Operating system support
This chapter describes the operating system requirements and support considerations for the z14 ZR1 and their features.
Support and use of hardware functions depend on the operating system version and release. The information in this chapter is subject to change. Therefore, for the most current information, see z14 Model ZR1: Preventive Service Planning (PSP) bucket for 3907DEVICE
This chapter includes the following topics:
5.1 Software support summary
The software portfolio for the z14 ZR1 includes various operating systems and middleware that support the most recent and significant technologies. The following major operating systems are supported:
•z/OS
•z/VM
•z/VSE
•z/TPF
•Linux on IBM Z and the KVM hypervisor
5.1.1 Operating systems summary
The current and minimum operating system levels that are required to support the z14 ZR1 are listed in Table 5-1 on page 87. Operating system levels that are no longer in service are not covered in this publication. These older levels can support certain features.
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PTFs and PSP buckets: The use of several features depends on a particular operating system. In all cases, program temporary fixes (PTF) might be necessary with the operating system level indicated.
Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets are continuously updated and reviewed regularly when planning for installation of a new system. They contain the latest information about installation, hardware and software service levels, service recommendations, and cross-product dependencies.
PTFs for z/OS, z/VM, and z/VSE can be ordered electronically from IBM Shopz.
For more information about obtaining access to download the z/TPF and z/TPFDF APAR packages, contact [email protected].
For Linux on IBM Z distributions and the KVM hypervisor, consult the distributor’s support information.
Fix packs for IBM software products that are running on Linux on IBM Z can be downloaded from IBM Fix Central.
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Table 5-1 z14 ZR1 operating system requirements
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Operating system1
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End of service
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Notes
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z/OS V2R3
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September 20222
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See the z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE, and z/TPF subsets of the 3907DEVICE Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets before installing the z14 ZR1.
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z/OS V2R2
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September 2020b
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z/OS V2R1
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September 2018b
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z/OS V1R133
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September 2016
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z/VM V6R4
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Not announced
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z/VSE V6R2
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Not announced
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z/VSE V6R14
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June 2019
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z/VSE V5R25
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October 2018b
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z/TPF V1R1
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Not announced
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Linux on IBM Z6
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KVM for IBM z Systems10
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March 2018
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KVM hypervisor
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For more information about minimal and recommended distribution levels, see the Linux distributors’ websites
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1 Only z/Architecture mode is supported.
2 Planned date. All statements regarding IBM plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Any reliance on these Statements of Direction is at the relying party’s sole risk and will not create liability or obligation for IBM.
3 Compatibility only. The IBM Software Support Services for z/OS V1.13, offered as of October 1, 2016, provides the ability for customers to purchase extended defect support service for z/OS V1.13.
4 z/VSE V6 requires an architectural level set
5 z/VSE V5 requires an architectural level set
6 For more information, see the Linux on IBM Z page of the IBM Z website.
7 For more information, see the Support page of the SUSE website.
8 For more information, see the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle page of the RedHat website.
9 For more information, see the Ubuntu for IBM LinuxONE and z Systems page of the Ubuntu website.
10 KVM for IBM z Systems is no longer available or serviced. Check your Linux distribution for KVM support on the Z platform.
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z/Architecture mode: As announced on January 14, 2015 with Announcement letter 115-001, beginning with z14 ZR1, all systems will support only operating systems that are running in z/Architecture mode. This support applies to operating systems that are running native on PR/SM and operating systems that are running as second-level guests.
IBM operating systems that run in ESA/390 mode are no longer in service or currently available with only extended service contracts, and they are not usable on systems beginning with z14 ZR1. However, z14 ZR1 does provide ESA/390-compatibility mode, an environment supporting a subset of DAT-off ESA/390 applications in a hybrid architectural mode.
All 24-bit and 31-bit problem state application programs that were originally written to run on the ESA/390 architecture will be unaffected by this change.
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5.1.2 Application development and languages
Several programming languages are available for the z14 ZR1 environments. Because the Linux environment is similar to Linux on other servers, this description focuses on the z/OS environment.
In addition to the traditional COBOL, PL/I, Fortran, and assembler languages, Z platforms support C, C++, Java (including Java Platform, Enterprise Edition, and batch environments), Go, Swift, and JavaScript.
Development can be conducted by using the latest software engineering technologies and advanced integrated development environments (IDE). The extensive tool set uses a workstation environment for development and testing, with final testing and deployment performed on z/OS.
IBM Z embraces emerging concepts, such as DevOps, which is the process of bringing Development and Operations together to share processes and procedures with a goal to reduce the risk of change and improve the speed of deployment. As organizations embark on their journey with digital transformation and enter the API economy, connecting business-critical applications that are running on mainframes with mobile and cloud applications to better engage with customers becomes more essential. A key step in this evolution is to understand what assets exist in the enterprise.
IBM’s current DevOps offerings, such as IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z and IBM Rational® Team Concert™, coupled with IBM Application Discovery and Delivery Intelligence’s (ADDI) application discovery technology, are designed to enable developers to understand the applications, gain cognitive insights into the process, and evolve those valuable older assets at the speed of business with reduced risk to the enterprise.
The use of modern development practices is part of the transformation. IBM’s Rational Team Concert™ and open source-based Git Version Control Tools for IBM z/OS (ported by Rocket Software) are modern source code managers (SCM) that run on and support z/OS.
For more information about software for Z platforms, see the Products catalog website.
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Note: The use of the most recent versions of the compilers is of utmost importance. The compilers enable the use of the latest technologies that are implemented on the system, and take advantage of the performance benefits that are introduced. Examples of benefits include new cache structures, new machine instructions, and instruction execution enhancements.
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z14 ZR1 introduces new features and functions, such as Guarded Storage Facility (GSF) enabling less-pausing garbage collection for Java workloads. z14 ZR1 processors also inherit and further enhance features and functions from its predecessor generation z13, such as the single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD), which allows the development of smaller and optimized codes to improve efficiency of complex mathematical models and vector processing.
5.1.3 IBM compilers
Each new version of IBM z/OS compilers (Enterprise COBOL, Enterprise PL/I, and XL C/C++) underscores the continuing IBM commitment to the COBOL, PL/I, and C/C++ programming languages on the z/OS platform:
•Enterprise COBOL
The most recent version of Enterprise COBOL uses the most recent z/Architecture and performance optimization, enhanced XML parsing support, and capability of programming with Unicode. It also supports Java 8 SDKs for Java interoperability and delivers new COBOL statements, new and changed compiler options, and changed APIs.
•IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS
The Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS improves the performance of compiled COBOL programs. The Optimizer does not require source code, source code migration, or performance options tuning. It uses modern optimization technology to target Z platforms and accelerate the performance of compiled COBOL applications.
•Enterprise PL/I
The latest version of Enterprise PL/I provides web interoperability, which includes web services, XML parsers, and Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE). The compiler also includes the expanded support for UTF-16. Enterprise PL/I for z/OS allows you to capitalize on IT investments while modernizing your infrastructure.
•z/OS XL C/C++
The z/OS XL C/C++ enables developing high performance-oriented applications, through the services that are provided by IBM Language Environment and Runtime Library extension base elements. It also works in concert with z/OS Problem Determination Tools.
IBM Enterprise COBOL and Enterprise PL/I support are strategic components (separately orderable products) for IBM Rational Developer for IBM Z software. These features provide a robust, IDE for COBOL and PL/I and connecting web services, Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) applications, and traditional business processes.
z/OS XL C/C++ programmers can also tap into Rational Developer for z to help boost productivity by editing, compiling, and debugging z/OS XL C and XL C++ applications from the workstation.
5.2 Support by operating system
This section lists the support by in-service operating systems of selected functions of the z14 ZR1.
For more information about the z14 ZR1 and its features, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
For more information about all of the I/O features, see IBM Z Connectivity Handbook, SG24-5444.
5.2.1 z/OS
z/OS Version 2 Release 1 is the earliest in-service release that supports z14 ZR1 servers. Although service support for z/OS Version 1 Release 13 ended in September of 2016, a fee-based extension for defect support (for up to three years) is available by ordering IBM Software Support Services - Service Extension1 for z/OS 1.13.
z14 ZR1 capabilities differ depending on the z/OS release. Toleration support is provided on z/OS V1R13. Exploitation support is provided only on z/OS V2R1 and later by way of PTFs.
For more information about all z14 ZR1 features and functions that are supported by the z/OS releases, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
Web deliverables
5.2.2 z/VM
z/VM V6R42 provides support that enables guests to use the following functions that are supported by z/VM on z14 ZR1:
•z/Architecture support
•New hardware facilities
•ESA/390-compatibility mode for guests
•Crypto Clear Key ECC operations
•Encrypted paging support
•Guest exploitation support:
– Pause-less garbage collection for Java
– Instruction Execution Protection Facility
•Dynamic I/O support for managing the configuration of:
– OSA-Express6S OSD CHPIDs
– FICON Express16S+ FC and FCP CHPIDs
– zHyperLink Express
– Coupling Express LR
– 10GbE RoCE Express2
•Improved memory management support
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z/VM logical partitions: z14 ZR1 CPs and IFLs feature increased capacity over the capacity of their predecessors (on z13s). Therefore, we suggest that the capacity of z/VM logical partitions and of any guests, in terms of the number of IFLs and CPs (real or virtual), be reviewed and adjusted to achieve the required capacity. Virtual machines might also need adjustment.
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For more information about all z14 ZR1 features and functions that are supported by the z/VM releases, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
5.2.3 z/VSE
z14 Model ZR1 support is provided by z/VSE V5R2 and later. Consider the following points:
•z/VSE runs in z/Architecture mode only.
•z/VSE V5 has an architectural level set (ALS) that requires IBM System z9® or later.
•z/VSE V6.1 has an ALS that requires IBM System z10® or later.
•z/VSE V6.2 has an ALS that requires IBM zEnterprise 196 or later.
•z/VSE V6.2 supports High-Performance FICON (zHPF) and SIMD.
For more information about all z14 ZR1 features and functions that are supported by the z/VSE releases, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
5.2.4 z/TPF
z14 Model ZR1 support is provided by z/TPF V1R1 with PTFs. For more information about all z14 ZR1 features and functions that are supported by the z/TPF, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
5.2.5 Linux on IBM Z
The service levels of SUSE, Red Hat, and Ubuntu releases that are supported at the time of this writing are listed in Table 5-2.
Table 5-2 Current Linux on IBM Z distributions
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Linux on IBM Z distribution1
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Supported version and release on z14 ZR1
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SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
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SLES 12 SP2 with service
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SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
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SLES 11 SP4 with service
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Red Hat Enterprise Server
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RHEL 7.3 with service
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Red Hat Enterprise Server
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RHEL 6.9 with service
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Canonical
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Ubuntu 16.04 LTS with service
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1 Only z/Architecture (64-bit mode) is supported. IBM testing identifies the “minimum required level” and the “recommended levels” of the tested distributions.
For more information about supported Linux distributions on Z servers, see the Linux on IBM Z page of the IBM Z website.
For more information about all z14 ZR1 features and functions that are supported by the Linux on IBM Z distributions, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
5.2.6 KVM hypervisor
KVM for IBM z Systems Version 1.1.2 (with a fix pack) was the last release that was delivered by IBM. It was withdrawn from marketing and is no longer in service.
With Announcement Letter 917-04, dated March 7, 2017, IBM announced that it is working with Linux distributions to support the KVM component on IBM Z.
For more information about KVM support for the Z platform, see your distribution’s documentation.
5.3 Software licensing
The Z software portfolio includes operating system software (that is, z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE, and z/TPF) and middleware that runs on these operating systems. The portfolio also includes middleware for Linux on IBM Z environments. For the z14 ZR1, the following metric groups for software licensing are available from IBM, depending on the software product:
•Monthly license charge (MLC)
MLC pricing metrics feature a recurring monthly charge. In addition to the permission to use the product, the charge includes access to IBM product support during the support period. MLC pricing applies to z/OS, z/VSE, and z/TPF operating systems. Charges are based on processor capacity, which is measured in millions of service units (MSU) per hour.
•IPLA
IPLA metrics feature a single, up-front charge for an entitlement to use the product. An optional and separate annual charge, called subscription and support, entitles clients to access IBM product support during the support period. With this option, you can also receive future releases and versions at no extra charge.
Software Licensing References
For more information about software licensing, see the following resources:
•The IBM International Passport Advantage® Agreement can be downloaded from the Learn about Software licensing website
Subcapacity pricing terms for z/VM and select z/VM-based programs
Subcapacity pricing for the z/VM V6 operating environment is available to clients that are running z/VM Version 6 Release 3 or higher. Software pricing at less than full machine capacity can provide more flexibility and improved cost of computing as you manage the volatility and growth of new workloads.
For more information about subcapacity pricing terms for z/VM and z/VM-based programs, see announcement letter 217-267, dated July 17, 2017.
For more information about software licensing options that are available for z14 ZR1, see IBM z14 Model ZR1 Technical Guide, SG24-8651.
IBM Secure Service Container
The IBM Secure Service Container expanded to integrate with the IBM Cloud Private platform for hybrid and private cloud deployments on IBM Z. You can deploy containerized IBM Middleware applications and use common management tooling for deploying homegrown or other third-party Docker and Kubernetes-based applications.
IBM Secure Service Container supports the deployment of software container technology without requiring application changes. This support is especially useful considering the regulatory focus on protecting critical data from internal and external threats. Support features (0103 and 0104) ensure that Secure Service Container applications run smoothly, whether you use only one application type, or many types.
5.4 References
For current planning information, see the web pages of the following operating systems:
•z/OS
•z/VM
1 Beginning with z/OS V1.12, IBM Software Support Services replaced the IBM Lifecycle Extension for z/OS offering with a service extension for extended defect support.
2 z/VM V6R3 is not supported on the z14 Model ZR1
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