Release Notes

We have decided to use a more robust naming convention for PopUp Mainframe release versions with immediate effect. All releases mentioned below use this naming convention to avoid confusion (even old ones use it retrospectively). Any previously employed release names are shown in brackets below (after the new designator).

Release Naming Convention

PopUp Mainframe release versions are now made up of the following segments:

  • The first three characters define the IBM z/OS version we have baked into this PopUp Mainframe release build (e.g. 2.4 or 2.5, etc)
  • A PopUp Mainframe instance runs on a Linux host. The fourth character designates the Linux operating system used (e.g. "U" for Ubuntu or "R" for Red Hat Enterprise Linux)
  • The fifth and final character is used to uniquely identify different builds of PopUp Mainframe which could potentially share the same base z/OS and operating system (e.g. a, b, c, etc)


We are excited to announce the release of PopUp Mainframe 2.4Rb, optimized for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) version 9.4. This release brings enhanced performance, stability, and new features to our z/OS virtual instance solution.

Foundation Components

Component Version
RHEL 9.4
IBM ZD&T 14.2.0
IBM z/OS 2.4

Mainframe Subsystems, Applications and Utilities

Component Version
IBM ADCD for z/OS 2R4
IBM CICS Transaction Server 5.5 & 5.6
IBM Db2 11.1 & 12.1
IBM MQ for z/OS 9.2
IBM Java SDK for z/OS 7.1 & 8.0
IBM Enterprise COBOL 6.3
IBM Enterprise PL/1 5.3
IBM Rational COBOL Runtime (EGL) 6.0.1
IBM Debug for z/OS 14.2.2 & 15.0.3
IBM Performance Management Suite for z/OS 5.5
Galasa

Galasa CLI Integration: Added support for Galasa CLI v0.34.1 to facilitate automated testing and continuous integration processes. Refer to Galasa Site

Galasa has three major components (see below diagram):

  • The Galasa test framework
  • A collection of Managers
  • A test runner


PopUp 2.4Rb includes all Core Managers available from Galasa as of June 2024.

PopUp Utilities are detailed here.


After much innovation, development and rigorous testing, we are proud to unveil the release of our new and improved “Warp Speed PopUp” which has been massively optimized for fast installation and start up.

Foundation Components

Component Version
Ubuntu 22.04
IBM ZD&T 14.0.1
IBM z/OS 2.4

Mainframe Subsystems, Applications and Utilities

Component Version
IBM ADCD for z/OS 2R4
IBM CICS Transaction Server 5.5 & 5.6
IBM Db2 11.1 & 12.1
IBM MQ for z/OS 9.2
IBM Java SDK for z/OS 7.1 & 8.0
IBM Enterprise COBOL 6.3
IBM Enterprise PL/1 5.3
IBM Rational COBOL Runtime (EGL) 6.0.1
IBM Debug for z/OS 14.2.2 & 15.0.3
IBM Performance Management Suite for z/OS 5.5
  • Optimized IPL management
  • DNS Resolver message management
  • Extraneous message suppression

PopUp Utilities are detailed here.


Foundation Components

Component Version
Ubuntu 22.04
IBM ZD&T 14.0.1
IBM z/OS 2.5

Mainframe Subsystems, Applications and Utilities

Component Version
IBM ADCD for z/OS 2R5
IBM CICS Transaction Server 5.5 & 5.6
IBM Db2 11.1 & 12.1
IBM MQ for z/OS 9.2
IBM Java SDK for z/OS 7.1 & 8.0
IBM Enterprise COBOL 6.3
IBM Enterprise PL/1 5.3
IBM Rational COBOL Runtime (EGL) 6.0.1
IBM Debug for z/OS 14.2.2 & 15.0.3
IBM Performance Management Suite for z/OS 5.5
  • Optimized IPL management
  • DNS Resolver message management
  • Extraneous message suppression

PopUp Utilities are detailed here.


Foundation Components

Component Version
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9.7
IBM ZD&T 13.2.0
IBM z/OS 2.4

Mainframe Subsystems, Applications and Utilities

Component Version
IBM ADCD for z/OS 2R4
IBM CICS Transaction Server 5.5 & 5.6
IBM Db2 11.1 & 12.1
IBM IMS 14.1 & 15.1
IBM MQ for z/OS 9.1
IBM Java SDK for z/OS 7.1 & 8.0
IBM Enterprise COBOL 6.3
IBM Enterprise PL/1 5.3
IBM Rational COBOL Runtime (EGL) 6.0.1
IBM Debug for z/OS 14.2.3
IBM Connect Direct 6.1
IBM File Manager 14.1.2
IBM File Manager for Db2 14.1.2
IBM Performance Management Suite for z/OS 5.5
  • Optimized IPL management
  • DNS Resolver message management
  • Extraneous message suppression

PopUp Utilities are detailed here.


Volume Migration Utility V1.0

We augment IBM's Migration Server Utility to reliably transport selected applications and data from a source mainframe onto PopUp Mainframe.

IBM's Migration Server Utility is discussed in detail within Chapter 15 of IBM's zPDT Guide and Reference Redbook... available at: https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg248205.pdf#page=329.

The Volume Migration Utility has two components:

z/OS Component

Reads and copies desired applications and data from a source mainframe instance onto dedicated transport volumes.

Linux Component

The receiver of the above mentioned z/OS applications and data. Manages versioning and hot swap functionality for the auto migration / transport volumes from a Linux perspective.


Data Config and Corall / Decorall Utility

Provides automation and slipstreams the process of moving applications and data through the migration utility whilst ensuring referential integrity of volume catalogue meta data.

V2.0 - February 2024

Added more automation features to the coral /de-corral functionality, allowing for unsupervised execution of corraling and de-corralling jobs improving transfer of data from client mainframe to PopUp.

V1.0

Initial implementation.


IMON V1.0 - February 2024

IMON is a real-time system monitor for z/OS allowing users to quickly locate information of interest. Information is either displayed on a single panel allowing the user to select the information they are interested in, or they can navigate to a specific display with a single command string


Showzos V1.0 - February 2024

Showzos is an open source tool that makes MVS control information displayable, providing a wealth of information about your z/OS system, everything from Operating System Information to Software levels and Storage Configuration is provided in a single call. The tool can be web-enabled to allow you to display and use the information from a web browser.


Log viewer v1.0

Provides a readily accessible, user filterable web interface to the Master Console log.


JES Spool Utility V1.0

Monitors JES spool volumes and generates automated email alerts on user specified thresholds.


DASD Volume Creation Utility

  • Creates Linux volumes
  • Mounts volumes into z/OS
  • Initializes volumes
  • SMS conversion
V2.0 - February 2024

PL/I INCLUDE member support added.

V1.0

Initial implementation.


DASD Volume Creation Utility

Now supports more volume types like DB2, CICS, IMS etc..


Master Console Management V1.0

Automates access to the master console from Linux at IPL.


IPL Monitoring V1.0

Monitors the Master Console and automates actions based on console output.


Delphix Plugin Release Notes

Enables the Delphix Continuous Data Engine to interact and function with a PopUp Mainframe instance in order to provide data virtualization capabilities. Provides seamless integration with the Delphix Continuous Data product in order to facilitate highly efficient storage, bookmarking, re-setting and branching of PopUp Mainframe images.


Delphix Mainframe File Utility (DMFU)

Complements the Delphix Continuous Compliance Engine to provide masking capabilities for various mainframe file types including fixed length files (eg QSAM & flat files) and variable length files (eg VSAM).

V2.0 - February 2024

PL/I INCLUDE member support added.

V1.0

Initial implementation.


Delphix IMS Mainframe Utility (DIMU)

Complements the Delphix Continuous Compliance Engine to provide masking capabilities for IMS databases.

V2.0 - February 2024

PL/I INCLUDE member support added.

V1.0

Initilal implementation.


Mainframe Masking Plugin for Delphix from PopUp Mainframe.


Page last revised on: 2024-10-04