MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 1 marks the entry point into activating System/390

MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 1 is the preparatory release of MVS to unlock the goodies in the new System/390 architecture, and includes Sysplex functionality, the hardware configuration definition, elimination of stage 1 and stage 2 Sysgen, and the XCF cross-system coupling facility. IBM says that for JES2 and JES3 environments, the multisystem management functions use XCF to improve global resource serialisation operation and recovery, and the hardware configuration definition provides the base support for new input output configurations available in MVS/ESA Version 4 Release 2, the real implementation of MVS for the new architecture. In terms of maintenance, a component trace enhancement lets an installation define component trace options in a parmlib member and avoid operator prom`ts for those options. The SLIP command allows an operator on one system to request an SVC dump or Wait on one or more systems in the complex. Operations Planning and Control/ESA uses the cross-system coupling facility services for signalling between processors, internal communication and back-up purposes. IBM says that it intends to enhance CICS/ESA Version 3 by using PR/SM along with the cross-system coupling facilities in MVS/ESA Version 4 to reduce operator intervention in a CICS Extended Recovery Facility environment. The company also plans to enhance MVS/Data Facility Product to use the cross-system coupling facilities and provide improved Partitioned Data Set Extended data sharing. Licence orders for MVS/ESA SP-JES2 and JES3 Version 4 Release 1 are being accepted now. For JES2, costs start at $31,250 for Model Group 18, and rise to $412,320 for Group 60, and Distributed System Licence Options are between $23,437 and $309,240. Basic monthly licences start at $651 for Group 18, rise to $8,590 for Group 60, and the distributed options are between $488 and $6,442. For JES3, the basic costs start at $35,150 for Group 18 and rise to $463,380 for Group 60, and distributed options are between $26,362 and $347,760. The basic monthly licence charge is $732 for Group 18, $9,660 for Group 60, and distributed monthly licences start at $549 rising to $7,245 for Group 60. It will be available October 26, 1990.

MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 2

IBM says that MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 2 includes Advanced Program-to-Program Communication for MVS through the support of LU6.2 applications which define APPC services for other SAA applications. APPC/MVS coexists with existing MVS programs and transaction products like CICS/ESA, IMS/TM, and TSO/E, as well as DB2. APPC/MVS will be used to carry the SAA Distributed Data Management protocols that are required for the implementation of distributed file management and remote access to data and storage management components on MVS/ESA systems. APPC/MVS applications can use most JES services available to MVS applications including SYSOUT and Job Submit, and the Resource Access Control Facility includes a new set of classes and support. APPC/MVS applications access data managed by DB2 through the DB2 call attachment facility and DB2 TSO attachment. DB2 Version 2 Release 3 has a high level language interface for the call attachment which supports calls directly from application programs written in PL/1, Fortran, OS/VS, VS Cobol II and C. An Assembler H program is required for DB2 prior to Version 2 Release 3.

MVS 4 Systems Management

MVS/ESA Version 4 Release 2 is claimed to provide enhancements to systems management in several areas, and IBM says that the use of Hardware Configuration Definition to select a new input-output configuration definition enables the installation to respond more easily to hardware and software configuration changes. With console integration, Multiple Copy Screen consoles and the non-SNA console are optional in the new release, and the hardware system console may be used for for operator communications as a full-function console. System availability is claimed to be improved through enhanced dump services

, and MVS/ESA SP-JES3 Version 4 Release 2.1 also provides enhanced services for viewing JES3 dumps. And IBM says that it will provide a future version or release of Print Services Facility/MVS to support MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 2 Dynamic Reconfiguration Management function to allow MVS input output of PSF channel-attached printers. MVS/ESA SP-JES2 Version 4 for processor Group 18 is $31,250, rising to $412,320 for Group 60, and distributed system licence options range between $23,437 and $309,240. Monthly licences for Group 18 cost $651, $8,590 for Group 60, and distributed options are between $488 and $6,442. MVS/ESA SP-JES3 for Group 18 costs $35,150 and rises to $463,380 for Group 60 processors, and the distributed system licences are from $26,362 to $347,760. Basic monthly licences cost $732 for Group 18 and rise to $9,660 for Group 60, while the distributed options range between $549 and $7,249. MVS/ESA SP Version 4 Release 2 Base Control program will be available from March 29, 1991, as will MVS/ESA SP-JES2 Version 4 Release 2 and SP-JES3 Version 4 Release 2. MVS/ESA SP-JES3 Version 4 Release 2.1 will be out on June 18, 1991.

MVS/SP Version 3 Escon channel support

MVS/SP Version 3 terms and conditions have been revised to offer support for Escon channels under usage licence provisions. MVS/SP Version 3 Escon Feature – JES2 costs $20,400 for Group 30, $24,480 for Group 40, $29,280 for Group 50, and $35,040 for Group 60. Distributed System Licence Options start at $15,300 for Group 30 and rise to $26,280 for Group 60. Basic monthly licences are $425, $510, $610, and $730 respectively, and the distributed options range between $318 for Group 30 and $547 for Group 60. Escon feature – JES3 for Group 30 is $20,400, Group 40 is $24,480, $29,280 and $35,040 for Groups 50 and 60, and Distributed System Licence Options are $15,300, $18,360, $21,960 and $26,280 for Groups 30 to 60. Basic monthly licences start at $425 for Group 30 and rise to $730 for Group 60, and distributed licence options are $318, $382, $457 and $547 for Groups 30, 40, 50 and 60.