IBM Information Management System

A high-performance hierarchical database and transaction manager for z/OS that secures, scales and modernizes critical business applications

Illustration of a man standing using a laptop in front of a cloud, a padlock and a gear connected to a mainframe representing IMS database solution pack

Overview

Power your enterprise with IBM Information Management System

IBM Information Management System (IMS™) is a secure, high-throughput database and scalable transaction manager on z/OS®. Designed for growth, IMS enables fast, reliable data and online transaction processing and seamless integration with modern cloud-native tools. 

Products

IMS Database Solution Pack for z/OS
Perform online database reorganizations to support 24x7 availability and manage full-function IMS databases and HALDBs.
IMS Performance Solution Pack for z/OS
Gain analyst productivity and improve IMS application performance, resource utilization and system availability.
IMS Recovery Solution Pack
Use an integrated solution for simultaneous backup and recovery of multiple data sets and Fast Path areas.
IMS Database Utility
Support offline database reorganizations and manage full-function IMS databases and HALDBs.
IMS Fast Path Pack
Analyze, maintain, and tune IMS Fast Path databases with an easy-to-use utility set that helps you boost system availability.
IMS Database Reorganization Expert for z/OS
Gain efficiency and reduce reorganization maintenance time.
IMS High Performance Pointer Checker for z/OS
Check your IMS databases for potential problems early and often.
IMS Index Builder for z/OS
Leverage an easy-to-use, one-step procedure for building all IMS indexes.
IMS High Performance Image Copy for z/OS
Create high-speed backup and recovery database resources.
IMS High Performance Prefix Resolution for z/OS
Improve management by simplifying prefix resolution and update tasks.
IMS Online Reorganization Facility for z/OS
Reorganize IMS databases while they remain online.
IMS High Performance Load for z/OS
Get high speed database loading and more.
IMS High Performance Unload for z/OS
Get high-speed database unloading with added capabilities.
IMS Administration Tool for z/OS
Manage IMS administrative tasks with a single tool.
IMS DEDB Fast Recovery for z/OS
Enable efficient execution of unscheduled IMS cold starts and maintain database integrity after IMS emergency restart (ERE) failures.
IMS Library Integrity Utilities for z/OS
Manage and maintain IMS database integrity and consistency.
IMS Cloning Tool for z/OS
Automate the cloning process for IMS systems and databases, helping to reduce the time required to copy IMS databases or create a complete IMS system clone.
IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption
Encrypt your files, databases, and applications, address data security and privacy regulations and control encryption keys for cloud-based data.
IMS Command Control Facility for z/OS
Run, analyze and coordinate IMS commands across as many as 64 IMS regions on any number of z/OS images, all from a single point of control.
IMS High Availability Large Database Toolkit for z/OS
Convert existing IMS Full Function databases into IMS HALDB databases.
IMS Sequential Randomizer Generator for z/OS
Create a randomizing module to access database segments directly or sequentially.
IMS High Performance System Generation Tools for z/OS
Change your IMS system generation environment and application resources more easily.
IMS Tools Base for z/OS
Access a common infrastructure shared by various IMS Tools offerings.
IMS Buffer Pool Analyzer for z/OS
Determine the impact of buffer pool changes without guesswork.
IMS Performance Analyzer for z/OS
Get comprehensive transaction performance and system resource usage reporting for your IMS DB and IMS TM systems.
IBM OMEGAMON for IMS on z/OS
Optimize performance and availability of vital IMS systems and reduce potential delays or outages with reporting capabilities.
IMS Network Compression Facility for z/OS
Reduce response times and line costs by compressing data streams that uses the 3270 console data stream protocols.
IMS Problem Investigator for z/OS
Identify and resolve problems faster and easier with this powerful problem analysis aid for IMS Database and IMS Transaction Management systems.
IBM Transaction Analysis Workbench for z/OS
Analyze transaction performance and behavioral problems and simplify problem analysis.
IBM Common Services Library for z/OS
Get a no-charge product that contains components and infrastructure-related common functionality required for select IBM IMS Tools.
IMS Batch Terminal Simulator for z/OS
Improve application programming and testing productivity with debugging features to ensure IMS, Db2, and WebSphere MQ applications operate properly.
IMS Extended Terminal Option Support for z/OS
Manage your IMS ETO environment seamlessly.
IMS Queue Control Facility for z/OS
Manage the IMS message queues with integrity.
IMS Program Restart Facility for z/OS
Restart IMS batch programs automatically and correctly to reduce errors and boost availability.
IMS Connect Extensions for z/OS
Improve workload management, operations analytics, security, event logging and more.
IMS Sysplex Manager for z/OS
Manage multiple IMS Systems effectively.

Features

Built for speed, security and scale

Modernize IMS applications by leveraging Java interoperability with COBOL or PL/I. Seamlessly access data across distributed systems via the IMS TM resource adapter and RESTful APIs, empowering digital transformation initiatives.

3D rendered abstract representation of seamless data access and automation with IBM IMS

Speed up deployment cycles with certified Ansible collections for IMS. Enable continuous integration and delivery pipelines by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing collaboration across teams.

Line fill style illustration of six phases of connections representing continuous integration and automation with IMS

Strengthen protection for sensitive information with z/OS data set encryption, IBM Z pervasive encryption, and Secure by Design principles. Safeguard mission-critical applications while supporting compliance goals without requiring application changes.

3D rendered abstract representation of data protection

Access IMS data from cloud-native applications via SQL or API. With universal drivers and IMS integration into IBM z/OS Connect, developers can use standard interfaces to extend legacy systems to modern platforms.

3D rendered abstract representation of flexible data access and integration

Enable modern application development with support for contemporary languages, VS Code integration, APIs, Git-based workflows, and DevOps tooling. AI agent capabilities extend trusted IMS transactions and business logic into intelligent applications and workflows.

OpenTelemetry support provides standardized telemetry data for monitoring IMS applications and transactions. Integrated observability capabilities help streamline performance analysis, troubleshooting, operational visibility, and application optimization across environments.

Use cases

Support resilience and modernization

Organizations rely on proven transaction processing, modern security, hybrid cloud connectivity, and streamlined automation to keep critical systems running efficiently, protect sensitive data, accelerate modernization, and deliver services with confidence.

Enterprise-grade speed and reliability

Process billions of transactions daily with trusted data integrity and built-in recovery capabilities. 

Modern security for critical data

Protect sensitive data with IBM Z® pervasive encryption and access controls with no code changes required.

Built for hybrid cloud flexibility

Connect IMS to cloud applications using Java™, APIs, and IBM z/OS Connect for easier modernization.

Simplified DevOps and automation

Automate IMS operations with Ansible and streamline deployments for faster delivery.

Case studies

Real stories. Real impact.

Close up of a woman's hand paying with her smartphone in a cafe.

Atruvia AG, the digital partner for more than 800 cooperative banks in Germany, processes 80 billion transactions annually with peaks of 12,000 per second on IBM systems. Using IBM zSystems, IMS, and Db2, it integrates Java into its core banking environment—preserving COBOL performance while simplifying architecture and accelerating the delivery of new digital services.1

85%
of transactions now Java-enabled
3x
faster performance for key workloads

Resources

Discover expert resources

Browse videos and support documentation to deepen your understanding of IBM Information Management System and support informed decision-making.

IMS 15.6 enhancements Introduction to IMS operations and recovery IBM technology lifecycle services for IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE Intro to IMS Series
Take the next step

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Footnotes

1 Atruvia AG case study https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/atruvia-ag

DISCLAIMER: The performance data and client examples cited are presented for illustrative purposes only. Actual performance results may vary depending on specific configurations and operating conditions. THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF NON-INFRINGEMENT. IBM products are warranted according to the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are provided.