Overview

Status

Strategy

History

z/VSE is built on a heritage of ongoing refinement and innovation that spans four decades. It is designed to protect and leverage customer investments in VSE information assets.

z/VSE Version 4 Release 1 (z/VSE V4.1) is built on a heritage of ongoing refinement and innovation that spans four decades.  It is the latest advance in the ongoing evolution of VSE.  z/VSE V4.1 is designed to help address the needs of VSE customers:

• with growing core VSE workloads
• leveraging customer investments in existing VSE applications and data as part of integrated network solutions exploiting service-oriented architecture (SOA)
• exploiting Linux on System z for new solutions and infrastructure simplification

z/VSE V4 exploits selected features of innovative IBM System z and IBM System Storage technology.  It executes in z/Architecture mode only and supports 64-bit real addressing for selected systems functions.  z/VSE V4.1 is designed to exploit up to 8 GB of processor storage. z/VSE V4 is not designed to support 64-bit virtual addressing or allow 64-bit addressing for user applications.
 
z/VSE V4.1 supports z/Architecture servers

• IBM System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC)
• IBM System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC, formerly z9 109)
• IBM System z9 Business Class (z9 BC)
• IBM eServer zSeries 990, 890, 900, and 800.

z/VSE V4.1 can run in basic mode (z900 and z800 only), in LPAR mode, or as a guest under z/VM V5.2 or later.

z/VSE V4.1 adds several encryption technology enhancements.  It supports Crypto Express2 in either coprocessor or accelerator mode. It also supports CP Assist for Cryptographic Function (CPACF) enhancements. z/VSE V4.1 supports IBM System Storage TS1120 encrypting tape drives.  z/VSE V4.1, together with TCP/IP for VSE/ESA, offers SecureFTP.

Midrange Workload License Charge (MWLC) pricing is an option for those running z/VSE V4.1 in a System z9 EC, z9 BC or z10 EC server environment.
 
Customers may implement MWLC in full-capacity or sub-capacity mode. z/VSE V4.1 includes a new sub-capacity measurement function, called CMT (Capacity Measurement Tool). CMT is designed to periodically measure the rolling 4-hour average utilization of each z/VSE V4.1 image. CMT measures the utilization of z/VSE V4 running in LPARs or guest virtual machines under z/VM V5.2 or higher.
 
MWLC covers z/VSE V4 plus 12 key VSE-related IBM middleware products such as CICS TS for VSE, ACF/VTAM for VSE, and DB2 Server for VSE. Full-capacity MWLC is based on the rated capacity of the server installed. Sub-capacity MWLC is based on the monthly peak rolling 4-hour utilization. 
 
z/VSE V4.1 continues the focus on interoperability and SOA. It is the preferred follow-on product for all clients with z/VSE Version 3, VSE/ESA Version 2, or earlier VSE versions installed.

z/VSE V4.1.1 became generally available on November 30, 2007.

z/VSE V3.1 supports IBM System z10 EC, IBM System z9 BC and EC, zSeries 800, 890, 900, and 990. z/VSE V3.1 also supports S/390 Multiprise 3000 and S/390 Parallel Enterprise Server Generation 5 and 6, or equivalent.  z/VSE V3.1 can run alone, or as a guest under z/VM Version 4 or later.

z/VSE V3 can execute in 31-bit mode only.  It does not implement z/Architecture, and specifically does not implement 64-bit mode capabilities.  z/VSE V3 is designed to exploit selected features of IBM System z hardware.

z/VSE V3.1.3 is the currently available version/release of z/VSE Version 3.

	z/VSE 4.1 (System Package) 5609-ZVS
	VSE Central functions 8.1.0 5686-CF8
	EREP 3.5.0 5656-260
	ICKDSF 1.17.0 5747-DS2
	DITTO/ESA for VSE 5648-099
	High Level Assembler 1.5.0 5696-234
	CICS Transaction Server 1.1.1 5648-054
	ACF/VTAM 4.2.0 5686-065
	TCP/IP for VSE/ESA 1.5 5686-A04
	DB2 V7.5 Server for VM&VSE 5697-F42
	Encryption Facility for z/VSE V1.1   5686-CF8-40

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There are several products available for VSE:

Complete list of VSE optional products

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