In November 2018, CA Database Management Solutions for IMS for z/OS Version 18.0 (IMS Tools from CA) will reach its End-Of-Service (EOS) date.
If you are still using Version 18.0, you have the option to upgrade to:
- Version 19.0 (Complete: Feature Stable)
- Version 20.0 (Incremental: Continuous Delivery)
How does my IMS Version impact my Decision?
The very first thing to consider is which IBM IMS version you are using now, and when you plan to upgrade to the next one.
- If you are still using IBM IMS V13 (out-of-support in November 2018), or if you are using IBM IMS V14, you have the option to choose between Version 19.0 (Feature Stable) or Version 20.0 (Continuous Delivery). See the next section for more details.
- If you are planning to upgrade to IBM IMS V15 in the near future, you may consider to install Version 20.0 (Continuous Delivery) to be ready in advance.
- If you are using IBM IMS V15, you have to upgrade to Version 20.0 (the Version 19.0 does not support IBM IMS V15).
Opting for a Complete Version or an Incremental Version?
If you are not yet on IBM IMS V15, you may consider Version 19.0 (Feature Stable) or Version 20.0 (Continuous Delivery). Which one to choose?
Simply said, the answer to this question is “it depends” … on the customer's approach and attitude to new features:
- Complete Version: If you value stability over all else and new functionality is not necessary
- Incremental Version: If you need to have the newest IMS Tools functionality and do not want to wait for the Complete Version that includes that functionality
- Best of Both Worlds: To have both stability and new functionality, install the Complete Version on your mission critical systems and use the Incremental Version on your test systems. With this approach, the new functions are familiar when the incremental Version becomes a Complete Version.
If you are comfortable with the Continuous Delivery model of IBM, which introduces new features in the maintenance stream for faster adoption, select Incremental Version 20.0. This delivery model is similar to the incremental release delivery model from CA, which also introduces new features regularly through PTFs.
Technical considerations: Complete Version vs. Incremental Version
When using a IMS Tools from CA under the Continuous Delivery model, customers receive regularly new features in the maintenance stream as Enhancement PTFs, in addition to the corrective PTFs. When using a Complete Version (Feature Stable), customers receive only corrective PTFs.
It’s good to keep in mind as well that when opting for an Incremental Version, customers are tacitly expected to “keep current” in maintenance. While it is technically possible (in some circumstances) to pick and choose which PTFs to apply, there is generally a high dependency between PTFs at the modular level, because Enhancement PTFs typically affect a larger portion of the code base. In other words, customers opting for an Incremental Version should not expect to have the liberty to pick and choose PTFs, and should be comfortable with the idea of regular maintenance to “keep current”.
“1+1” standard Delivery Schedule: IMS Tools from CA
