Last Updated: 17 February 2026


IBM z/VM 7.5 Preview


 

Overview

Planned availability date - Third quarter, 2026

IBM plans to deliver z/VM 7.5 to provide clients with a new release of the premier hypervisor for IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers. This release plans to include critical enhancements that empower enterprises to modernize their IT infrastructure with improved security, memory scalability, and simplified management, all while supporting Linux, hybrid cloud, and containerized workloads. This plans to provide a highly secure, scalable foundation for Red Hat OpenShift, IBM Cloud Paks, and traditional workloads.

In addition to enabling access to the Telum microprocessor on-chip AI accelerator, z/VM 7.5 is designed to allow Spyre AI accelerator adapters to be dynamically configured as part of a virtual machine configuration for its use. z/VM allows operating systems that support AI platforms full exploitation of AI hardware accelerators. These environments include Red Hat OpenShift AI, IBM watsonx Assistant for Z, and other offerings that complement and exploit an IBM Z and LinuxONE infrastructure supported by z/VM.

Building on the robust foundation of z/VM 7.4, z/VM 7.5 plans to introduce key features and enhancements, helping to ensure that clients can fully utilize the latest IBM Z hardware innovations.


 

z/VM 7.5 intends to provide

  • Enhanced security with Host Secure Boot
    z/VM 7.5 plans to introduce Secure Boot verification, ensuring that all software used during IPL is authenticated and trusted, delivering greater integrity for enterprise environments by helping to prevent tampering.
  • Improved memory management and scalability
    Capabilities such as memory overcommitment control and real memory scalability infrastructure can help clients optimize resource utilization and prepare for future large-memory workloads. Memory overcommitment control allows administrators to define acceptable memory overcommitment levels, preventing performance degradation and improving diagnostics. Real memory scalability infrastructure implements a 4 GB minimum real memory requirement and reserves a 2 GB region for the Control Program (CP) use, in preparation for future large-memory workloads such as data serving.
  • Simplified system configuration
    RACF Simplification alleviates the need to modify the RACF/VM specific modules within the CPLOAD MODULE. Integration of DFSMS/VM Removable Media Services into CMS simplifies Automated Tape Library support for the z/VM environment. z/CMS will become the default CMS, while CMS/390 is retained for compatibility.
  • Networking enhancements
    A new system infrastructure VSwitch is designed to provide consistent connectivity for core system guests, simplifying system configuration and improving manageability and reliability.
  • Modernization and deprecation of legacy support
    z/VM 7.5 plans to remove support for system-attached IBM 3380 devices, introduce semantic versioning for CP, and implement memory terminology simplification, replacing legacy storage terminology with memory, to align with industry standards and future-proof the platform.
  • Enhanced GDPS support
    HYPERSWAP for Guest HYPERPAV is designed to enable clients to extend their disaster recovery scenarios by allowing HYPERSWAP to accommodate guests that have an active HYPERPAV configuration.
  • An Architecture Level Set (ALS) that requires one of the following IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers, or later:
    • IBM z16 Models A01, A02, and AGZ
    • IBM LinuxONE 4 Models LA1, LA2, and AGL
  • Timely, client-driven function, previously delivered in the service stream of z/VM 7.4 positions z/VM 7.5 with improved:
    • Hardware support, with the introduction of the IBM z17 and LinuxONE 5, delivering networking improvements with EQDIO and advanced AI with the Spyre adapter
    • Simplification, with GETSHOPZ enhancements supporting service obtained from Service Link and installation media obtained from Shopz
    • Performance, with controls for guest logoff time
    • Resilience and usability, provided by the ability for PAGE volumes to be fully drained and removed without a system outage, the ability to prevent soft ABENDs from becoming hard ABENDs, and RAS enhancements to z/VM FICON support that mitigates the effects of flapping links on the system
    • Security, with enhanced authorization controls for guest crypto domains and System SSL certificate management enhancements
    • Modernization with the Diff and Patch tool for CMS, an implementation of unified DIFF and PATCH using the unified diff format
    • System management improvements, with various enhancements to SMAPI, DirMaint, and RACF configuration

For a detailed description of function delivered in the z/VM 7.4 service stream, see the z/VM Continuous Delivery News website.

IBM continues to engage closely with the z/VM user community through the z/VM council, exploiting the z/VM continuous delivery model to provide timely new function and fixes throughout the lifecycle of a z/VM release.


 

Program Information

Product information, including system requirements, tech notes, support, and more, will be available on or before general availability in IBM Documentation.


 

Statement of direction

FIPS certification of z/VM 7.5
The statement of direction included in Software Announcement AD24-0662, dated 6 August 2024, stated IBM intends to pursue an evaluation of the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-3 on z/VM 7.4. This Statement of direction is withdrawn. IBM intends to pursue an evaluation of the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-3 using National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) for System SSL modules running on z/VM 7.5.


 

Disclaimer

Statements by IBM regarding its plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at the sole discretion of IBM. Information regarding potential future products is intended to outline general product direction and should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information mentioned regarding potential future products is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. Information about potential future products may not be incorporated into any contract. The development, release, and timing of any future features or functionality described for IBM products remain at the sole discretion of IBM.


 

Terms and conditions

For Program Technical Support, see the IBM Support Product Lifecycle website.


 

Additional information

  • The offerings in this announcement might not be available for purchase in all countries or regions. Purchase availability can be affected by multiple factors that include support availability, service availability, and government regulations. Consult with your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner for availability information.
  • The export control status under U.S. export regulations is available for an offering in the IBM Software Classification Look-up Tool. Consult with your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner for availability information.