z/OS AI Framework software and product packaging

Preferred ordering and packaging scenario

To simplify ordering and installation, IBM offers AI System Services for IBM z/OS (5655-164), which packages the ZCDP and MLz Core FMIDs together under a single, zero-charge product ID (PID).

• AI System Services for IBM z/OS 1.1 (AISS 1.1) contains the ZCDP 5.1 and MLz Core 3.1 FMIDs, and requires Java 11, as described in Software requirements.
• AI System Services for IBM z/OS 1.2 (AISS 1.2) contains the ZCDP 5.1 and MLz Core 3.2 FMIDs, and requires Java 17, as described in Software requirements. This is the preferred option, as MLz Core 3.2 offers additional functionality and security. AISS 1.2 requires APAR OA67865 on z/OS 3.1.

If you are migrating from z/OS 2.4 or 2.5 to z/OS 3.1 and you do not already have any other products that include the ZCDP and MLz Core FMIDs, you can order the AI System Services for IBM z/OS PID along with the z/OS 3.1 PID (5655-ZOS) and receive both products in one portable software instance zone.

Table 1. z/OS AI Framework: Required products, FMIDs, and components

This product…	Contains these FMIDs…	Which include these components…
Option 1: AI System Services for IBM z/OS 1.1 PID 5655-164 ($0)	ZCDP 5.1 FMID HHBO510	–
	MLz Core 3.1 FMID HAQN310	–
Option 2 (preferred): AI System Services for IBM z/OS 1.2 PID 5655-164 ($0)	ZCDP 5.1 FMID HHBO510	–
	MLz Core 3.2 FMID HAQN320	–
IBM z/OS 3.1 PID 5655-ZOS	BCP FMID HBB77E0	AI Base Component for z/OS WLM (AI use case provider)
	z/OSMF FMID HSMA310	AI Control Interface for z/OS
	DFSMS FMID HDZ3310	VSAM RLS EzNoSQL for z/OS

A benefit of this packaging scenario is that, in addition to receiving ZCDP and MLz Core at no charge, you are assured that ZCDP and MLz Core are at the proper levels that the z/OS AI Framework requires. If you are using a previous installation of ZCDP or MLz Core or both, be sure they are at the correct levels.

Other ordering and packaging scenarios

The following scenarios describe various combinations of ordering and packaging for z/OS, AI System Services for z/OS, MLz Enterprise, and ZCDP.

• You already have z/OS 3.1 and MLz Enterprise, but no ZCDP.
  If you already have z/OS 3.1, and you already have MLz Enterprise 3.1 or 3.2 (which includes the MLz Core FMID (HAQN310 or HAQN320)), but you need the ZCDP FMID (HHBO510), you have 2 options:

  • You can order and install another IBM product that includes the ZCDP FMID, if you already intend to use that product.
  • You can order and install the zero-charge AI System Services for z/OS, but this will cause duplication of the MLz Core FMID, which you already have as part of MLz Enterprise. You have 3 options to manually mitigate the duplication:
    • Carefully merge the two instances.
    • Carefully delete the MLz Core FMID from the portable software instance for your AISS order.
    • Do not use a z/OSMF portable software instance; instead, use CBPDO but do not install the MLz Core FMID that comes with AISS.
    Note: If you order AI System Services for z/OS at the same time as another product that also contains ZCDP, they will install into the same zone and share the FMID for ZCDP.
• You already have z/OS 3.1 and ZCDP, but no MLz.
  If you already have z/OS 3.1, and you already have the ZCDP FMID (HHBO510) as part of another IBM product, but you need the MLz Core FMID (HAQN310 or HAQN320), you have 2 options:

  • You can order and install MLz Enterprise, which will also install the MLz Core FMID that you need for the z/OS AI Framework. This approach makes sense if you already intend to use MLz Enterprise for other purposes apart from the z/OS AI Framework.
  • You can order and install the zero-charge AI System Services for z/OS, but this will cause duplication of the ZCDP FMID, which you already have as part of another product. You have 3 options to manually mitigate the duplication:
    • Carefully merge the two instances.
    • Carefully delete the ZCDP FMID from the portable software instance for your AISS order.
    • Do not use a z/OSMF portable software instance; instead, use CBPDO but do not install the ZCDP FMID that comes with AISS.
    Note: If you order AI System Services for z/OS at the same time as MLz Enterprise, they will install into the same zone and share the FMID for MLz Core.
• You already have z/OS 3.1 and ZCDP and MLz Enterprise.

  If you already have z/OS 3.1 and MLz Enterprise (which includes the MLz Core FMID (HAQN310 or HAQN320)), and you also already have the ZCDP FMID (HHBO510) as part of another IBM product, you do not need to order or install anything else; you already have all the necessary FMIDs on your system.

ZCDP and MLz Core instances are not shared

Regardless of the particular ordering, packaging, and installation process you use, the z/OS AI Framework configures its own running instances of ZCDP and MLz Core, including the Spark runtime environment that MLz Core uses. These separately configured instances are not shared with any other products, and any existing ZCDP and MLz Core configurations remain unaffected. This approach ensures that these separate instances are properly configured for use with the z/OS AI Framework (for instance, proper security setup).