z/VSE V4.1 is designed to execute in z/Architecture mode only.  It will support:

• IBM System z9 Enterprise Class (formerly the System z9 109)
• IBM System z9 Business Class
• IBM eServer zSeries z990, z890, z900, and z800

z/VSE V4.1 will provide an LPAR-based subcapacity measurement tool. A new Statement-of-Direction states:

"It is IBM's intent  to provide new software pricing for z/VSE V4 when running on select processors, subject to applicable terms and conditions. IBM expects this new software pricing metric to provide more granularity and a subcapacity pricing option." 

FSU will be available from z/VSE V3.1 and VSE/ESA V2.7. 

For more information, please see the z/VSE V4.1 Preview announcement.

IBM's response is the VTAM 31-Bit I/O Buffer Support in z/VSE 3.1. With this new function, ACF/VTAM can move I/O buffers (IOBUF pool) and all I/O CTC packing buffers in 31-Bit System Getvis storage (VTAM startup option IOBUF31=YES). This enhancement allows z/VSE customers to grow their communication workloads.

To use this support PTF UD52873 and PTF UD53035 (AF Base) or UD52874 and UD53060(Generation Feature) must be applied to z/VSE V3.1. In addition PTF UD52964 and PTF UD53054 must be applied to ACF/VTAM V4.2.

z/VSE VTAM 31bit I/O Buffer Support (20KB)

IBM System z9 109
The IBM System z9 109 continues the evolution of the mainframe, building upon the structure introduced on z990. The z9-109 expands upon a key attribute of the mainframe platform - availability - to help ensure a  resilient infrastructure designed to satisfy the requirements of on demand business. With the increased performance and total system capacity possible for the z9-109, you have an opportunity to continue to consolidate diverse applications on a single platform.

For more information, see the IBM System z9 announcement letter.

IBM z/VM 5.2
For z/VSE customers, z/VM V5.2 helps deliver the productivity gains and classic advantages of z/VM's world-class virtualization technology. In addition, z/VM V5.2 enhances scalability for virtualization on IBM System z9 and zSeries. These improvements especially benefit Linux guests. z/VM V5.2, together  with IBM System z9 and zSeries, is an ideal platform for integrating applications and data - and for consolidating select UNIX, Windows, and Linux workloads on a single physical z9-109 or zSeries server.

For more information, please see the z/VM V5,2 announcement letter.

• There is no need for a full WebSphere MQ implementation on the client machine.
• Hardware requirements on the client system are reduced.
• A WebSphere MQ application, running on a client can connect to multiple queue managers on different systems.

Please note, this change applies to marketing only. Service of VSE/ESA V2.7 is unchanged. No date has been announced for VSE/ESA V2.7 end of service.

ShopzSeries
In addition to shipment on tape cardridges, VSE is available on CD-ROM and for download from the Internet through ShopzSeries. ShopzSeries is available for customers in certain countries. With ShopzSeries the following can be ordered:

• VSE/ESA and z/VSE base tapes
• VSE optional products
• VSE preventive service (Hiper/PE)
• VSE corrective service (PTFs, APARs)

For more details, please here. An overview of ShopzSeries can be found in this flyer (PDF, 57KB).