Announcing TPF 4.1

The Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) Version 4 Release 1 introduces virtual storage management, which increases capacity and availability over the previous release of TPF. This new version will provide the ability for the customer to upgrade application programs without system interruption. It will also provide an improved system loader which allows you to integrate changes while maintaining a fall back capability.

TPF Version 4 Release 1 demonstrates IBM's continued commitment to higher quality products. New and enhanced function has been added to meet customer requirements. Several vendors that provide support for TPF will have their products upgraded to support TPF Version 4 Release 1 at general availability.

Planned Availability Date: June 24, 1994

Description

Virtual Storage Capabilities
TPF Version 4 Release 1 eliminates the working storage constraints experienced in previous TPF releases. With the introduction of virtual address spaces, more memory is realized. As a result, physical limitations are removed allowing programs to be written in 31-bit addressing mode. In addition, TPF Version 4 Release 1 provides improved program isolation and entry protection by using dynamic address translation (DAT). The DAT facility provides a virtual storage environment for the executing program and can detect when a program is storing into an address space other than its own.

End-User Productivity - Improved Data Integrity
TPF Version 4 Release 1 protects business transactions by separating and isolating messages with private address spaces so that message processing cannot be corrupted by other message processing, thus ensuring data integrity within the system.

Growth Enablement - Working Storage Flexibility
Through the virtual memory capabilities of TPF Version 4 Release 1, working storage is expanded by removing the 16-meg constraint encountered in previous releases of TPF, while continuing to support applications with 16-meg restrictions.

Multiple TPF Images
Multiple image loaders on TPF Version 4 Release 1 enable TPF to maintain up to 8 separate images of system software which allows speed and ease of installation. The existing program base will not be disturbed, allowing message processing to continue uninterrupted. Multiple image loaders also provide the ability to fall back immediately to a previous program base.

Systems Management - Minimizes Planned Down Time
Multiple image support enables quick integration of changes to the system, and reduces system down time due to software changes. In a loosely coupled environment, loads may be performed without collapsing the complex, allowing changes to be integrated more easily form processor to processor. This provides increased system availability and reliability.

Improved E-Type Loader Support
TPF Version 4 Release 1 provides new function to E-type loaders to increase program load efficiency. Unlimited program loads are possible in addition to multiple versions of the same program. The window of time that existed when both the old and the new version of the same program could be used has been eliminated allowing for smoother integration of program loads, This new support provides the ability to perform functions on sets of programs and on individual programs. Compatibility checks are performed between online and offline allocator tables allowing for allocator changes online without the need to do an initial program load (IPL).

End-User Productivity - Increases Operator Efficiency
Improved E-type loader support enables grouping, allocation, loading, manipulation, and display of program loadsets, providing more control to the operator. Assignment of unique names to loadset groups enables the E-type loader to perform functions on all programs in that group at the same time. In addition, enhancements to E-type loaders provide the ability to load C library functions, and have increased the maximum number of programs that can be loaded at one time from 25 to an unlimited number. This increases operator efficiency and eliminates redundant operator effort.

Increased File Capacity
Expanded file addressing capacity for TPF Version 4 Release 1 provides two new file addressing formats, thus expanding the system's database addressing capability. File Address Reference Format (FARF4) increases storage space to 1000 million record addresses, and to capabilities soaring to four billion record addresses with the migration to FARF5.

Note: The current address format (FARF3) will continue to be supported in TPF (Version 4 Release 1).

Growth Enablement - Increased Addressable File Storage
FARF4 and FARF5 provide increased file storage, expanding the size of the TPF database.

Systems Management - Additional Support of Fixed Record Types
Support of a greater number of fixed record types provides increased flexibility to application data management.

Full LU 6.2 Base Support
TPF Version 4 Release 1 extends its current logical unit (LU) type 6.2 support to include for all Advanced Program-to-Program Communications (APPC) base functions. This support includes full parallel sessions support, change number of session (CNOS) support, and allocation-driven session establishment.

Growth Enablement - Increases Communication Capabilities
Full LU 6.2 base support provides the customer with the ability to connect to other remote systems that utilize parallel sessions.

End-User Productivity - Improves Operator Efficiency
TPF Version 4 Release 1 LU 6.2 now supports session establishment and recovery without operator intervention. In addition, LU 6.2 applications can establish multiple sessions independent of manual operation.

Additional Systems Management Facilities, Application Development Support, and Improved Connectivity Support
Systems management aides, increased application development support, and improved connectivity support are additional enhancements found in TPF Version 4 Release 1.

Tape mounts can now be accomplished without operator intervention.

Improved system error processing on TPF Version 4 Release 1 provides greater control of a TPF dump by enabling the user to reduce the size of the dump and to specify main storage ranges to be included in the dump.

TPF Version 4 Release 1 increases SNA capacity from 64 thousand resources to over 8 million resources and over 8 million LU 6.2 sessions.

When running on ESA/370 or ESA/390 processors, TPF can use Program Event Recording (PER) to utilize the hardware trace capabilities to trap program information.

The Virtual-Equals-Real (VEQR) migration aid provides function to help installations convert from a non-virtual to a virtual TPF system.

Virtual File Access (VFA) enhancements in TPF Version 4 Release 1 improve system performance by providing the ability to execute programs within VFA.

Additional dump trace, TPF system trace, and communication trace options have been implemented.

Odd supervisor calls (SVC's) are now supported, along with a new secondary index structure which provides access to an additional 32 thousand SVC's. The number of SVC's reserved for customers has also been greatly increased.

TPF Version 4 Release 1 now includes C Language support as part of the base TPF product.

Vendor Supported Products
Several vendor products will support TPF Version 4 Release 1 at general availability. Following is a list of those products, and a supporting description form each vendor regarding the capabilities of its products. IBM provides this list for customer information purposes only, and IBM makes no warranties or representation regarding the products. For all product information, see the vendor.

British Airways for the Step-by-Step Trace (SST) product. SST is an interactive test and debugging tool for TPF programs. SST provides continued support for all functions of SST90. It includes improved C support and full displays for expanded ECBs. SST also includes an enhanced source level debugging feature.

Micro Information Systems for the Dump Analyzer product.The Dump Analyzer stores DCF-formatted dumps in a compressed format on CMS mini-disks. It provides quicker access to dumps, simultaneous access to a dump by more than one person, XEDIT-like commands for perusing a dump, and additional diagnostic aids.

TPF Software, Incorporated for the CMSTPF/ESA and Source View products. CMSTPF/ESA is a test tool which provides a private simulated TPF test system for each TPF application programmer to enhance programmer productivity.

The XA version of CMSTPF has been enhanced to an ESA version to support the TPF Version 4 Release 1 product. With the ESA version, each ECB executes in its own address space, and CMSTPF enforces the TPF architecture during TPF application testing.

SOURCE VIEW is a feature of CMSTPF/ESA that enables TPF application programmers, for the first time, to trace their programs at the source level.

SOURCE VIEW is the first commercially available test tool for the TPF application programmer that allows the programmer to test Assembler, or Sabre-Talk, and C/370 programs at the source level.

Virtual Systems Software, Incorporated for the VPARS and VTAPE products. VPARS allows TPF to run under VM without modifying records on the TPF database, allowing many TPF test systems to share a common set of TPF data base disks. VTAPE provides virtual and dummy tape drives so the number of available real tape drives is no longer a constraint during TPF testing by multiple test systems.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for the Online Dump Facility (OLDF): KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' Online Dump Facility (OLDF) enables quick problem solving for applications and coverage personnel by presenting online dump statistics and detailed information on selected ECB-related dumps and SNAPC's. All types of TPF installations, such as, tightly coupled and loosely coupled, and TPF functions, such as, C/370, TPFDB, TPFDF, and MDBF, are supported. Special attention has been given to presentable displays of TPFDB and TPFDF related data, such as, SWOOSR.

Electronic Data Systems Corporation for the ESPM (formerly known as ETIM) and SABRETALK products. SABRETALK is a high level language specifically designed to produce code for programs to run in the TPF control program. SABRETALK is easier and faster to write than assembler language.

- There are fewer rules to learn.

- There are only 13 statements.

- Notation is similar to English.

- It can be considered a subset of PL/1.

ESPM is a tool which produces three types of reports for performance analysis of TPF systems with minimal impact on the functioning system. The three reports that are generated are:

- External Timer Interrupt Monitor: provides an excellent picture of the running system.

- Macro Analysis: provides detailed information on macro usage.

- Entry Flow Analysis: provides detailed tracking of processing of particular transactions in the system.

COVIA Partnership for the Communications Integrator product. The Communications Integrator (CI) is a widely installed software product for building distributed applications. The CI enables distributed processing across TPF complexes, mainframes, servers, and workstations. The CI provides an application and network protocol independent message system. reliable message transport services, and a simple application programming interface.

Publication Availability
The following publications will be provided for planning purposes. Reference the dates listed for publication availability. Contact your IBM representative for additional information.

Title Publication Availability

General Information GH31-0147 - Now

Concepts and Structures GH31-1039 - Now

Migration Guide GH31-0153 - 4Q93

Ordering Information

Appropriate information will be provided prior to general availability.

Terms and Conditions

Appropriate information will be provided prior to general availability

Charges

Appropriate information will be provided prior to general availability.