About z/VSE

z/VSE V6.2 is the newest release of z/VSE and is made available in continuation of over 50 years of innovation and evolution.

The focus of z/VSE V6.2 is online transaction processing, security, and connectivity to improve the integration of z/VSE in a heterogeneous environment using web-based business solutions.

Together with hardware exploitation, ease-of-use functionality, and support of the latest IBM Z and IBM System Storage technology, z/VSE V6.2 delivers additional functionality that may provide additional benefits to z/VSE clients. It helps clients with growing z/VSE workloads, and allows them to better protect their investments in the z/VSE platform.

Enhancements for z/VSE V6.2 include:

• Exploitation of innovative IBM Z and IBM System Storage technology:
  • An Architectural Level Set that requires IBM zEnterprise 196, IBM zEnterprise 114, or later.
  • Transparent use of the High Performance FICON for z Systems (zHPF) protocol for user applications.
  • IBM z14 and IBM z13 Vector Facility (SIMD) support for user applications.
  • Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) acceleration with a Crypto Express6S in an IBM z14 or with a Crypto Express5S in an IBM z13 or IBM z13s.
  • Use of features exclusive to IBM z14:
    • Configurable Crypto Express6S for data encryption and SSL acceleration.
    • FICON Express16S+.
    • OSA-Express6S family.
  • FlashCopy Space Efficient (SE) support for Extent Space Efficient (ESE) volumes configured in an IBM DS8880.
  • Transparent support of IBM TS7700 R4.1.1.
• IBM CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE V2.2:
  • Enhancements to CICS Explorer to more easily manage CICS resources.
  • An upgrade of CICS Web Support (CWS) to HTTP 1.1 to support the latest web browsers and applications.
  • CICS API enhancements.
• Security enhancements:
  • Clients can choose to use z/VSE's cryptographic services for their online and batch applications for enhanced data at rest and data in flight security and more flexibility.
  • Clients can use secure connections for remote virtual tapes to help protect sensitive data during network transfer.
• Connector enhancements:
  • The z/VSE SOAP engine helps to meet the needs of CICS applications with growing data.
  • A new z/VSE REST (Representational State Transfer) Engine provides JSON (JavaScript™ Object Notation) support.
• Ease-of-use functionality for SCSI-only systems:
  • Tape-less initial installation is also supported using SCSI and emulated FBA installation disks.
  • Support for stand-alone dump on SCSI disks eliminates the need for a physical dump tape.
• IBM IPv6/VSE V1.3 and IBM TCP/IP for z/VSE V2.2

z/VSE V6.2 can run in an LPAR image, or as a guest in any supported z/VM release. z/VSE V6.2 is the preferred follow-on VSE product for clients with z/VSE V5, z/VSE V4, z/VSE V3, or VSE/ESA installed. Multi-Version Measurement (MVM) is available for customers migrating to z/VSE V6.2.

z/VSE V6.2 offers Midrange Workload License Charge (MWLC) pricing metrics, including a subcapacity option, for z14, z13, and z196. IBM offers Advanced Entry Workload License Charge (AEWLC) pricing metrics, including a subcapacity option, for the z13s, zBC12 and z114 servers. The entry models (capacity setting A01) of the z13s, zBC12, z114 will be priced using zSeries Entry License Charge (zELC) for their IBM monthly license charge software.

Note: The general availability date for z/VSE V6.2 is December 1, 2017.

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

• z/VSE V6.2 (System Package) 5686-VS6
• EREP V3.5.0 5656-260
• ICKDSF V1.17.0 5747-DS2
• DITTO/ESA for VSE 5648-099
• High Level Assembler V1.6.0 5696-234
• CICS Transaction Server for z/VSE V2.2 5655-VSE
• ACF/VTAM V4.2.0 5686-065
• IPv6/VSE V1.3 5686-BS1
• TCP/IP for z/VSE V2.2 5686-CS1
• DB2 V7.5 Server for VM&VSE 5697-F42
• Encryption Facility for z/VSE V1.2 5686-VS6-40

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There are several products available for z/VSE:

• Complete list of z/VSE optional products

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Get the latest news about z/VSE:

• z/VSE Blog