Preview of z/OS V1.11

We all know by now that z/OS is released annually in September and that the n-3 rule has become an n-2 rule. The last three-release step you could take was from z/OS 1.5 to z/OS 1.8. From now on you can only skip one release. People on z/OS 1.8 have to order z/OS 1.10 before September 2009. Actually, it should be installed by then as Z/OS 1.8 will be End of Support in September. From then on only z/OS 1.11 will be available. Next to that, we're also used by now on getting a preview of the new release in February. So here it is : 'Preview: z/OS V1.11 - Smart, adaptive, trusted, efficient (ZA09-0006)'.

I'm not going to go into detail as this would lead us way too far. However, I would like to point out one of the Statements of Directions, which makes me curious . . . once again. There once was the Five Year March to Mainframe Simplification project some 2 to 3 years ago and at the time I was rather sceptic about it. With reason, I guess, as I haven't heard anything about it since. Well, here we go again with a new SOD :

"As part of IBM's commitment to simplify the mainframe environment, IBM intends to introduce the z/OS Management Facility, a separate product which will be designed to enable system programmers to more easily manage and administer a mainframe system by simplifying day to day operations and administration of a z/OS system. The initial release of z/OS Management Facility is planned to provide a problem data management capability which is intended to facilitate problem data management tasks for new or less-skilled system programmers and system administrators."

This seems to be somewhat less ambitious than the previous project, but perhaps just because of this, it might have a better chance in succeeding. Let's give it the benefit of the doubt and just wait and see . . .