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Introduction
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Introduction
You are encouraged to keep your VSE system on a healthy service level. In order to do that it is recommended to update you VSE system to stay on a supported release and service level.

The VSE service pyramid.

To order preventiv service like PSP buckets or RSLs, please navigate to the preventive service page. To search for APARs and PTFs for a specific problem or component, navigate to the corrective service page.

For information on how to order and apply PTFs please refer to the How to order page.

VSE Central functions.  VSE release status
z/VSE 3.1 (System Package)  VSE server support


Hot service news
May 8, 2008 z/VSE 3.1.3 & 4.1.1 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the March 31 and April 8, 2008 levels respectively.
May 8, 2008 TCP/IP PTFs UK36142 (for z/VSE 3.1) and UK36143 (for z/VSE 4.1) now available
The TCP/IP PTFs UK36142 (8TP) and UK36143 (9TP) have been built to correct and supersede the incorrectly built UK35202 and UK35203, resp.
These PTFs are now available for ordering.
May 2, 2008 TCP/IP PTFs UK35202 (für z/VSE 3.1) and UK35203 (für z/VSE 4.1) in error
These TCP/IP PTFs have been built incorrectly. Some object decks shipped with these PTFs are either not updated or incorrect after PTF installation. Phases (for example $EDCTCPV) linked with or after installation of these PTFs include backlevel or incorrect code.
Please do not install these PTFs. Correcting PTFs will be provided soon.
May 2, 2008 CICS PTF UK25490 not correctly applied with z/VSE 3.1.3 and z/VSE 4.1.1 refreshes
CICS PTF UK25490 is not correctly applied with z/VSE 3.1.3 and z/VSE 4.1.1 refreshes.
This causes (for example) messages
F2 0114 DFHSO0106 DBDCCICS 17/04/08 09:50:44 DBDCCICS
A Language Environment Callable Service error
(code X'0226') has occurred in module DFHSOCK.
F2 0114 DFHME0116 DBDCCICS (Module:DFHMEME) CICS
symptom string for message DFHSO0106 is
PIDS/564805400 LVLS/411 MS/DFHSO0106 RIDS/DFHSOCK
PTFS/UK20279 PRCS/00000226.
in the CICS partition when shutting down TCP/IP while CICS is still active.
To correct this problem, please remove PTF UK25490 from and re-apply it to your VSE system.
// EXEC MSHP                           
   REMOVE  5648-054-00-B0P PTF=UK25490 
/*
April 14, 2008 A new DB2/VSE Help Text V7.5 installation tape has been stored into the Libraries (SDF). Any orders placed for z/VSE 3.1.x or z/VSE 4.1.x will now inlcude a correct DB2/VSE Help Text V7.5 installation tape.
March 14, 2008 z/VSE 3.1.3 & 4.1.1 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the January 31, 2008 level.
February 18, 2008 DB2/VSE Help TEXT V7.5 Installation Tape is Corrupted
The DB2/VSE Help TEXT V7.5 installation tape delivered with z/VSE 3.1.x or z/VSE 4.1.x orders is corrupted. Users should not try to install the DB2 HelpText as it will result in following Error Messages:
ARI0866E Input record data field error:
         Column = ITEM Input Record Count = 26473
(000001): 4040F1F5C3F0F740F2F5F040404040404040968
(000056): 40404040404040404040404040404040E2F0F0F
We are working on a replacement for the DB2/VSE Help text V7.5. When available an update will be posted on this page.
January 18, 2008 z/VSE V3.1.3 replaces z/VSE V3.1.2
Changes include integration of:
z/VSE 3.1.2 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the November 16, 2007 level. z/VSE 4.1.1 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the November 30, 2007 level.
November 30, 2007 z/VSE 4.1.0 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the October 12, 2007 level.
November 15, 2007 MESSAGE 4331D VOLUME SEQUENCE ERROR IJSYSHF SYS018 = xxx SYSWK1
After applying VSE/AF PTF UD53159 on Z/VSE 3.1 and installing other Service/PTFs message 4331D gets issued in DTRPTF03 job while updating the Work.History.File. To overcome the problem the user has to either type '0 IGNORE' up to 20 times or he can exit the PTF installation and has to install the following ZAP before he can resume the PTF application.
// EXEC MSHP
CORRECT 5686-CF-706-81C : DY46780
AFFECTS PHASE=$IJJGTOP
ALTER  4B2A  A79A0001 : 0700D201
ALTER  4B2E  40903024  : 3024803C
RESOLVES 'MESSAGE 4331D VOLUME SEQUNCE'
/*
PTF UD53237 is the official fix for this problem.
November 9, 2007 z/VSE 3.1.2 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the September 30, 2007 level.
September 20, 2007 VSE/POWER POFFLOAD Destroys Data On Tape
After applying VSE/POWER PTF UD53175 on z/VSE 4.1, POFFLOAD with NOREW operand rewinds the tape and destroys data at the beginning of the tape. This occurs for the operands BACKUP, SAVE, or PICKUP. The POFFLOAD command completes successfully and nothing indicates that tape has been rewound before data is written to the tape. To avoid the problem, PTF UD53179 must be installed.
September 14, 2007 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the July 31, 2007 level.
August 15, 2007 CICS abend after applying CICS PTF UK20297:
Customers who run z/VSE 4.1 (including TCP/IP 1.5 E) or any preceding VSE release with TCP/IP 1.5E installed on top and who want to install CICS PTF UK20279 (APAR PK29184) must first install TCP/IP APAR PK47545 (with PTFs UK26361 for z/VSE 3.1 and UK26374 for z/VSE 4.1). If the CICS PTF UK20279 has already been applied, you need to reapply it after installation of  TCP/IP APAR PK47545.
Symptom:
DFHSO0001 DBDCCICS An abend (code 0C4/AKEA) has occurred at offset X'3884' in module DFHSOSE.
Reason:
The installation of CICS PTF UK20279 causes a re-link of phase DFHSOSE. This re-link includes TCP/IP object module IPCRYPTS. The original IPCRYPTS module shipped with TCP/IP 1.5 E may cause an abend with re-entrant programs under CICS, like the CICS-supplied DFHSOSE. This error has been corrected with PK47545 or by the CSI-provided ZAP ZP15E237.
August 09, 2007 Up to 10 datasets for DL/I HD databases

With APAR PK48347 (PTF UK26815) the maximum number of datasets that can be allocated for HD databases with DL/I 1.11 has been increased from 5 to 10 datasets allowing a maximum database size of 10 * 4 = 40 GB. Users, who are already working with 5 datasets at some database and who are approaching capacity limits with the current maximum of 20 GB may now be able to extend this database by allocating more datasets.


Additional datasets can be defined through the following procedure:
  • Unload database with the existing DBD/PSB definitions
  • Add new dataset(s) in the DBD, run DBDgen and create new DMB and PSB execution blocks (ACBgen)
  • Reload database with new DBD/PSB definitions, when necessary including runs of the pre-reorganization, prefix resolution and prefix update utilities

It is also required to provide DLBL statements for the additional datasets in all jobs that are accessing a database with the extended DBD and add the according control statements for the new datasets in all affected DL/I backup and recovery jobs.

For more information, please see the documentation included in PK48347 or contact your DL/I support.

July 13, 2007 Recommended Service Levels upgraded to the May 31, 2007 level.
June 18, 2007 The IBM System Storage TS1120 Tape Drive encryption feature support is now available for z/VSE V4.1 and V3.1.
Following APARs/PTFs must be installed to activate the support:
  • z/VSE V4.1: DY46682 (UD53141 and UD53142)
  • z/VSE V3.1: DY46685 (UD53143,UD53144, UD53146) and PK43473 (UK24398)
  • z/VM:  VM64062  (UM32012)
  • DITTO: PK44172  - With this Apar, DITTO/ESA for VSE supports tape encryption interactively and via standard VSE JCL in BATCH mode

For a detailed description please see the updated chapter Implementing Hardware-Based Tape Encryption (PDF, 231KB) in the z/VSE V4R1 Administration guide.

May 16, 2007 'IDC2950I INVALID FORMAT STRUCTURE' on MASTERCATALOG LISTCAT

For a detailed description please see IDC2950I INVALID FORMAT STRUCTURE (PDF, 24KB)

April 13, 2007 Error in z/VSE 4.1 when trying to load DLA on disk
When using an old $0JCL from a previous release with // EXEC PROC=STDLABEL before // VDISK for DLA has been defined, the system should issue message 1L41D but instead the following error messages may be issued:
1S40I SYSTEM ERROR, LABEL 
          RET.CODE=0E REASON CODE=06
1S40D SYSTEM ERROR, LABEL 
          RET.CODE=0E REASON CODE=04
Circumvention: remove the // EXEC PROC=STDLABEL as described in chapter 5 of z/VSE V4R1.0 System Upgrade and Service.
CATALOG $0JCL.PROC DATA=YES REPLACE=YES 
STDOPT ACANCEL=NO,DECK=NO,DUMP=PART,... 
SYSDEF DSPACE,DSIZE=12M 
// EXEC PROC=STDLABEL (remove this statement)
// VDISK UNIT=FDF,BLKS=2880,VOLID=VDIDLA,...
* VDISK UNIT=CUU,BLKS=81920,VOLID=VDIWRK 
// EXEC PROC=STDLABEL   CALLS STDLABUP AND ... 
// EXEC PROC=SETSDL     SET SDL

March 16, 2007 z/VSE Version 4 Release 1 (z/VSE V4.1) is now generally available
z/VSE V4 operates in z/Architecture mode only. It introduces an attractive new Midrange Workload License Charge (MWLC) pricing metric for z/VSE V4 running on IBM System z9 BC and z9 EC servers.

For more information, please see the announcement letter or the z/VSE V4R1.0 Release Guide.
March 16, 2007 z/VM V5.2 (or later) is a prerequisite for running z/VSE V4.1 under VM.
If you IPL z/VSE V4.1 in a guest system of z/VM version 4 or z/VM 5.1, you may experience severe performance problems. Because of that the following message is issued:
0J86I WARNING: VM RELEASE NOT SUPPORTED BY VSE 4.1 - Z/VM 5.2 OR LATER REQUIRED
If you receive this message, you must urgently upgrade your VM system to z/VM 5.2 or a later release.
March 01, 2007 VSE/ESA 2.7 is no longer in service.
Customers are strongly encouraged to upgrade their VSE systems to the most current release, z/VSE V4.1.


For older service news, please refer to the archive
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