V9 and V10 Database Manager and Transaction Manager Software Program Products (ZA12-1054)’. Effective with the billing period that starts on or after January 1, 2013, the monthly license charges (MLC) will increase for the following programs IMS V9 Database Manager, IMS V9 Transaction Manager, IMS V10 Database Manager, IMS V10 Transaction Manager. IMS V9 will be priced consistent with the price of IMS V10 today, and IMS V10 will be priced consistent with the price of IMS V11.
“Average VWLC and AWLC increases for a 500 MSU configuration will be within a bandwidth of +9% to +11%, depending on the program product and the country. Average EWLC and AEWLC increases for a 150 MSU configuration will be within a bandwidth of +8% to +10% depending on the program product and the country” (< EMEA Newsletter).

IBM Announcement : IMS 12 Transaction and Database Server

Today, IBM announces IMS 12 : 'IBM IMS 12 Transaction and Database Servers deliver savings you can count on (ZP11-0453'. It should have been thoroughly tested by now as we already wrote about the QPP just about a year ago.

The highlights :

"IMS™ 12 Database Manager (IMS DB) enhancements

• Broadened Java™ and XML support and tools can ease IMS development and access to IMS data.
• IMS Fast Path Buffer Manager enhancements utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and overall system performance.
• Full Function Dynamic Buffer Pool support, centralized repository support, and enhanced commands simplify operations and improve availability.
• Extended Address Volume (EAV) support, Database Recovery Control (DBRC), Fast Path, and Full Function DB enhancements relieve some capacity constraints.

IMS 12 Transaction Manager (IMS TM) enhancements

• IMS Connect, the TCP/IP gateway to IMS transactions, operations, and data, offers improved IMS flexibility, availability, resilience, and security.
• The Multiple Systems Coupling (MSC) TCP/IP link enhances bandwidth, improving performance.
• Broadened Java and XML tooling eases IMS application development and connectivity, and enhances IMS web services to assist developers with business transformation.
• Enhanced commands, Shared Queues Cross-Coupling Facility (XCF), and centralized repository support simplify operations and improve availability."

IMS 12 requires z/OS 1.11 or later.
IMS 12 supports migration/coexistence from/with IMS 10 and IMS 11. By the way, IMS 9 Service was discontinued on November 7, 2010 !

Planned availability : October 28, 2011.

Googling around brought me to some interesting additional information :

• The IBM IMS web page
• The IMS 12 data sheet
• This very entertaining presentation by Alison Coughtrie apparently presented at a Nordic GSE meeting : 'IMS 12 - It's Much Smarter'

BMC acquires NEON’s IMS products

zPrime has long gotten a lot, perhaps too much focus which made us forget Neon Enterprise has more products than just this one. Or should I say, had, when I'm talking about their IMS software. As the BMC press release says : BMC "has acquired the portfolio of IMS (Information Management System) database products and customers from NEON Enterprise Software, a leading mainframe management software company". By this acquisition BMC "enhances its IMS database management portfolio, providing the most comprehensive solution set to best address today’s IT challenges with big data, database availability and data analysis all within an organization’s IMS environment". This acquisition showcases BMCs continuing commitment to the mainframe and shows its belief in a growing mainframe market.

You can find the press release over here and some more information about BMC's IMS products over here.

New for z/OS software pricing : IBM Integrated Workload Pricing (IWP)

Here's another announcement on software pricing. Good news this time. It's about an addition to the MLC pricing for AWLC customers : 'IBM Integrated Workload Pricing for zEnterprise clients can significantly improve price/performance of collocated workloads on z/OS (ZP11-0018)'. At first sight it looks a bit complicated (hey, it's IBM software pricing) but thanks to some clarifications from Marc Wesemael (IBM Belgium) I can take you through it, now.

First, the prerequisites :

• z196 Enterprise System processor with AWLC pricing
  
• z/OS V1.10, or higher, with SMF APAR OA31615
• Installation and use of SCRT V19.2.0
• Use of the SCRT IWP control statement

What is it ? In short : if you have running some IPLA software in an LPAR (actually it's restricted to some Websphere products) then you might see a reduction of the MSUs of some MLC softwares that are also running in that same LPAR.

What's the story ? You might remember that some IPLA softwares are eligible for Getting Started Subcapacity Pricing. For example, a Web Application Server is running in a large partition with a rather small workload. Normally, this IPLA software is execution-based. So you have to buy as many Value Units as needed to cover for the entire LPAR. With the Getting Started pricing, the workload of the Websphere Application Server is measured and you only have to have enough Value Units to cover for the actual workload - following certain rules of course.

Now, with Integrated Workload Pricing (IWP) we go one step further. In the announcement you find a list of Websphere IPLA products which are called the defining programs. Next to that there's a list of MLC programs which are eligible to be adjusted by IWP. This boils down to let's say all CICS and IMS versions. The MSUs of these softwares are lowered based on the utilisation of the defining programs, which have to be present in the same LPAR.

How is this calculation done ?
"SCRT calculates the 4-hour rolling average of the general purpose processor time consumed by the IWP Defining Programs and subtracts those values from the traditional sub-capacity values for the MLC programs eligible to be adjusted by IWP, on an hour by hour basis, per LPAR". This can give you a lower MSU value for your CICS and/or IMS products.

You can find more information on Software Pricing on the IBM System z Software Pricing page and there's also already a section on IWP pricing.

IMS New News events

I came across this wonderful summary by Barbara Klein (IBM IMS Product Manager) on the IMS-L Digest List. So all the credits for this post go to Barbara Klein for gathering this information and letting me 'repost' this :

The IMS Operational Best Practices teleconference playback is available at http://www.ibm.com/software/systemz/telecon/28sep/prz

There is also an upcoming "A Preview of IMS 12" teleconference on November 15 ready for registration at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/sw-events/teleconference/W454883N20567W34.html

There is an article on "Enhancing IMS" in the October IBM Systems Magazine Mainframe Extra at http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/mainframe/IMS_v12/34748p1.aspx

And watch for the upcoming IMS article in the November IMS Systems Magazine Mainframe Extra, when posted, at http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/mainframe/

Here are upcoming IMS user group meetings found through http://www.ims-ug.org/ or websites specified below:

- October 28 Dutch GSE at http://www.gsebelux.com/
- November 2 IMS Users Group Boston
- November 2-3 UK GSE Northamptonshire at http://www.gse.org.uk/tyc
- November 4 IMS Users Group Hartford
- November 9 IMS Users Group Victoria, British Columbia
- November 11 IMS Users Group Seattle
- November 15 SpDug Spain at http://gsesp.gse.org/grupos/grupos0.htm
- November 17 IMS User Group Phoenix
- November 18, Belgian GSE at http://www.gsebelux.com/

And these big events for IMS:
- Oct 24-29 IBM Information On Demand 2010 in Las Vegas at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/2010-conference/iod.html
- Nov 8-10 IMS Symposium 2010 Darmstadt, Germany at http://www.harmundi.com/conf10/

IMS 12 (QPP) Quality Partnership Program

Here's the first news on IMS 12 with this announcement : 'IBM IMS 12 Transaction and Database Servers (QPP) deliver extremely high performance and availability at very low cost per transaction (ZP10-0404)'. QPP stands for Quality Partnership Program. It indicates that IMS 12 will be shipped to a selection of customers : "December 10, 2010, is the IMS 12 (5635-A03) Quality Partnership Program (QPP) start date. IBM plans to ship IMS 12 to customers already selected as participants in the Quality Partnership Program (QPP) process". So I gather it will still take some months afterwards before we reach General Availability.

Still, the announcements gives us already a lot of news on this new version. Here are the highlights :

"IMS™ 12 Database Manager enhancements

• Broadened Java and XML support and tools can ease IMS development and access to IMS data.
• IMS Fast Path Buffer Manager enhancements utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and overall system performance.
• Full Function Dynamic Buffer Pool support, centralized repository support, and enhanced commands simplify operations and improve availability.
• Extended Address Volume (EAV) support, Database Recovery Control (DBRC), Fast Path and Full Function DB enhancements relieve some capacity constraints.

IMS 12 Transaction Manager enhancements

• IMS Connect (the TCP/IP gateway to IMS transactions, operations, and data) enhancements offer improved IMS flexibility, availability, resilience, and security.
• Multiple Systems Coupling (MSC) TCP/IP link enhances bandwidth, improving performance.
• Broadened Java and XML tooling eases IMS application development and connectivity, and enhances IMS web services to assist developers with business transformation.
• Enhanced commands, Shared Queues Cross-Coupling Facility (XCF), and centralized repository support simplify operations and improve availability."

I'll keep you informed on any further news about this version.

Sampling Techdocs : December 2009 - January 2010

Here we are again with some new and interesting reading material from TechDocs.

• Presentation : IMS 11 - Easier than Ever
  White paper : IMS Version 11 Installation and Migration Tips
  Here's two interesting documents on IMS V11. The 75 page presentation introduces you to the new functions of IMS V11 (including speaker notes). The white paper "contains planning information for installations migrating to IMS Version 11. It includes a list of prerequisite software and APARs. It describes considerations for compatibility with previous versions of IMS and for use with DB2 and CICS. Migration tasks are explained. Tips for migrating to IMS 11 from IMS 10, IMS 9 and earlier versions of IMS are provided. The document includes extensive references to other information on IMS Version 11". Definitely worth a read.
  
  
• White paper : OSA-Express3 Multi-ports per CHPID Definitions
  I've mentioned this before but it has now been updated as the port restrictions on CHPID type OSC have been removed since the end of last year.
  
  
• Technical document : Manual Configuration of Linux for XIV Attachment
  I already mentioned that I also obtained my technical certification for XIV. So as my job description changes a bit, the focus of this blog will also be on XIV from time to time. Here's a first : this document describes how to "setup a Linux server manually for Fibre Channel attachment to an XIV" when you don't want or can't use the Host Attachment Packages IBM is providing with XIV.
  

• Presentation: STP Role Assignment Considerations
  This presentation is intended to help customers make decisions about where to assign STP server roles. It gives some best practices, a couple of recovery scenarios and it explains what messages are generated.
  

• Presentation : TS7700 Release 1.6 Technical Overview
  I already mentioned that there was no actual announcement for Release 1.6 of the TS7700 Virtualization Engine. Well, here's a nice and comprehensive presentation covering all the new functions. It also includes the audio of the presentation. The audio usually gives you a lot more information than what's on the slides and there's practically always some interesting Q&A session at the end . . . like with this one.
  

Well that's it for now. As I always say : just check them out !

IBM Announcement : IMS Version 11

I started out my programming career in a production environment where we were using IBM COPICS ... back in the late eighties. COPICS was one of the first IBM ERP products. Ididn't even know the phrase back then. If I remember correctly we were using VM, VSE, CICS, COBOL, VSAM and DL/I. At a certain moment there was a study to convert the database to DB2 as DB2 was the future and DL/I already seemed to have become a thing of the past. Still, the conversion never took place.

And look now : about a year ago IBM made a pre-announcement of IMS Version 11. Now here's the announcement itself : 'IBM IMS V11 easier than ever (ZP09-0352)'. And IMS is going as strong as ever with lots of companies still heavily relying on it. I'll just give you the highlights and some extra reading materials.

The highlights :

IMS™ V11 Database Manager enhancements

• IMS Open Database support offers direct distributed TCP/IP access to IMS data, providing cost efficiency, enabling application growth, and improving resilience.
• Broadened Java™ and XML support and tools can ease IMS development and access to IMS data.
• IMS Fast Path Buffer Manager, Application Control Block library, and Local System Queue Area storage reduction utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and overall system performance.
• Enhanced commands and user exits simplify operations and improve availability.

IMS V11 Transaction Manager enhancements

• IMS Connect (the TCP/IP gateway to IMS transactions, operations, and now data) enhancements offer improved IMS flexibility, availability, resilience, and security.
• Broadened Java and XML tooling eases IMS application development and connectivity, and enhances IMS Web services to assist developers with business transformation.
• Enhanced commands and user exits simplify operations and improve availability.
• IMS Application Control Block library and Local System Queue Area reduction utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and system performance

Some extra resources :

• The IBM IMS page
• Announcement summary
• There's a teleconference on November 10, 2009 by Rich Lewis (IBM) at 4.00 p.m. GMT. The technical level is 'basic'.
• IMS V11 presentation in .pdf or .ppt format.
• There's an interesting post at Mainframe Update on recent enhancements to IMS related software.
• If you're into IMS, don't forget to check out the Virtual IMS Connection site on a regular basis. They also have a newsletter and regular virtual meetings (webconferences). All earlier newsletters and presentations can be found on the Resources page.
  

Planned availability date : October 30, 2009

IBM announces IMS V11

It looked like only a couple of months ago to me, but it's been almost a year since I wrote about the announcement of IMS V10. Still, here's already the announcement of IMS V11 (ZP08-0416) : 'IBM IMS V11 Database and Transaction Servers (QPP) deliver unsurpassed application and data serving'. Or perhaps I'd better call it pre-announcement. It only becomes available January 19,2009 for the "Quality Partnership Program (QPP) (...). IBM plans to ship IMS V11 to customers already selected as participants in the QPP process". So, next to the announcement, there's not much information to be found for the moment. But the announcement itself already gives plenty of details. Here are some of the highlights :

IMS^tm V11 Database Manager enhancements

• IMS Open Database support offers direct distributed TCP/IP access to IMS data, providing cost efficiency, enabling application growth, and improving resilience.
• Broadened Java^tm and XML tooling eases development and access of IMS data.
• IMS Fast Path Buffer Manager, Application Control Block library, and Local System Queue Area storage reduction utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and overall system performance.
• Enhanced commands and user exits simplify operations and improve availability.

IMS V11 Transaction Manager enhancements

• IMS Connect (the TCP/IP gateway to IMS transactions, operations, and now data) enhancements offer improved IMS flexibility, availability, resilience, and security.
• Broadened Java and XML tooling eases IMS application development and connectivity, and enhances IMS Web services to assist developers with business transformation.
• Enhanced commands and user exits simplify operations and improve availability.
• IMS Application Control Block library and Local System Queue Area reduction utilize 64-bit storage to improve availability and system performance

When the actual availability date and more information become available, I'm definitely going to come back on this.

Sampling Techdocs : April - May 2008

Here we go again for our bi-monthly selection of TechDocs documents :

• Presentation : Implementing TPC for Replication on z/OS and Basic HyperSwap
  We've already talked a few times about Basic HyperSwap. Well, here's an additional, interesting presentation on Basic HyperSwap with the emphasis on TPC-R and how to install and implement it. There's also a Trifold on 'Basic HyperSwap Availability Options'.
  


• Technical document : z/OS Positioning Software for the z10 EC Server
  This is such a useful document which is reworked for every new server generation. It describes software and operating system support for the z10. It provides information on the PSP buckets and how to use the Enhanced PSP Tool. Other topics : the change of Hardware memory granularity, new zArchitecture instructions, HiperDispatch, cryptography . . .
  


• Technical document : IMS Version 10 Installation and Migration Tips
  Well, just quoting the abstract gives you a good idea about its content : "This document contains planning information for installations migrating to IMS Version 10. It includes a list of prerequisite software and APARs. It describes considerations for compatibility with previous versions of IMS and for use with DB2 and CICS. Migration tasks are explained. Tips for migrating to IMS 10 from either IMS 9 or IMS 8 are provided. The document includes extensive references to other information on IMS Version 10".

• Flash : z/OS Availability: Blocked Workload Support
  Starting point of this item is a potential threat to application availability. The threat to availability occurs when an address space or enclave (of low importance) is CPU starved while holding a resource needed by other (high importance) transactions.
  The document highlights a new function on z/OS 1.9 called blocked workload support. It is intended to allow small amounts of CPU to be allocated to workloads which are CPU starved in order to prevent this availability problem. It will also be rolled back to z/OS 1.8 and z/OS 1.7.
  

Well that's it for now. As I always say : just check them out !

Sampling Techdocs : October - November

It's been a while since I had another look at Techdocs, so here we go again for October and November. You know it's just a sample of articles I personally find interesting. As you also know, there's much more over there.

• Presentation : z/OS Communications Server IPSec (IP Security)
  I made a round-up of the specialty engines in the Dolmen System z newsletter a couple of weeks ago and of course the zIIP assisted IPSEC functions were covered too. This is an "introduction to z/OS Communications Server TCP/IP IPSec support. IPSec services include IP filtering, key exchange, and support for manual and dynamic Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnels".
  

• Presentation : IMS Version 10 Database and DBRC Enhancements
  "IMS Version 10 adds many enhancements for users of IMS databases and DBRC. This presentation explains the new capabilities. These include the integration of FlashCopy into the image copy process, the exploitation of larger processors by Fast Path systems, the use of XQuery with IMS databases to find data within XML documents, (...) and other extensions to IMS".
  

• Presentation : IMS Version 10 Migration Planning
  I guess it's not so unusual to find more than one IMS document in Techdocs for the moment. And this is a nice and quite detailed presentation on migrating Version 8 or 9 systems to IMS version 10 covering Prerequisites and Coexistence, Installation and Migration Tasks, Migration Considerations, IMS Library . . .
  

• White Paper : Overview of IBM® TS1120 Tape Controller Support for TS3400 Tape Library
  Since the 3592 Tape Drives were introduced, no autoloader functions had been available. This is one good reason for using the relatively small TS3400 library with its 18 cartridges and its two TS1120 tape drives. The "white paper describes the use of the TS3400 Tape Library to provide functions similar to 3590 Autoloaders in the System z environment". It's very readable with lots of examples of the GUI interface too.
  

• Technote : z/OS Version 1 Release 9 Installation Plan Checklist
  A classic, I'd say, this installation checklist for people migrating to z/OS 1.9 from previous versions, but oh so useful.
  

• Presentation : Server Time Protocol Overview Presentation and Server Time Protocol Planning Considerations
  Server Time Protocol is available for about a year now. For those considering a migration, these two presentations are a very good starting point giving a thorough overview of (planning for) STP with some migration scenarios included.
  

As I always say : just check them out !

IMS and VirtualIMS

IMS V10 was announced at the beginning of last month and I would like to share some resources connected to this announcement.

First of all there's VirtualIMS, an initiative of Trevor Eddolls from Mainframe Update who is setting up an IMS community virtual user group : "IMS is used at 95% of the Fortune 1000 companies and has been around for 40 years (...). There doesn't seem to be very much by way of resources for IMS people and I'm hoping this new site will fill in the gaps. It's going to be a virtual user group. I'm planning to organize webinars and an e-newsletter. There's a discussion forum and a place for jobs and resumes. I've also got links to news, articles, events, and other IMS-related resources". You can find all the details of this promising initiative at his blog or on the VirtualIMS site itself.

Also the new CCR2 Newsletter is paying attention the the new version of IMS with a special issue dedicated to it : "This special issue of CCR2™ focuses on IMS™ and the world of Information Technology, which has changed so dramatically since the first IMS-ready message for the Apollo Space program appeared almost 40 years ago. Today, IMS is everywhere, behind the scenes whether you are flipping a light switch or a train switch, tracking a package or moving an assembly line, using your ATM card or conducting international trades. Read on for the latest on IMS technology, firsthand from the experts". Some topics :

• Implementing Omegamon XE for IMS on z/OS
• Making IMS backup and recovery more efficient
• Ready for reuse: IMS applications and data in SOA
• Smart, fast online reorganization keeps your IMS databases running 24x7

As always there's also a great interview clearly picturing the value of this new version.

Next on the list is a new Redbook (still a draft for the moment) : IMS Version 10 Implementation Guide A Technical Overview. Topics covered are : Overview of IMS Version 10 enhancements, System enhancements, Database enhancements, Transaction Manager enhancements, Manageability enhancements, Dynamic Resource Definition, DBRC enhancements, Connectivity enhancements, Integration enhancements, Installation and migration considerations and Tools support for IMS Version 10.

Next to that there surely will be (or have been) some webcasts and teleconferences on the subject.

IBM announces IMS (V)10

Same confusion as with DB2 9, the announcement letter mentions IMS V10 : 'IBM IMS V10 Database and Transaction Servers deliver unsurpassed application and data serving'. The IBM IMS site is talking about 'IMS 10'.
Nevertheless, here's the new version of IMS.

Here's a short description of what's new :

IMS Version 10 enhancements include:

IMS V10 Database Manager

• Integrated, open access with enhanced IMS/XML database support, XQuery access to IMS data, and broadened Java™ and XML tooling to ease development
• Manageability through autonomic computing:
  • simplified dynamic resource definition
  • eased operations and systems management
  • integrated operations across subsystems/platforms
  • enhanced security and serviceability
• Scalability with more parallelism in IMS Database Recovery and Sharing Control (DBRC), and improved performance/capacity in Fast Path, IMS High Availability Large Database (HALDB), and database utilities

IMS V10 Transaction Manager

• Integrated, open access with enhanced XML and Web services connectivity, and broadened Java and XML tooling to ease development
• Manageability through autonomic computing:
  • simplified dynamic resource definition
  • eased operations and systems management
  • integrated operations across subsystems/platforms
  • enhanced security and serviceability
• Scalability with widened bandwidth for Multiple Systems Coupling, and improved system availability, performance, and capacity in workload balancing

I'm not going into more detail as this would lead us way too far. As an introduction, here's a link to the Data Sheet and the Release Guide. There are also some teleconferences like 'The IMS Integration Suite', 'Moving to the IMS common service layer', 'IMS Version 10 systems enhancements', 'IMS V10 DRD and Online Change Enhancements', 'IMS V10 DB and DBRC Enhancements'. More info on this page.

Planned availability date : October 26, 2007.

Red Alert : IMS - potential data corruption

It's been a couple of months, but here's a new red alert concerning users of IMS Version 9.1 using a PHIDAM database. There're more details on the page describing this alert. Don't let the title confuse you because somehow they took over the title from the previous one, but you're on the right page. Here's a quote of the description and the recommended action.

DESCRIPTION:
A defect was introduced by PTF UK25149. The PTF UK25149 was superseded by PTFs UK26128, UK26164, UK27311 and UK27490. If any of these PTFs are applied, then a retrieval of invalid data can occur. Application programs may propagate the incorrect data into another database management system causing data corruption. The incorrect data returned to the application program can only be detected if the application program logic validates the data and finds the retrieved data falls outside of the valid ranges.
The exposure exists only when all of the following conditions are met:

• Using IMS Version 9.1
• Using a PCB with read-only (PROCOPT=GOx) and issuing GN calls against records in a PHIDAM database
• Using a DBD with twin backward (TB) pointers on the root segment
• PTFs UK25149 or UK26128 or UK26164 or UK27311 or UK27490 are applied

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Remove PTF UK25149 or UK26128 or UK26164 or UK27311 or UK27490; or apply the solution in PK49955/UK28788.

All the recent red alerts can be found over here.

IMS Newsletter

I would like to draw your attention to the IMS Newsletter. It appears every three months and it usually features one or two main articles, some info on upcoming events, a summary of the latest redbooks on IMS related topics and all 'Hot Websites' on IMS. The latest issue e.g. covers 'IMS and IBM's SOA Foundation of Products', 'GRS Performance Observations' and 'Enhancements to the IMS Information Center'. You can e.g. find back issues of the IMS Newsletter in the IMS Information Center. You find the same information on the IMS Newsletter page. Subscribing is possible via an online form or you by sending an e-mail to imsmkt@us.ibm.com requesting a subscription.
Next to that there's also a "Receive recent IMS News" button on the IMS page (under Communities on the right side of the page). If you fill out the form you'll receive the latest IMS announcements in your inbox.
Nice personal touch to the IMS newsletter : the Editor-in-Chief hides his children's pictures somewhere in the newsletter. If you email the locations, you receive the one and only IBM IMS pin !