IMS 15.5 release overview

Find out the changes in IMS 15.5 on this page.

Requirements

IMS 15.5 requires a minimum processor type of z13 (2964). For a list of processors supported by IMS 15.5, see Processor requirements.

The base IMS 15.5 system runs on z/OS® Version 2 Release 4 or later. For a list of base software requirements for IMS 15.5, see IMS 15.5 base software requirements.

Migration considerations

The IMS team uses a continuous delivery model to enhance the most recent in-service version of IMS. Depending on the current IMS version that you run, you might need to consider different migration approaches.

Migrating from prior IMS 15 releases

Instead of performing a full installation of IMS, you can migrate to IMS 15.5 from prior IMS 15 releases by applying APAR PH59051 (PTF UI96269/UI96270/UI96271/UI96272/UI96273). After the migration, output locations, including the output of the messages, commands, and log records that reflect IMS versions, are updated to 15.5.

Before you apply APAR PH59051 (PTF UI96269/UI96270/UI96271/UI96272/UI96273), ensure that all prior IMS 15 APAR/PTFs are applied. If a required prior PTF is a PTF-in-error (PE) PTF and the fixing PTF is delivered after the release of IMS 15.5, you must apply the fixing PTF when it becomes available.

Migrating from IMS 14 or earlier versions

If you are migrating to IMS 15.5 from IMS 14 or earlier, your migration plan must take into account the requirements and enhancements that are introduced into IMS in the versions that you are skipping. For more instructions on migrating to IMS 15.5, see the following links:

The IMS installed level is updated to 15.5 in the SCDINLVL control block field and in the &DFSLEVIN macro variable set by IMS macro DFSLEVIN. Output locations, including those in the preceding list, that reference the SCDINLVL control block field are updated to 15.5. However, because the IMS installed level that is specified in the SSCDIMSR control block field and the DFSLEV constant is not changed, the output locations that reference SSCDIMSR or DFSLEV will continue to display 15.1 (the IMS base level) even after you apply APAR PH59051 (PTF UI96269/UI96270/UI96271/UI96272/UI96273).

After you migrate to IMS 15.5, you can use the DFSGVRM API to get the version, release, and modification level of an IMS system.

Coexistence considerations

For a list of coexistence considerations for IMS 15.5, see Coexistence with IMS 15.5

Log record changes

The following log records are changed by this enhancement in IMS 15.5:
X'42'
Field ATLEVEL, which was introduced by PH14457, is changed to reflect the updated IMS installed level of 15.5, where it was previously 15.4.
X'4500'
Field ST4500_IN_LVL, which was introduced by PH14457, is changed to reflect the updated IMS installed level of 15.5, where it was previously 15.4.

Changes to troubleshooting for IMS

The output of the following messages is changed to show the version upgrade:
  • The version shown in message DFS1929I is changed from 15.4 to 15.5.
  • The "current IMS version" field displayed in message DFS4878I is changed from 15.4.0 to 15.5.0.
  • The version shown in message DFS2342E is changed from 15.4 to 15.5.
The documentation of the following messages is changed:
  • Message DFS2342E and BPE0045E are changed to specify the facility requirement on using a System z13 processor or higher.
  • BPE abend code 3400 is changed to specify the facility requirement on using a System z13 processor or higher processor in the explanation of sub code X'0E'.

For a list of the messages and codes that are new or changed for this enhancement, see the IMS messages and codes row in the table in IMS 15.5 release overview.

For a complete list of all of the new, changed, and deleted messages, and abend codes in IMS 15.5, see Message and code changes in IMS 15.5.

Changes to commands

The output of the following commands are changed to show 15.5 in the Version column for the IMS installed level:
  • QUERY IMSPLEX
  • QUERY IMSFUNC

For a list of the commands that are new or changed for this enhancement see the IMS commands row in the table in Documentation changes.

Documentation changes

The following table lists the publications that contain new or changed topics for the New function name enhancement. Publications that are not impacted by this enhancement are not included in the table.

Table 1. Links to topics that have new or changed content for this enhancement
Publication New or changed topics
Release planning
IMS messages and codes DFS Messages BPE Messages BPE Codes