IBM Support

z/OS Communications Server and OSA Interoperability Maintenance

Question & Answer


Question

Various functions have been added to z/OS Communications Server software to take advantage of features in the Open Systems Adapter (OSA) hardware. What are the minimum hardware and software levels required to take advantage of these functions?

Answer

The following sections list the features, along with the minimum recommended levels before using those features. To determine the current level for software, use SMP/E to query the status of the PTF in the Target zone. The following operator commands can also be used to view the level of a module listed in the PTF on an active system:


To determine the current level for the OSA hardware, use one of the following methods:


Only processor models and z/OS releases that have any support for the feature are listed. All earlier models/releases have no support for the feature. Features listed are:


Virtual LAN ID


Many customer networks use VLANs to separate traffic for multiple subnets on the same physical LAN. Typical configurations assign the VLAN ID at the switch port, with the connected device/system unaware of this (ACCESS mode).

Use of this feature allows assignment of the VLAN ID to be used on the OSA side (with the switch set to TRUNK mode). This allows multiple stacks to share the same OSA port yet use different VLAN IDs.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    • Specified via the VLANID keyword on the LINK or INTERFACE statement for the OSA.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z900 (2064)
    z800 (2066)
    3GF
    Express
    J11204
    42
    032
    03.33
    z990 (2084)
    z890 (2086)
    z9 - EC (2094)
    z9 - BC (2096)
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.6-1.7
    (none)
    1.8
    0906
    EZBIFOUT
    1.9
    0906
    EZBIFOUT
    1.10-1.12
    (none)
    1.13
    UI23208
    1506
    EZBIFQDR
    2.1
    UI19111
    1412
    EZBIFQDR
    2.2-2.3
    (none)

TCP Segmentation Offload


Segmentation Offload (also called Large Send) transfers the overhead of segmenting outbound data into individual TCP packets to the QDIO (Queued Direct I/O) attached OSA-Express device. Offloading segmentation of streaming type workloads reduces CPU utilization and increases throughput (see the Large Send Performance Summary document for comparison data).

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

Minimum z/OS Software Levels

    • Specified via the SEGMENTATIONOFFLOAD keyword on the IPCONFIG statement (or the GLOBALCONFIG statement for z/OS 1.6-1.12).
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z890 (2086)
    z990 (2084)
    55K
    Express2
    J13476
    121
    023
    00.2C
    z9 - EC (2094)
    z9 - BC (2096)
    63J
    Upgrade to Driver 67L
    67L
    Express2
    G40946
    36A
    007
    08.81
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    73G
    Express2
    F85892
    Upgrade to Driver 76D
    Express3
    F85897
    54
    011
    00.21
    76D
    Express2
    N10953
    10B
    001
    03.03
    Express3
    N10959
    28B
    006
    07.32
    79F
    Supported at all levels
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    Express2
    N29787
    Supported at
    all levels
    01.06
    Express3
    OSX
    N29762
    0D.0C
    OSD
    N29792
    00.0C
    93G
    Express2
    N48153
    Supported at
    all levels
    01.28
    Express3
    OSX
    N48130
    0D.2E
    OSD
    N48158
    14a
    007
    00.53
    Express4S
    OSX
    N48120
    14a
    006
    0A.36
    OSD
    N48121
    14a
    008
    0C.1A
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    Express3
    OSX
    H09138
    Supported at
    all levels
    0D.63
    OSD
    H09163
    00.83
    Express4S
    OSX
    H09132
    0A.62
    OSD
    H09133
    20
    004
    0C.4A
    15F
    Express3
    OSX
    H49530
    Supported at
    all levels
    0D.90
    OSD
    H49555
    00.AF
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    H49524
    0A.A6
    OSD
    H49525
    0C.8A
    z13 (2458,2964)
    22H
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    N98806
    Supported at
    all levels
    0B.0F
    OSD
    N98805
    07.0F
    27I
    OSX
    P08438
    0B.68
    OSD
    P08437
    07.68
    z14 (3906)
    32L
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSD
    P42626
    Supported at all levels
    20.76
    OSX
    P42627
    30.95
    Express6S
    OSD
    P42631
    01.75
    OSX
    P42637
    11.84
      • Note: All OSA Express 2, 3, 4S, 5S, and 6S devices will report that Segmentation Offload is supported, and software that has this feature enabled will attempt to use it. Any systems in this configuration using microcode levels before the ones listed are vulnerable to experiencing unrecoverable OSA failures affecting all LPARs sharing the CHPID, and a full recycle of the CHPID will be required to recover operation. Ensure that the NOSEGMENTATIONOFFLOAD keyword is specified on the IPCONFIG statement (or the GLOBALCONFIG statement for z/OS 1.12 or before) until all OSAs are at the minimum required level.






        •  
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.6
    UA18116
    0509
    ISTINM01
    UK09373
    0601
    EZBIFOUT
    UK10278
    0602
    EZBTCSND
    UK12770
    0609
    EZBTCRDE
    UK22732
    0704
    (Not Available)
    UK27925
    0709
    EZBITINI
    1.7
    UK09373
    0601
    EZBIFOUT
    UK10279
    0602
    EZBTCSND
    UK20965
    0706
    EZBTCRDE
    UK22733
    0704
    (Not Available)
    UK27926
    0709
    EZBITINI
    1.8
    0806
    EZBTCRD
    0812
    EZBTCRDE
    1.9
    0806
    EZBTCRD
    0812
    EZBTCRDE
    1.10
    0812
    EZBTCRDE
    1.11-1.13
    (none)
    2.1
    1312
    EZBIFIND
    TBD
    EZBIFOUT
    2.2
    TBD
    EZBIFOUT
    2.3
    TBD
    EZBIFOUT






       

VLAN Registration


When specifying a VLANID for an OSA, the connected switch port has to be configured for Trunk mode. This will cause Ethernet frames for all VLANs to be forwarded to the OSA, and it has to filter out those that are not applicable.
Using this feature allows the list of VLANIDs that are being used by this OSA to be forwarded to the switch using the GVRP1 protocol. The switch will then only forward frames with those VLANIDs.

  • 1 Generic Attribute Registration Protocol (GARP) VLAN Registration Protocol (IEEE 802.1q)

    z/OS Configuration

    • Specified via the DYNVLANREG keyword on the LINK or INTERFACE statement for the OSA.

    Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z9 - EC (2094)
    z9 - BC (2096)
    63J
    Express2
    J99667
    Base or above
    07.05
    67L
    Express2
    G40946
    08.79
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    73G
    Supported at all levels
    76D
    		 Express2
    N10953
    10b
    002
    03.05
    Express3
    N10959
    18a
    002
    07.09
    79F
    Supported at all levels
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels

    Minimum z/OS Software Levels

    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.7
    UK06129
    0512
    EZBIFIOC
    UK06130
    0512
    (Not Available)
    1.8-2.3
    (none)

Virtual MAC


This feature allows for the specification of a unique MAC address to be used in the Ethernet frames of all traffic associated with this stack's interface. When enabled, it eliminates the need for specification of PRI/SEC/NONROUTER as inbound traffic will be routed to the appropriate stack by the MAC used. This can also be used as an alternative to the single Locally Assigned MAC for an OSA.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    • Specified via the VMAC keyword on the LINK or INTERFACE statement for the OSA.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z9 - EC (2094)
    z9 - BC (2096)
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.8
    0709
    EZBIFIND
    1.9-1.11
    (none)
    1.12
    1209
    EZBIFIND
    1.13
    1403
    EZBIFIND
    2.1
    1312
    ISTTSCIC
    1609
    EZBIFIND
    2.2
    1609
    EZBIFIND
    2.3
    (none)

OSA-Express Network Traffic Analysis


This feature allows tracing of all traffic processed by the OSA, including ARP packets and discarded traffic that does not get presented to the system (and thus would not show up in a conventional packet trace).

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

      • Ensure that there is at least one (normally) unused device address specified in the DATAPATH keyword on the OSA port's TRLE statement (use a DISPLAY NET,TRL,TRLE=osatrlename command to verify).
      • OSA network traffic analysis is enabled with either the OSAENTA statement (useful to see traffic at OSA startup) or via the VARY TCPIP,,OSAENTA command.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z9 - EC (2094)
    z9 - BC (2096)
    63J
    Upgrade to Driver 67L
    67L
    Express2
    G40946
    06
    002
    08.79
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.8
    UA27322
    0612
    ISTITCOD
    0708
    EZBITMST
    0812
    (Not Available)
    1.9
    0812
    (Not Available)
    1.10
    0812
    (Not Available)
    1.11
    (none)
    1.12
    1209
    (Not Available)
    1.13
    1209
    (Not Available)
    2.1
    UI22806
    1503
    (Not Available)
    2.1-2.3
    (none)

Optimized Latency Mode


This feature may be useful for systems that have mostly interactive workloads, reducing the average latency by having the OSA signal the software sooner after the arrival of individual packets. See the IP Configuration Guide section for more information.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

Minimum z/OS Software Levels

    • Specified via the OLM keyword on the INTERFACE statement for the OSA.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    76D
    Express3
    N10959
    35a
    007
    07.33
    76F
    Express3
    N24398
    43a
    004
    07.63
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    Express3
    OSX
    N29762
    Base or Above
    0D.0C
    OSM
    N29763
    09.09
    OSD
    N29792
    46
    005
    00.11
    93G
    Express3
    OSX
    N48130
    Base or Above
    0D.2E
    OSM
    N48131
    09.31
    OSD
    N48158
    00.4D
    Express4S
    OSM
    N48119
    Base or Above
    ??.??
    OSX
    N48120
    0A.2F
    OSD
    N48121
    0C.12
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    Supported at all levels
    15F
    Express3
    OSX
    H49530
    Base or Above
    0D.90
    OSM
    H49531
    09.8D
    OSD
    H49555
    34a
    007
    00.B8
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    H49524
    34a
    012
    0A.B1
    OSM
    H49523
    Base or Above
    0B.E7
    OSD
    H49525
    34a
    012
    0C.96
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels






       
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.10
    UA61617
    1112
    ISTLLCRB
    1.11
    UA49172
    0912
    ISTLLCAD
    UA61618
    1112
    ISTLLCRB
    0912
    EZBIFIND
    1.12
    UA54871
    1009
    ISTLLCIE
    UK58135
    1009
    EZBIFINB
    1.13
    1609
    EZBIFBP1
    2.1
    UI31118
    1603
    EZBIFOUT
    2.2
    UI31119
    1603
    EZBIFOUT
    2.3
    (none)

OSA Information Display


This feature allows several aspects of the current OSA.hardware configuration to be displayed by an operator command (DISPLAY TCPIP,,OSAINFO) instead of using the OSA/SF utility or the Hardware Master Console.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    • No configuration actions needed.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    76D
    Upgrade to Driver 79F
    79F
    Express3
    N24398
    73
    011
    07.6C
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    Express3
    OSX
    N29762
    Base or Above
    0D.0C
    OSM
    N29763
    09.09
    OSD
    N29792
    56a
    009
    00.16
    93G
    Express3
    OSX
    N48130
    Base or Above
    0D.2E
    OSM
    N48131
    09.31
    OSD
    N48158
    14a
    007
    00.53
    Express4S
    OSM
    N48119
    Base or Above
    ??.??
    OSX
    N48120
    0A.2F
    OSD
    N48121
    0C.12
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    Supported at all levels
    15F
    Express3
    OSX
    H49530
    Base or Above
    0D.90
    OSM
    H49531
    12a
    004
    09.92
    OSD
    H49555
    Base or Above
    00.AF
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSM
    H49523
    12a
    006
    0B.EB
    OSX
    H49524
    Base or Above
    0A.A6
    OSD
    H49525
    0C.8A
    z13 (2458,2964)
    z14 (3906)
    Supported at all levels
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.12
    1106
    (Not Available)
    1212
    EZBIFDOB
    1.13
    UI14061
    1406
    EZBIFDOB
    2.1
    1706
    (Not Available)
    1807
    EZBIFDOB
    2.2
    1706
    (Not Available)
    1807
    EZBIFDOB
    2.3
    1807
    EZBIFDOB

Inbound Workload Queueing


The IWQ feature enables the use of separate queues (sets of buffers) for traffic inbound through an OSA for streaming (such as FTP), Sysplex Distributor. and all other traffic. This may result in better throughput and reduced network latencies, see the OSA Express3 Inbound Workload Queueing performance study for details.
NOTE: Enabling IWQ will triple to quadruple the minimum amount of Fixed CSM storage from the 4K pool needed to start each OSA. For default settings, it will go from 4M to 12-16M for each OSA interface defined.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    • Specified via the INBPERF DYNAMIC WORKLOADQ keywords on the INTERFACE statement for the OSA. Having VMAC enabled is a prerequisite for this function. This is the default for OSX CHPIDs.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z10 - EC (2097)
    z10 - BC (2098)
    76D
    Upgrade to Driver 79F
    79F
    Express3
    N24398
    36c
    003
    07.62
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    		 Express3
    OSX
    N29762
    Base or above
    0D.0C
    OSD
    N29792
    19
    002
    00.0D
    93G
    		 Express3
    OSX
    N48130
    		 58a 014
    0D.44
    OSD
    N48158
    84a
    020
    00.67
    Express4S
    OSX
    N48120
    		 58a 016
    0A.48
    OSD
    N48121
    58a
    018
    0C.2A
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    Express3
    OSX
    H09138
    39a
    006
    0D.6B
    OSD
    H09163
    39a
    006
    00.8C
    Express4S
    OSX
    H09132
    39a
    006
    0A.6B
    OSD
    H09133
    39a
    007
    0C.4C
    15F
    Express3
    OSX
    H49530
    Base or above
    0D.90
    OSD
    H49555
    00.AF
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    H49524
    0A.A6
    OSD
    H49525
    0C.8A
    z13 (2458,2964)
    22H
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    N98806
    Base or above
    0B.0F
    OSD
    N98805
    07.0F
    27I
    OSX
    P08438
    0B.68
    OSD
    P08437
    07.68
    z14 (3906)
    32L
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSD
    P42626
    Base or above
    20.76
    OSX
    P42627
    30.95
    Express6S
    OSD
    P42631
    01.75
    OSX
    P42637
    11.84
      • Note: For systems using z/OS 1.13 and above with OSA Express4S, 5S, or 6S devices, see IWQ for EE and IWQ for IPSec as well.
    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.12
    UA67123
    1303
    ISTLLCM8
    UK66310
    1109
    EZBTCRD
    1.13
    1403
    EZBIFIND
    UI13487
    1403
    EZBIPINB
    2.1
    UI13809
    1406
    EZBIPINB
    1809
    EZBIFIND
    2.2
    1709
    EZBTCSND
    1809
    EZBIFIND
    2.3
    1809
    EZBIFIND

IWQ for Enterprise Extender

  • This feature extends IWQ to add another queue for EE traffic. This may result in further improvements in throughput and latencies for EE traffic.

    z/OS Configuration

    • If running z/OS 1.13 (or above), VTAM has EE configured, IWQ is enabled as above, and OSA Express4S, 5S, or 6S devices are being used, then the additional queue will automatically be added.

    Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    • MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    Upgrade to Driver 93G
    93G
    		 Express4S
    OSX
    N48120
    52a
    013
    0A.45
    OSD
    N48121
    52a
    016
    0C.27
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    		 Express4S
    OSX
    H09132
    20
    005
    0A.69
    OSD
    H09133
    20
    005
    0C.4A
    D15F
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    H49524
    Base or above
    0A.A6
    OSD
    H49525
    0C.8A
    z13 (2458,2964)
    22H
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    N98806
    Base or above
    0B.0F
    OSD
    N98805
    07.0F
    27I
    OSX
    P08438
    0B.68
    OSD
    P08437
    07.68
    z14 (3906)
    32L
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSD
    P42626
    Base or above
    20.76
    OSX
    P42627
    30.95
    Express6S
    OSD
    P42631
    01.75
    OSX
    P42637
    11.84
      • Note: All OSA Express4S, 5S, and 6S devices will report that IWQ for EE is supported, and software that has this feature enabled will attempt to use it. Any systems in this configuration using microcode levels before the ones listed will likely cause a Channel Detected error during OSA initialization. Ensure that the NOWORKLOADQ keyword is specified on the INTERFACE statement until the associated OSA is at the minimum required level.
     

    Minimum z/OS Software Levels

    z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    1.13-2.1
    (none)
    2.2
    1509
    ISTLLCWT
    TBD
    EZBIDSTR
    2.3
    TBD
    EZBIDSTR

TCP Segmentation Offload for IPv6


This feature enables the use of the Segmentation Offload feature for IPv6 traffic in addition to the earlier capability formerly only available for IPv4 traffic.

z/OS Configuration

Minimum OSA Microcode Levels

    • Specified via the SEGMENTATIONOFFLOAD keyword on the IPCONFIG6 statement.
    Processor Model
    EC Driver
    OSA Type
    EC Stream
    LIC Bundle
    MCL
    Minimum OSA Code Level
    z196 (2817)
    z114 (2818)
    86E
    Upgrade to Driver 93G
    93G
    Express4S
    OSX
    N48120
    14a
    006
    0A.36
    OSD
    N48121
    14a
    008
    0C.1A
    zEC12 (2827)
    zBC12 (2828)
    12K
    Express4S
    OSX
    H09132
    Base or above
    0A.62
    OSD
    H09133
    0C.43
    D15F
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    H49524
    0A.A6
    OSD
    H49525
    0C.8A
    z13 (2458,2964)
    22H
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSX
    N98806
    Base or above
    0B.0F
    OSD
    N98805
    07.0F
    27I
    OSX
    P08438
    0B.68
    OSD
    P08437
    07.68
    z14 (3906)
    32L
    Express4S
    Express5S
    OSD
    P42626
    Base or above
    20.76
    OSX
    P42627
    30.95
    Express6S
    OSD
    P42631
    01.75
    OSX
    P42637
    11.84

  • z/OS Release
    Required PTF
    RSU
    Module to Display
    OSA/SF
    1203
    (none)
    1.13-2.3
    (none)


Minimum z/OS Software Levels

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU054","label":"Systems w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSSN3L","label":"z\/OS Communications Server"},"Component":"All","Platform":[{"code":"PF035","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"1.6;1.7;1.8;1.9;1.10;1.11;1.12;1.13;2.1;2.2;2.3","Edition":"All Editions","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB35","label":"Mainframe SW"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
10 April 2019

UID

swg21232599

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