Ordering z/OS and related IBM products

Use the self-service internet application IBM Shopz or contact an IBM representative.

The system release identifiers (SRELs) are MVS™, CICS®, and Db2®. If an order is for multiple SRELs, it must include the operating system (z/OS).

IBM recommends that you order all products, both SMP/E installable and non-SMP/E installable, that you intend to install, upgrade, and maintain on the same schedule as z/OS (the z/OS product set) in the same ServerPac. (See Product sets for a description of product sets.) If you need to order from multiple SRELs, place multiple orders (and you receive multiple ServerPac orders).

With product ServerPac orders, orders for products in the MVS SREL do not need to include the operating system. That is, you can order WebSphere® Application Server for z/OS, Tivoli®, or any other product ServerPac eligible product without having to order a base. Also, you can order product ServerPac eligible products in any SREL without having to order the base product for that SREL. Product ServerPac eligible products are indicated in the IBM Shopz product catalog by the triangle icon.

IBM offers two installation options in Shopz, as follows:

CustomPac Installation Dialog

If you choose this option, your ServerPac order is created in its traditional form. You obtain and install your order by using the ISPF-based CustomPac Installation Dialog.

The CustomPac Installation Dialog is the same dialog that is used for all the CustomPac offerings, including SystemPac (dump-by-data-set format), ProductPac®, and RefreshPac. For more information about CustomPac fee offerings, see IBM CustomPac Services.

z/OSMF Software Management

If you choose this option, your ServerPac order is produced as a portable software instance. Here, you use Software Management task of z/OSMF to obtain (add) and install (deploy) the ServerPac portable software instance and run the installation jobs. For more information, see ServerPac Installation using z/OSMF.

When you order z/OS V2R4 products, Shopz does not prompt you to select an installation option in Shopz—you must use the CustomPac Installation Dialog.

Note: IBM plans to discontinue support for the CustomPac Installation dialog method of installation for all IBM software products in Shopz in January 2022. To ensure that you can install Shopz-orderable software in the future, it is recommended that you take steps to prepare your driving system for z/OSMF-based installations. For an overview of ServerPac with z/OSMF Software Management and the steps to follow, see the website ServerPac Installation using z/OSMF. Here, you can find a sample portable software instance that can be used to verify that your z/OS driving system is operational for installing a z/OS ServerPac.

When you order upgrades to software products for which you are currently licensed, you can generate an SMP/E report of installed software to be upgraded, and upload the report to Shopz. Shopz selects upgrades and performs technical requisite checking. Then, you can submit the order and track it through delivery.

Typically, when a z/OS release becomes orderable in ServerPac, the previous release remains orderable for one more month. Refer to z/OS announcements for exact dates.

Use the self-service internet application at IBM Shopz, use IBMLink, or contact an IBM representative..

An order can be for products in one or more of the following system release identifiers (SRELs): MVS, Db2, and CICS. Because z/OS is a large product, you can minimize the size of your order by placing separate orders for z/OS itself and for other products in the same SREL (MVS).

When you order upgrades to software products for which you are currently licensed, you can generate an SMP/E report of installed software to be upgraded, and upload the report to Shopz. Shopz selects upgrades and performs technical requisite checking. Then, you can submit the order and track it through delivery.

If the equivalent level of a nonexclusive optional priced feature is running on your system, and a CBPDO installation is planned for the next release with the intent of not replacing that equivalent level of the feature during the installation, then the z/OS level of that feature must be ordered, even if it will not be installed, to ensure that the appropriate product policy statements are shipped for that feature.

Any country with Shopz product delivery can have those products delivered electronically.

Use the self-service internet application IBM Shopz, use IBMLink, or contact an IBM representative..

Unlike a ServerPac order, a SystemPac order can be for multiple SRELs. IBM recommends that you order in the same SystemPac all products that you intend to install, upgrade, and maintain on the same schedule as z/OS.

When you place your SystemPac order, be sure to select the selective follow-on services (SFSs) as well. You can specify a maximum of three SFSs at intervals of 30, 60, or 90 days apart. SFSs contain PTFs fixing PE and HIPER PTFs that are discovered after your system is built. SFSs are tailored to the SMP/E CSI of your system. The goal of SFSs is to stabilize your system over time, thus improving its availability. SFSs are delivered on the same media type as your original order.

Upon placing the order, an IBM representative contacts you to provide more help to have your order enriched. Enrichment is an important part of SystemPac. Through a local order entry tool, your system's parameters (such as volume serials, DASD types, catalog names, SMP/E definitions, and SMS definitions) are collected. This enables the SystemPac to be built exactly the way you specified, eliminating the need for customizing upon system restore. This also enables IBM to enable subsystems and products according to your specifications (for example, z/OS UNIX in full function mode according to your SMS specifications).

You also need to send a copy of your IODF to the IBM manufacturing center. Your SystemPac is built according to your IODF input. You can send the IODF electronically or on physical media.

The Customized Offerings Driver (5751-COD) is an entitled driving system that you can use if you do not have an existing system to use as a driving system. Or, if your existing system does not meet driving system requirements. More information about the COD is provided in Customized Offerings Driver.

To order the COD, use the self-service internet application IBM Shopz or contact an IBM representative. For more information, see IBM Shopz.

On the IBM Shopz website, begin by selecting your preferred delivery media: Internet or DVD.

To install the COD from the internet, you require:

• An HMC with software version 2.15 or later installed.
• On an IBM z14 or later server, the HMC can access the network installation location.
• On an IBM z13 server, both the support element (SE) and the HMC can access the network installation location.

To install the COD from DVD, you require an HMC with a DVD drive, such as feature code 0082.

For the z14 and later servers, you can (as an alternative) order the DVDs and copy the images onto the USB flash drive. For instructions on copying the images, see the COD DVDs. To install from a USB flash drive, your Hardware Management Console (HMC) requires software version 2.15 or later. To verify the software level, you can check the HMC logon screen or the online help.

For the z13 server, it is recommended that you order the COD on DVD if you:

• Cannot use a USB flash drive.
• Do not want to use an internal server for installation.
• Do not want to enable the server support element (SE) to access the IBM ShopZ website.