Network Queuing System/MVS 1.1 for AIX, other Unix users
Network Queuing System/MVS is an implementation on MVS/ESA of the remote batch submission application, and it enables AIX or Unix users to submit, monitor, and control batch applications on MVS/ESA. It runs as a server on MVS/ESA JES2 systems and conforms to the NQS network protocol. Because of this, NQS/MVS works with existing NQS application code for AIX or Unix and AIX or Unix batch job submission procedures are mapped to equivalent batch job submission procedures on MVS/ESA. Other functions provided by NQS/MVS include electronic mail facilities; automated routing of job output back to the workstation; job status and job run-time statistics; the ability to cancel jobs from the workstation without interacting with systems support personnel; network-wide scheduling capability for successor-predecessor relationships between jobs can be managed remotely from workstations via the programmatic notification feature; and a set of help files are included for the workstation that show the syntax of MVS/NQS commands and provide usage notes on the options for each command. At NQS/MVS installation, the files containing the help files can be downloaded to all workstations that use NQS/MVS.
Multivendor Capabilities added in new TCP/IP 2.2 For MVS
TCP/IP 2.2 for MVS provides the capability to participate in a multivendor network using the TCP/IP protocol set. Version 2.2 enhances the TCP/IP family which includes MVS, VM, OS/2, MS-DOS, AIX, OS/400 and System/88. IBM says it has upgraded it to licensed program status as a demonstration of its increased commitment to TCP/IP as a key networking protocol for the multivendor environment. The addition of offloading enables the user to process portions of the TCP/IP protocols in the network attachment hardware, saving the host cycles for other processing. The CICS to TCP/IP Sockets Interface extends the applicability and usability of TCP/IP on MVS by providing CICS applications with the ability to interoperate with partner applications in other processors attached to a TCP/IP network. The applications can be client or server applications, and the LPR client sends data sets to be printed to LPD print servers throughout the network. An LPD server provides local and remote users access to MVS-supported printers. TCP/IP 2.2 for MVS enables users to communicate and interoperate with other systems in a TCP/IP network. Applications include the ability to send mail, transfer files, log on to a remote host and multiple network server functions. Network connection options are extended to include offload, CTC (3088) support, Continuously Executing Transfer Interface (CETI), RS/6000 Parallel Channel Attachment, HIPPI channel support and transferring TCP/IP packets over SNA LU6.2 conversations. Available from June 26, the offload feature and CICS C Socket interface will ship September 25 1992. Costs range from $20,320 to $70,180, monthly licences go from $423 to $1,460.
System Management and Application Development Enhancements To VM/ESA 1.2
IBM says that VM/ESA Release 2 provides enhancements in the areas of systems management, installation, migration, and application development. System definition data outside the central processor and most of this data is dynamically changeable. Release 2 adds Fixed Block Architecture support as well as support for the 9348 Tape Drive. There will be early limited availability in September of VM/ESA Release 2 prior to general availability on December 18, supported only on the ES/9000 9221 with rack-mounted 9332, 9335, or 9336 disks requiring VM/ESA Release 2 Fixed Block Architecture support. HCD/VM will not be available until June 25 1993. VM/ESA 2 now determines the system’s input-output configuration dynamically at initial program load time and whenever additional input-output devices are added. These are picked up dynamically by VM if they have been added previously to the hardware input-output configuration program. In addition to reducing the amount of system programmer effort required to define and
manage the system’s input-output configuration, these operations are now completed without requiring a system outage to activate the changes. Other commands are added to dynamically change time zones, change the characteristics of a device that is off-line, and add or delete virtual machines. The new Hardware Configuration Definition feature of VM/ESA 2 enables an installation to plan and define hardware configurations for one or more VM/ESA Release 2 and MVS/ESA Version 4 subsystems from a single point-of-control. In conjunction with the new configurability enhancement, changes to VM configurations can be made through the Hardware Configuration Definition without requiring an initial program load. The Definition conforms to SystemView Integration Level 1, is CUA ’91 compliant and provides a consistent systems management interface on a PS/2 via VM/ESA’s SystemView/ScreenView feature, a set of services SystemView integration conformance. The services exchange information in the form of objects between applications, exchange data between host and the PS/2, and support different skill levels with a range of end user interface types. VM/ESA Release 2 has an enhanced installation process along with a Disk Dump Restore system. The new installation process provides for a full or partial restore of the Disk Dump system, and the partial or selective restore of source and component groups as defined by the customer. The Shared File System administration has been enhanced with VM/ESA Release 2.
Dynamically reclaim
The server will now dynamically reclaim catalogue index pages, reducing the need for manual intervention by the SFS administrator. Also, adding a minidisk to an SFS file pool and performing an SFS control data backup are operations that can be done without taking the SFS server offline. VM/ESA Release 2 provides additional hardware support and VM Data Spaces support includes enhanced debugging capabilities. Also, VM Data Space data can now be directly accessed by VM Diagnose instructions which enables input output operations to transfer data directly into or out of a VM Data Space. VM/ESA Release 2 costs from $39,310 to $810,400, between $29,480 to $607,800 for distributed systems options; from $819 to $16,880 for monthly licences, and from $614 to $12,660 for monthly options.
