z/VM System Delivery Offering Format

Product tapes in z/VM® System Delivery Offering format are created by combining product tapes for several products. Depending on the way the tapes are combined, these tapes are also called merged product tapes or stacked product tapes.

The first volume of a stacked product tape in z/VM SDO format contains the following files, in the following order:

  1. A combined first tape file for all products on the tape. This file contains:
    1. The installation exec for each product
    2. $PPF files for each product (if they exist)
    3. PRODPART files for each product (if they exist)
    4. Post-processing execs for each product (if they exist)
    5. A zero file for each product, containing the number of tape files for the product

    The first tape file serves as a table of contents for the tape.

  2. prodid or compname MEMOs for each product on the tape
  3. The zero file, post-processing execs, and either the $PPF and PRODPART files or an installation exec for the first product
  4. The first code file for the first product ⋮

    And as many more files as necessary. Each new product begins with a tape file containing the zero file, post-processing execs, and either the $PPF and PRODPART files or an installation exec.

Subsequent volumes of a stacked product tape do not contain a first tape file or the collected MEMO files. They simply continue the first volume.

A merged product tape in z/VM SDO format looks like the second volume of a stacked product tape. It contains:

  1. The zero file, post-processing execs, and either the $PPF and PRODPART files or an installation exec for the first product
  2. The first code file for the first product ⋮

    And as many more files as necessary. Each new product begins with a tape file containing the zero file, post-processing execs, and either the $PPF and PRODPART files or an installation exec.