You can go all the way up to z/OS 2.2 on an IBM z10 machine, and (if you hurry!) z/OS 2.2 is still orderable through ShopZ. I would go place that order, right now. End of Marketing for z/OS 2.2 is January 29, 2018, but I would try to avoid cutting it too close. Match up the middleware, compilers, and tools too, of course.
IBM's introduction of Multi-Version Measurement (MVM) in early 2017 *should* mean either the same monthly license operating system charge or a negligible difference, and with no financial urgency to beat a Single Version Charge deadline. However, you will remain at "status quo" full machine capacity licensing (and on z10 MSUs) unless and until you get OS/390 (and any 31-bit IPL'ed z/OS, which was technically possible up through z/OS 1.5) completely removed from that machine. "Better late than never" in getting that fixed. z/OS 2.2 is also IBM supported, and that's terrific because you'll be able to get IBM's help, open PMRs, etc. on the destination side of this migration. Moreover, there's no End of Service date announced yet for z/OS 2.2. If IBM follows its past practice, z/OS 2.2 will reach End of Support on September 30, 2020, and there will be up to 24 months of fee-based Extended Support available in a pinch. With z/OS 2.2 you'll also be better positioned to forge ahead to a more efficient machine on a newer z/OS release. Absent a really compelling reason otherwise, I'd forge as far ahead as you can. And there's at least one compelling reason to do exactly that: IBM support on the target. Regardless of your final decision, I'd put in an order, now -- well, OK, after a *little* due diligence, but don't wait too long. This week would be a really good idea. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy Sipples IT Architect Executive, Industry Solutions, IBM Z and LinuxONE, AP/GCG/MEA E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
