Because of the z/VSE 5.1 end of support some z/VSE user may choose to use Fast Service Upgrade (FSU) to z/VSE 5.2.

Note that you need an initial installation, if you want to upgrade to z/VSE 6.1.

Today I have a few tips for pitfalls that might happen during FSU:

• FSU preparation step not executed
  For FSU the IUI dialog 1432  (FSU Preparation) must be selected and the created job must run. This step is important to get to a successful FSU. In case you forget this step, the error messages do not show this problem at first. Below are some messages that might indicate that situation:
  STEP 24B REFRESH MESSAGE FILE FAILURE:
  BG 0000 *  STEP 24B:      REFRESH MESSAGE FILE
  BG 0000 4191I TAPE FILE PROCESSING FAILURE RC=084  IN SYS004=181
  ACTUAL BLOCK CONTAINS A RECORD WITH INCONSISTENT RECORD LENGTH (RECFORM=SPN AND VAR)
  STEP 27: UPDATE RESIDENCE failed.    
  Product CF951C and CF951D not found.   
  The listed products are on the old VSE level. 
• Space problem during FSU to z/VSE 5.2
  During FSU to z/VSE 5.2,  IBM TCP/IP for VSE/ESA 1.5F is installed in library PRD2.TCPIPC. The library resides in the VSAM master catalog. If there is not enough space  available, the FSU will abend in job DTRFSU4D with the following message:
  1QC3I  MEMBER IPNCSD.Z NOT FOUND IN PRD2.TCPIPC
  
  See z/VSE 5.2 Planning section Release Upgrade: VSAM Space considerations for a Release Upgrade via FSU. There you get more information on the amount of free space required. So you can calculate the additional space for the master catalog.

More information is in the z/VSE 5.2 System Upgrade and Service book.

Links to z/VSE documentation are on our z/VSE Documentation page - here.

You may also use the technical article - z/VSE Release and Hardware Upgrade - for additional information - here.