25.3.1.2 SoftwareXcel SystemPac/MVS

The SystemPac installation offering is a world-wide offering similar to SIE, but without on-site assistance by IBM. You can use this to tailor OS/390 to your environment (such as DASD layout, migration of MVSCP/IOCP to IODF, and naming conventions) based on information provided to IBM. With this offering, selected non-IBM products can be integrated. This offering can be delivered in IEBCOPY dump-by-data-set format or in full volume dump format.

Use this in conjunction with IBM services to set up and tailor your OS/390 system. See Custom-Built Offerings Planning, SC23-0352 and CustomPac Installation Dialogs, SA22-7240 for more information.

25.3.1.3 Other Offerings

There are many other fee-based offerings based on SystemPac available in specific countries or geographies. Many are packaged with on-site assistance to help install and tailor the system, provide services, maintenance, and financing to help customers get to current technology.

Other fee-based help includes Washington System Center services, customized solutions, hardware services, and software services. Contact your IBM Representative for details about additional installation services.

25.3.2 Entitled Methods of Installing OS/390

These are only recommended for installations which have a running OS/390 system and want to make incremental upgrades to it. There is no FunctionPac, ProductPac, Custom Built Installation Process Offering (CBIPO), or stand-alone product tape for OS/390.

If your OS/390 was not tailored to your hardware configuration, you will need to use the Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) to define I/O configurations to both the software and hardware. HCD can be used as part of the initial ordering procedure for many of the above offerings to create an input/output definition file (IODF). If starting with your VSE configuration, you can add the necessary MVS control statements to your IOCP and convert them to HCD.

Both of the following methods require OS/390 or MVS as the driving system.

25.3.2.1 ServerPac

This software delivery package consists of installed products and integrated service for a ready-to-IPL system. To install, you use the CustomPac Installation Dialog -- the same dialog that is used for all the CustomPac offerings, including SystemPac and ProductPac. You can use ServerPac to install a new OS/390 system, replace an entire existing system, or replace an existing system except for its operational data sets (SYS1.PARMLIB, SYS1.PROCLIB, and the like).

You can order other IBM products and subsystems in a single ServerPac order. However, CICS, IMS, DB2, and NCP products will be delivered in separate ServerPacs.

See ServerPac: Using the Installation Dialog, SC28-1244.

406VSE to OS/390 Migration Workbook

Page 430
Image 430
IBM manual Entitled Methods of Installing OS/390, SoftwareXcel SystemPac/MVS, Other Offerings, ServerPac

OS/390 specifications

IBM OS/390, a versatile operating system, was a cornerstone in enterprise environments and played a pivotal role in mainframe computing. Released in the mid-1990s, OS/390 combined the strengths of IBM's MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) with new features and enhancements, targeting scalability, reliability, and performance in demanding business applications.

One of the key features of OS/390 was its robust support for multiple users and processes. The system allowed thousands of concurrent users to access applications and data, ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime—a critical requirement for many large organizations. This scalability was supported through various enhancements in memory management and processor scheduling, enabling optimal resource allocation across diverse workloads.

OS/390 was known for its superior workload management capabilities. The Workload Manager (WLM) component allowed administrators to define service policies, specifying how system resources would be allocated according to the priority of tasks. This ensured that critical business processes received the necessary resources while less critical tasks were managed more flexibly.

Another significant characteristic of OS/390 was its commitment to security. The operating system provided comprehensive security features, including user authentication, data encryption, and auditing capabilities. This focus on security was vital for organizations handling sensitive data, ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding against unauthorized access.

OS/390 also supported advanced technologies that facilitated integration and development. The system included features like the IBM CICS (Customer Information Control System) for transaction processing and IMS (Information Management System) for database management. These technologies allowed organizations to build robust, high-performance applications tailored to specific business needs.

The ease of network integration was another strength of OS/390. With the advent of the Internet and global connectivity, OS/390 systems could easily interface with various network protocols, enabling businesses to operate in a connected world. This inclusion paved the way for many organizations to expand their capabilities and offer new services, driving digital transformation.

In conclusion, IBM OS/390 represented a significant advancement in mainframe technology, combining scalability, security, and robust workload management. Its rich feature set and support for critical enterprise applications solidified its role as a vital component of many organizations' IT infrastructures, ensuring they could meet their operational challenges head-on while supporting future growth. As technology continues to evolve, the legacy of OS/390 remains influential in the realm of computing.