zPDT what's new

zPDT continues to offer new capabilities to help you with innovative development based on capabilities of the newest member of the System z family, the zEC12 . This includes support of the underlying System zEC12 architecture as well as security, coupling facility and performance enhancements, amongst others. In particular new zEC12 capabilities should help you achieve performance and throughput such as from Transactional Execution, 2GB page frames, runtime execution and more. In addition this new release features significant security and cryptography enhancements.

System zEC12 Support
- The relevant instruction set for the System zEC12 processor is included. This is a significant new enhancement to the release.

LINUX Support:
- The supported levels of Linux must be at least the 64-bit version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6.0 or greater, the 64-bit version of openSUSE 11.0 or greater, or the 64-bit version of SLES 11 SP2 or greater. Earlier versions of RHEL or openSUSE are not supported.

Security
- The cryptographic adapter functions provided by zPDT are now at the Crypto Express 4S level.

Performance
- Performance enhancements are included such as cache improvements and benefits for the coupling facility and DB2

Coupling facility
- Coupling Facility Level 18 code is included

zPDT functional support

The zPDT creates a virtual System z architecture environment, with virtual I/O and devices as well. Some of the features for zPDT:

New for zPDT 1.4 (available 12/14/12)

• New zEC12 CPU Processor Architecture Support timely with the zEC12 GA, the most current zEnterprise server
  • Transactional Execution Facility for elimination of software locking overhead increasing parallelism
  • New compilers performance enhancements similar to what is achievable on zEC12
  • 2 GB page frames for performance improvements
  • Miscellaneous Instruction Extension Facility for Java code checking, and memory fetching efficiency
• Emulated Crypto Express 4S support with stronger key wrapping, DUKPT for MAC encryption keys, support for EMV and other standards
• Enhanced Coupling Support (zEC12 CF18) with better serviceability
• Performance Enhancements
  • Enhanced time improvements when dynamically altering the entry/element ration or the size of the cache structure
  • DB2 conditional write to a group pool buffer (GPB)
  • Performance throughput enhancements for parallel cache castout processing
  • CF storage class and cast out contention avoidance

Hardware tested:
zPDT Version 1 Release 4 has been tested on the following PC hardware:

• Linux x86_64 platforms include
  • SLES 11 and above
  • OpenSUSE 11.0 or higher
  • RHEL 6.0 or higher
• Expanded number of Intel based x86_64 platforms tested to include:
  • Lenovo T61P, Lenovo W500 dual core, Lenovo W700 dual core
• Lenovo W510, 520 and 530 Quadcore; Lenovo W700 quad core
  • IBM System X 3500 M4, 3650 M4 and 3755 M3
• Additional Operating Systems tested includes:
  • z/OS 1.12 and 1.13
  • z/VSE 5.1

Additional information about the zPDT is provided in the zPDT Redbooks

Prior Announcement

What was new in zPDT V 1.3 in March 2012

• zPDT V1.3
• System z 196 Support - System z 196 processor is included. This is a major change for the base 1090 element.(see SG24-7723-04).
• LINUX Support - RHEL 6.0, 6.1, and openSUSE 11.3 libraries.
• Security - The cryptographic adapter functions at the Crypto Express 3 level.
• Performance - enhancements for z/OS WebSphere Application Server.
• Coupling facility - new CFCC D93G R17 SL4.8 level is supported
• DASD - Emulated DASD may be shared between instances of zPDT on the same PC.

• zPDT V 1.1.1 in December 2010

  z/VM Data migration utility
  This utility allows easy migration of 3380, 3390, and FBA volumes to the zPDT-based system – helping you to clone a ‘big z/VM system’ to the zPDT-based system.

  zPDT Coupling Facility
  The zPDT Version 1.2.1 available December 15, 2010 provides support for a virtual Coupling Facility. ISVs can now use their zPDT systems to write applications and tools that take advantage of parallel sysplex. This capability is for virtual coupling only, used as z/OS guests under z/VM. The zPDT does not support physical coupling links and you cannot cluster multiple zPDT systems together.

  Additional information about the zPDT coupling facility is provided in the zPDT redbook at http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247859.html?Open .

  How to get the coupling facility code
  Qualified ISVs can get the coupling facility code through the zPDT version 1.2.1 update. All zPDT customers can obtain 1090 SW updates through our Technology Partner - Information Technology Company (ITC). Just go to www.p390store.com and click on the zPDT Software Updates icon. You will be required to register with a valid 1090 11S number, model type, and serial number. You will then have immediate access to the web site for downloads.

  Coupling Facility 'startup' Application Developers Controlled Distribution (ADCD)
  To further support the zPDT coupling facility function, IBM has created a Coupling Facility 'startup' configuration ADCD (z/OS V1.11 as a guest of z/VM) which is available on request. The Coupling ADCD provides pre-configured components of both z/OS and z/VM that will help you to get a basic sysplex up and running quickly. The Coupling ADCD build also includes the zPDT coupling Redbook and instructions. Use of the Coupling facility ADCD is not required, users can build your sysplex with the base z/OS and z/VM builds. Use of the Coupling Facility ADCD requires users to agree to the Ts&Cs of the license agreement.

  There is a US$900/ per year subscription fee for the use of the ADCD SW distributions. This annual fee covers the z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Coupling Facility ADCD SW stacks regardless of whether one, two, three, or all four ADCD stacks are requested.

  How to get a copy of the Coupling Facility ADCD
  In order to get a copy of the coupling ADCD, a new Coupling ADCD license agreement must be put into place and your SW discount contract amended. ISVs wanting to use the coupling ADCD also need to be licensed to the z/OS and z/VM ADCD stacks. To get a copy of the coupling ADCD, please go to the ADCD Request web page .
  http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/pw_com_zseries_zos14adcd