Usability and skills

z/OS® Communications Server includes the following enhancements for usability and skills:
  • HiperSockets Converged Interface support - z/OS Communications Server provides HiperSockets Converged Interface (HSCI) solution to support the z/VM bridge environment. With this solution, a Linux guest can connect to z/OS via Layer 2 HiperSockets and to the external network by using a single IP interface. This support also significantly improves HiperSockets usability by dynamically provisioning and activating a HiperSockets interface when an OSD interface is activated for the same physical network ID (PNetID). With this support, the TCP/IP stack only sees the OSD interface. This design approach greatly reduces the network administration costs as HiperSockets interfaces no longer are required to be configured, operated, or managed in z/OS Communications Server. This solution allows a single IP interface (OSD) to provide access to the external Ethernet LAN and transparent access to HiperSockets for LPAR to LPAR communications within the central processor complex (CPC). This solution also eliminates the need to reconfigure z/OS HiperSockets interfaces when moving a z/OS instance from one CPC to another. The HSCI is also referred to as an IQDC interface.
    Incompatibilities:
    • This function does not support IPAQENET interfaces that are defined by using the DEVICE, LINK, and HOME statements. Convert your IPAQENET definitions to use the INTERFACE statement to enable this support.
    • This function also requires the virtual MAC (VMAC) operand be specified on your IPAQENET interfaces to request OSA-generated VMACs.
    Dependencies:
    • This function minimally requires a zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12).
    • This function requires an Internal Queued Direct I/O (IQD) channel path ID (CHPID) configured with the external bridge function.

    When change was introduced: z/OS V2R3 with the PTFs for APARs PI83372 and OA53198

  • z/OS Configuration Assistant for Communications Server support for import of TCP/IP configuration - The Configuration Assistant for z/OS® Communications Server includes TCP/IP technology, with which you can create and manage TCP/IP profiles. You can import your current TCP/IP stack profiles into the Configuration Assistant, to help you transition to using the Configuration Assistant for your TCP/IP profile management.
    Dependencies: z/OSMF is required to be installed and running in your network, with the Configuration Assistant for z/OS Communications Server plug-in installed.

    When change was introduced: z/OS V2R3 and with the PTFs for Configuration Assistant APAR PI66143 and TCP/IP APAR PI63449 for z/OS V2R2

  • Enhanced wildcard support for jobnames on PORT and PORTRANGE statements - The wildcard support is enhanced for the jobname parameter on the PORT and PORTRANGE TCP/IP configuration statements. Asterisks can be used in any position to indicate zero or more unspecified characters. The question mark can be used in any position to indicate a single unspecified character.

    When change was introduced: z/OS V2R3

Reference information: See the following topics in z/OS Communications Server: New Function Summary for detailed descriptions that include any applicable restrictions, dependencies, and steps on using the functions:
  • HiperSockets Converged Interface support
  • z/OS Configuration Assistant for Communications Server support for import of TCP/IP configuration
  • Enhanced wildcard support for jobnames on PORT and PORTRANGE statements