About z/VSE

z/VSE V6.1 is the newest release of z/VSE and is made available in continuation of these 50 years of innovation and evolution.

This ongoing evolution of z/VSE, together with z/VSE's support of the newest IBM z Systems servers and IBM System Storage technology, is designed to help clients grow their workloads, and protect their investments in the z/VSE platform.

Whereas the past z/VSE versions often addressed scalability and constraint relief, z/VSE V6.1 now focuses on online transaction processing, security, and networking. To help clients protect their investments in online environments, z/VSE V6.1 delivers CICS Transaction Server (CICS TS) for z/VSE V2.1.

Clients make high demands on secure networking. Both z/VSE TCP/IP stacks, IBM TCP/IP for z/VSE V2.1 and IBM IPv6/VSE V1.2, address the security requirements and are designed to provide firewall functionality in the updated version or release of their product.

z/VSE clients may want to leverage the IBM MobileFirst Platform Foundation to develop mobile applications that interact with z/VSE. Using z/VSE connectors such as web services and the CICS Transaction Gateway, mobile applications can integrate z/VSE data and applications.

Enhancements for z/VSE V6.1 include:

• Exploitation of innovative IBM z13 technology:
  • Configurable Crypto Express5S for data encryption and SSL acceleration.
  • FICON Express16S supporting a link rate of 16 Gbps.
  • z/VSE Network Appliance (VNA).
• Support of enhanced IBM System Storage options:
  • IBM System Storage TS7700 Virtualization Engine Release 3.3.
  • IBM System Storage DS8870 Release 7.5 (ECKD and FCP-attached SCSI disks).
  • IBM FlashSystem V9000 for use with FCP-attached SCSI disks.
• Usage of architectural capabilities introduced with IBM System z10:
  • This requires an architectural level set of IBM System z10 or later.
• CICS TS for z/VSE V2.1:
  • CICS TS for z/VSE V2.1 can only be used with z/VSE V6.1, and replaces CICS TS for VSE/ESA V1.1.1.
  • Update and control capabilities to CICS resources for the CICS Explorer system management tool.
  • A new API to enable the transfer of large amounts of structured data between CICS applications to meet the needs of growing workloads.
• IBM TCP/IP for z/VSE V2.1:
  • This new version replaces IBM TCP/IP for VSE/ESA V1.5F, and includes firewall functionality and other enhancements.
• IBM IPv6/VSE V1.2:
  • This new release of IPv6/VSE provides firewall functionality, increased network availability, and other enhancements.
• MQ Client Trigger Monitor:
  • The MQ Client Trigger Monitor adds trigger functionality for the WebSphere MQ Client for VSE to ease asynchronous message processing.

z/VSE V6.1 supports IBM z Systems servers:

• IBM z13
• IBM zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) and IBM zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12)
• IBM zEnterprise 196 (z196) and IBM zEnterprise 114 (z114)
• IBM System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC) and IBM System z10 Business Class (z10 BC)

z/VSE V6.1 can run in LPAR mode, or as a guest in any supported z/VM release. z/VSE V6.1 is the preferred follow-on VSE product for clients with z/VSE V5, z/VSE V4, z/VSE V3, or VSE/ESA installed. z/VSE V6.1 requires an initial installation. To ease the migration to z/VSE V6.1, z/VSE V5.2 will still be orderable after general availability of z/VSE V6.1 for a transition period. In addition Multi-Version Measurement (MVM) is available for customers migrating to z/VSE V6.1

z/VSE V6.1 offers Midrange Workload License Charge (MWLC) pricing metrics, including a subcapacity option, for z13, z196, and System z10. IBM offers Advanced Entry Workload License Charge (AEWLC) pricing metrics, including a subcapacity option, for the zBC12 and z114 servers. The entry models (capacity setting A01) of the zBC12, z114, and z10 BC will be priced using z Systems Entry License Charge (zELC) for their IBM monthly license charge software.

z/VSE V6.1 is generally available since November 27, 2015.

Back to top

The z/VSE base package consist of the following components and products:

• z/VSE 6.1 (System Package) 5686-VS6
• EREP 3.5.0 5656-260
• ICKDSF 1.17.0 5747-DS2
• DITTO/ESA for VSE 5648-099
• High Level Assembler 1.6.0 5696-234
• CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE 2.1 5655-VSE
• ACF/VTAM 4.2.0 5686-065
• IPv6/VSE V1.2 5686-BS1
• TCP/IP for z/VSE 2.1 5686-CS1
• DB2 V7.5 Server for VM&VSE 5697-F42
• Encryption Facility for z/VSE V1.2 5686-VS6-40

Back to top

There are several products available for z/VSE:

• Complete list of z/VSE optional products

Back to top

Get the latest news about z/VSE:

• z/VSE Blog
• z/VSE Quick Reference mobile application for Android (APK, 1.8MB)

• 

  The IBM z13s expands the breadth of the IBM z Systems family by delivering a strong range of new smaller-capacity, attractively priced models.

  Learn more