zPRO Roadmap

Velocity Software's zPRO Product Roadmap

It is Velocity Software's intent to keep all software up to date, be defect free and to meet all customer requirements. These updates are provided in the normal maintenance stream and are available on this web site.

New releases are provided for major enhancements. When new releases are provided, existing releases are supported for at least one year for defects. Upgrades are at no charge and should not have any impact on operations.

zPRO Upcoming Release Roadmap

Note: The following dates and features may change without notice.

Interim releases, also called maintenace releases, will be included as minor fixes become available between major releases (those ending in zero).

Future Developement Proposals
- z/VM Administration - SYSTEM CONFIG updates
- z/VM Administration - TCPIP configuration
- z/VM Administration - IPGATE configuration
- z/VM Administration - EMC HMC/storage management
- z/VM Administration - Certificate management
- z/VM Administration - VDISK management
- z/VM Administration - CP Resource Pool Settings management (performance)
- zSEG enhancement to transfer a backed-up segment to another system
- GOLDEF conditional statements
- Dashboards; windows with multiple panels
- Graphs support for charting data
- RESTFul API support for Feilong-style calls (long term)

Release History

5.4.3.2 - Released November 03, 2025
- Added Features
  - Added HOLIDAY directive to ZPRO CONFIG to define dates that are considered holidays for zSCHEDULE
  - Added BUSNESSDAY support to zSCHEDULE to run events only on business days (Monday-Friday, excluding any date defined in the HOLIDAY directive)
  - Added support for DPM enabled HMCs to gather overall CPU % in CPC Management
5.4.3.1 - Released August 28, 2025
- Added Features
  - Enterprise Scope of ALL
    When running functions that ask for a target system, you can now select "*ALL Systems" to send the request to all enabled systems defined in your Enterprise panel.
  - Notifications Window
    The Notifications window now includes an icon to display only exception messages to easily find issues. There is also an icon to output the contents to a CSV file for processing/reporting.
  - ZDIRECT Command Line
    The ZDIRECT command (CMS) now allows for RELOADOBJECT to reload the object directory. The reload is run on every member for SSI Clusters. NOTE: You will need to run the ZPPUBLIC routine to refresh the CLI files. See the zPRO Admin Guide, Chapter 21 for details.
5.4.3.0 - Released July 25, 2025
- Added Features
  - zDIRECT CMS Command Line Interface (CLI)
    Sites utilizing zDIRECT can now use it from a CMS Userid that is an authorized zPRO user. The CLI provides functions to manage the directory and userids without the need for a browser or zVWS if it or TCPIP is down. A ZDIRECT service machine is used for management of the CLI
  - zSPOOL showing OPEN spool file date/time and new REXX utility
    zSPOOL will include the date/time on OPEN spool files on the spool file listings. Note that the date/time is only available from the main member of an SSI Cluster; remote member spool files will not have the date stamp.
    Added a STOP function for open spool files to turn off the open device
    A new utility called ZOPENSPL MODULE is provided that can be used in REXX routines that provides all Open spool file details in a stem variable.
  - Storage Server Management (DS8K HMC) enhancements
    The Storage Server Management now allows CKD creation and full support full support for Thin Provisioning Fixed-Block and Count-Key-Data volumes
  - Guest TAG (classification) management
    zPRO now allows you to set tags to classify servers/guests with keywords. The Edit process from manage owned servers will provide access to view/set the tags. A new Tags Search will allow you to search and list guests containing provided tag(s) and take specific actions on them.
  - New APIs and Ansible package updates
    New file_* APIs for listing and getting/storing files on z/VM. file_store, file_fetch, file_delete, file_list and file_locations
    New APIs to manage tags and search by tags. guest_set_tags, guest_get_tags and guest_list_bytags
    report_cmdb supports "tags" to include all zPRO tags for the guest and "include R/W links" that will included any R/W LINK for the guest as part of its owned storage
    guest_set_memory added to change memory settings
  - Downloadable packages now available
    The packages for Anisble, VSI Boot script and zPRO Command Line/zVRM interface are now available to download directly to your Linux servers or your PC. Files ZANSIBLE TGZ, BOOTVSI TGZ and ZPROCMDS RPM are on the zPRO Download area.
  - Added support for MAXUSERS when building a new SFS File Pool
  - Allow SYSID *ANY* in zSCHEDULE ZPWAKEUP TIMES file to allow for using a template file when building new LPARS
  - Updated Send Command to Guest function to allow for sending non-CP commands
  - Added menubackground directive for DIRMODELs that allow setting a color on the function menu
  - Changed highlight color of key menu functions so they stand out better
  - Redesigned the Select System dialog content when the number of LPARS is high
5.4.2.0 - Released May 06, 2025
- Added Features
  - Manage System Allocation Areas (Page and Spool)
    This new feature allows you to review the CP System Allocation Areas defined on all your systems (Page, Spool, Directory, T-disk), view the allocation map of all volumes in use, the CP Owned listing, view the SYSTEM CONFIG file and add Page/Spool volumes dynamically to the system.
  - Added a Change Password Exit to allow for pre-validating password rules before passing to ESM
  - Full RACF GROUP support added; additional reporting and functions provided
  - Converted Table button-selection displays with sub-menus on left panel
  - zVRM: Add CPU Machine value; display and update CPU status
  - zVRM: Add Machine directive processing
  - zVRM: Change status displays to 60 second auto-refresh
5.4.1.9 - Released March 03, 2025
- Added Features
  - Support of DEFINE.MDISK in VMCMD for RACF
  - Added MenuTip directive to DIRMODELs that allows for mouse-over tips on the main menu
  - Added AUTHs for NETWORK and NETWORK_CHG that allows users to be set up to view Virtual Network details and not change anything
  - Added a NOTIFICATIONS option to Backup/Restore configuration that allows for email IDs to be notified if any errors occur during backup processing
5.4.1.8 - Released January 10, 2025
- Added Features
  - Manage Capacity Records on CPC HMC
    This added feature allows you to review the CPC Capacity Records that are available (Capacity on Demand) and make adjustments to them by adding or removing available engines from the CPC
  - File store, fetch and delete added to zPRO API support
    zPRO APIs can now store (upload), fetch (download) and delete files from the z/VM system. Additional use details are documented in the zPRO RESTful API manual
  - Added Disk Details support to API call of report_cmdb
  - Allow running the spool-purge rule test from any member in a cluster
  - Included FILEPOOL CATALOG details on SFS File Pool Full Report
  - New SSLONLY directive in ZPRO CONFIG to force all connections to zPRO to use HTTPS
  - Added FORCESYSTEM parm to ZPRESTOR routine to be able to restore from a source that was backed up on a different member of a cluster
  - Restoring a file to another userid's RDR can now be specified as "userid AT node" if RSCS is available
5.4.1.7 - Released October 17, 2024
- Added Features
  - Added DASD/MDISK storage size limits to cap allocations for users and modified the Resource Summary report to include them. Storage size limits are added to the DASD_MAX and MDISK_MAX records as the second parm (ie, "MDISK_MAX * 1T" - indicates unlimited MDISKS can be added but only up to 1 Terabyte total storage)
  - Updates to zPRO API support: GOLDOPT parm support for guest_create added; guest_add_disks support added for Teribytes; added guest_set_share, vswitch_create and vswitch_delete APIs; updated guest_add_disks to support format, label, blksize options; added SSI Cluster/Member info to host_get_info output; set the "live" flag to "true" by default for guest_set_share; added output for guest_get_info to include defaultshare and actualshare values
  - Added ability to format a CMS MDISK on a member that does not own the disk
  - Added SHARE Absolute and Limits when editing a server's details
  - Added support for CP QUERY SCPID to show the IPL'd system type
  - Added VERIFY directive for dialog windows (DIRMODEL) that do not have any specific buttons defined; issues a pop-up message when Process Request is clicked
  - Added NSLOOKUP directive for ZPRO CONFIG that allows for sites that do not have a DNS server with their server hostnames defined; NSLOOKUP FALSE disables all NSLOOKUPs within the product to reduce time
  - Added DIRM_TIMEOUT directive (Support use ONLY) to set a higher timeout value for DIRMAINT requests on slow systems
  - Added Disk Details option to the CMDB report output to include the disk virtual address, volser and size in CYLS/BLKS and M/G/T bytes
5.4.1.6 - Released June 24, 2024
- Added Features
  - zPRO from ANSIBLE!
    This feature allows users to take full advantage of zPRO's powerful functions to manage existing servers, determine the server state and stop or start as needed or create new servers with one command API call
    See: https://velocitysoftware.com/ansible.html for details
  - Scheduled events that CP XAUTOLOG will retry the command if the target userid is already logged on up to the WITHIN time or 5 minutes
5.4.1.5 - Released May 10, 2024
- Added Features
  - Enterprise Site Support added
    The Enterprise XDSF Nodes will now be grouped by their SITE definition. The Sites will display in their own sections in the Enterprise control area and allows you to Enable/Pause all the nodes in the site and expand or collapse the entire site. If no site is defined for any nodes, a title of "Default Site" will be used. By default, all sites will be collapsed except for the one containing the local node (the system that is currently logged on to.)
  - XDSF node name included on workspace if different than system ID
  - Added "Run Now" function for Spool File Purge job
  - Login will check all RACF groups the user is in if default group does not match a ZPUSER file (requires zVWS 5210)
  - VLAN assignment will now support using a NICDEF statement only
5.4.1.4 - Released April 07, 2024
- Added Features
  - New feature to dynamically set variables when using GOLDDEF files for cloning/provisioning. %SET_GOLDOPT will allow variables to be defined with values conditionally within the cloning dialog (DIRMODEL); those vars can be referenced in the GOLDDEF to define/pick resources
  - IF condition processing for Dialog windows can now use SETVAR for the action to enhance options for processing
  - SYSAFFIN support for masked processor ID on DIRECTORY statement
  - Added Debian package (ZPROCMDS DEB) for the zPRO Command Interface
  - zPRO User/Group management enhancements for ease-of-use; additional function added to add new configuration files easily without need of 3270; added ability to delete ZPUSER/ZPGROUP files if not in use or referenced
  - New function to disable a Kubernetes/OpenShift configuration when the cluster is down or for any other reason to not try to contact it
  - Added MINIOPT options to Add MDISK function of managing servers; added MINIOPT/DASDOPT details to the MDISK listing for servers
  - Added Change PWD to the Manage Owned Servers table
  - MDISK/SFS backup reports will now summerize any errors or warnings at the bottom of the report; helps find any issues in very long reports
5.4.1.3 - Released March 19, 2024
- Added Features
  - SYSAFFIN support added
    SYSAFFIN (System Affinity) statements in the CP Directory are used to define which systems of a multisystem complex (shared CP directory) specific statements apply. zPRO supports MDISK and LINK resources for adding, changing and deleting.
  - Added DIRMSAT support for multisystem complexes
  - Added LINK management button for Userids in Directory Management
  - zSchedule will now validate CMS EXEC/MODULE exists when adding or editting an event
  - Added Legend support for Table windows to identify row colors
  - Added support to condense buttons; stack common buttons into a drop-up selection (See Manage Owned Servers display)
  - Added check of ZADMIN 391 (common config disk) to report if getting full
  - Added support for VLAN and HOSTNAME columns in IP TABLEs
  - Icon added to window title to indicate Auto-Refresh is enabled with timer
  - Added support for DIRFORM/PRTFORM dirmodel files to exclude from menu processing
  - Added prefix wildcard support to ZPRESTOR (file restore)
  - Added remote_cmd to the zPRO API catalog
5.4.1.2 - Released January 09, 2024
- Added Features
  - Central Processing Complex Management added
    This new feature allows you to define access to one or more System Z HMCs. Each CPC found will display the environmentals for the machine and allow you to view the logical partitions defined and their details, then change the LPAR Weights.
  - Ability to send CP commands to running guests
    This new feature allows a system ADMIN to issue CP commands to any running guest and optionally to display any responses.
  - zSCHEDULE feature now supports the ability to define ONE event and have it set to run on all SSI Cluster members. This reduces the need to define the exact same event on multiple members.
  - Added DIR_FILE directive for zDIRECT to allow a local override of the CP directory source file name/type
  - Added addition sub-AUTHs for EDIT panel so that specific items can be controlled
  - If HOSTNAME column is in IP TABLE, allow value to be used to assign to new guests with network interface and no hostname provided
  - Added SSI_ACTIVE conditional check to Dialog Window engine (DIRMODELs)
  - Passing the "will be started on" sysid to PRESTART exit and "was running on" sysid to POSTSTOP exit
5.4.1.1 - Released October 09, 2023
- Added Features
  - New RESTful APIs report_cmdb and report_guest_details
  - New workarea controls for Minimize windows; min window titles will show on the bottom of workarea
  - zPRO login will now allow for zVIEW authentication checking to save views
  - Support for cloning MDISKs that are defined 0-END regardless of directory manager
5.4.1.0 - Released August 14, 2023
- Added Features
  - Support for zVRM added!
    The zVRM component is the Velocity Software Resource Manager for managing Linux server configurations to meet current workload requirements. zVRM is a separate offering - contact us for more information on it!
  - zSEG feature added to zSPOOL!
    zSEG adds additional z/VM spool management to zSPOOL for DCSS/NSS backup and restore. zSEG allows you to set backup specifications for your system segments and specify automatic restore if a segment gets deleted from the system. Segments can be selected manually for backup or restore as needed. Wildcard filtering can be applied to segment names as well as selecting them explicitly.
  - Added support for defining a table column as TYPE INPUT that allows for free-form data to be added when submitting a button request for the row
  - Added new button definition UI OPEN that allows for opening a defined dirmodel and support of included Target and other special directives
  - Added support for defining drop-down buttons for any window
  - Added support for defining sub-menu (SUBMEMBEROF directive) in dirmodels
  - Added Minimize Window icon to all windows and Minimize All to control panel. Minimized windows will show in a small bookmark list on the top right
  - zPRO Scheduler now supports administration of cluster members and their specific schedules. No need to login to each LPAR to set up or manage scheduled events.
  - Aliasing of external zPRO APIs (ZPROREXX) now supported
5.4.0.2 - Released July 24, 2023
- Added Features
  - CMDB reporting now includes Kernel and Linux OS options to extract Linux data from zVIEW
  - Added TRF/NSS/DCSS options to zSPOOL Search
  - Updated Kubernetes AUTH checking to add ADMIN K8S to provide the ability to turn off access to some administrators
  - Dialog windows can now use DisplayOpts to define when specfic fields should be shown or hidden based on content of other fields
  - Dialog and Table windows can now include drop-down button definitions
  - Table windows can now include a Legend definition for row colors
5.4.0.1 - Released June 16, 2023
- Added Features
  - RSCS Management phase 2: Added NJE and TCPNJE link support for adding new definitions; new button to display Link definition details
5.4.0.0 - Released May 23, 2023
- Added Features
  - Kubernetes Support now available!
    The zPRO Kubernetes Interface feature allows you to define Kubernetes clusters that you would like to manage. The clusters can be full Kubernetes (k8s), Lightweight Kubernetes (k3s) or Rancher Kubernetes Engine (RKE).
    This interface enables you to review all details of the clusters including nodes, deployments and pods. You can also change the scale of deployments to control how any pods are running for the service they provide.
    The Kubernetes functions can be found under "Kubernetes" on the menu and is documented in Chapter 19 of the zPRO Administrators Guide
  - RSCS Management now available!
    For z/VM Administration, a new feature has been added for RSCS Management.
    This feature enables you to manage your RSCS links and nodes. For links, you can review the status and see metrics of each. The interface allows you to start, stop, list any queued files, purge all files on the link, or toggle the hold status.
    Nodes (routes) can be reviewed to see what links they are defined to send to. You can delete a node from the listing. There is also a function to define a new node definition dynamically.
  - Added "dateu=" field type for Dialogs for the date picker to always offer the current date
  - Enterprise support enhanced to allow processes to target non-SSI and all member LPARs. Added TARGET support for **, ASK* and ?* that will include non-SSI and active cluster member LPARs.
  - Viewing spool file in zSPOOL includes output of TXT file as icon
  - For Owned Server listing, if no IP address is defined and one was found from zTCP data, it will display as *xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx