Written by Kelly Pushong
IBM is expanding the capabilities of on‑platform AI with IBM z/OS Container Extensions (zCX) and Red Hat OpenShift AI, enabling organizations to harness the power of the IBM Spyre™ Accelerator for advanced predictive and generative AI workloads directly on z/OS. With the introduction of Spyre support, enterprises can now leverage a comprehensive, enterprise‑grade AI platform on IBM Z through the IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift. Red Hat OpenShift AI strengthens this foundation by bringing industry‑standard AI tooling, model lifecycle management, and hybrid cloud integration directly into the zCX environment, allowing teams to develop, serve, and monitor AI models using the same OpenShift‑based tools they rely on across their enterprise—now optimized for proximity to z/OS data. This unified platform enables consistent deployment methods, lower‑latency inferencing, and the ability to harness Telum II and Spyre acceleration for co‑located workloads. By running AI where mission‑critical data already resides, organizations can reduce latency, improve governance, and accelerate time to insight, all while benefiting from the security, resiliency, and operational efficiency that define IBM Z. Together, these advancements bring modern AI innovation seamlessly into enterprise environments and position OpenShift AI on zCX as a powerful foundation for AI‑driven transformation.
IBM is also introducing a technical preview of Red Hat AI Inference Server on z/OS Container Extensions, enabling optimized large language models (LLMs) and generative AI inferencing within the zCX environment.
Fixes (ex. Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs)) for the Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs) listed in this document are already individually available or expected to be available this month. They are also planned for the Recommended Service Updates (RSUs) listed below.
At a glance
- AI, where your data lives: IBM zCX with Red Hat OpenShift AI now supports the IBM Spyre Accelerator to run advanced predictive and generative AI on z/OS—co‑located with your most sensitive enterprise data.
- New technical preview: Red Hat AI Inference Server on zCX enables optimized LLM and generative AI inferencing closer to z/OS data and applications.
- Performance behind the scenes: zCX 2.0 exploits Shared Memory Communications – Direct version 2 (SMC‑Dv2) to significantly boost local networking efficiency for co‑located applications—without application changes.
- Operational simplicity: New z/OS Management Facility (z/OSMF) enhancements reduce manual tuning and streamline software management and automation.
- Security made simpler: Enhancements to Common Secure Services Mail Transfer Protocol (CSSMTP) and Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) improve visibility, hygiene, and protection with less administrative overhead.
AI, where your critical data lives
IBM zCX with Red Hat OpenShift AI expands to support the IBM Spyre Accelerator, enabling inferencing and model execution (predictive, generative, and Agentic) directly on z/OS—side‑by‑side with the data that powers your business. This brings modern AI tooling and accelerated performance onto the zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift—and keeps sensitive data on platform to minimize movement, reduce latency, and strengthen governance.
Why it matters
Running AI where the data already resides helps cut integration complexity, speeds time‑to‑insight, and supports regulated workloads that benefit from IBM Z’s security and operational controls.
Join us at our webinar on April 30th at 11:00 AM ET to explore how IBM zCX with Red Hat OpenShift AI supports the IBM Spyre Accelerator and enables organizations to run generative, predictive, and inferencing workloads directly on IBM z/OS.
Availability
This capability targets z/OS 3.1 and above and is delivered via a set of APARs/PTFs.
PTFs for APARs OA64999, OA67378 and PH59383 are already available as RSU2509 since the first week of October 2025.
PTFs for APARs OA68619, OA66394 and OA67313 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2603 in the first week of April 2026.
PTFs for APARs OA66133, OA68881, OA68854, and OA67563 are already available individually or will be individually available this month and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
AI Inference at Scale: Red Hat AI Inference Server Technology Preview
Red Hat AI® Inferencing Server deployment on z/OS Container Extensions (zCX) and IBM® zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift will be available as technical preview.
Red Hat® AI Inference Server is a containerized, enterprise-grade, solution designed to optimize the deployment of Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. It optimizes how AI models generate outputs (inference), enabling faster, more efficient, and more cost‑effective model deployment at scale.
With Red Hat AI Inference Server and IBM Spyre Accelerator, you can integrate AI inferencing workloads within IBM z/OS by leveraging industry standard AI tooling. This brings your AI inferencing closer to your z/OS applications and data, reducing latency and gaining the security of IBM zCX environments. You maintain operational control within z/OS and transparently inherit z/OS qualities of service.
For more information, see https://www.redhat.com/en/products/ai/inference-server.
For how to deploy Red Hat® AI Inference Server on zCX as technology preview, see https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/charles-volzka/2026/03/10/zcx-rhaiis
Disclaimer:
Technology Preview features are not fully supported, may not be functionally complete, and are not suitable for deployment in production. However, these features are provided to the customer as a courtesy and the primary goal is for the feature to gain wider exposure with the goal of full support in the future. The information mentioned regarding potential future products is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. Statements regarding IBM plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at the sole discretion of IBM.
Performance behind the scenes: zCX 2.0 + SMC‑Dv2
With SMC‑Dv2 exploitation in zCX 2.0, co‑located applications benefit from lower latency, higher throughput, and reduced CPU consumption for local networking. Critically, these gains come without requiring application changes, making it easier to move Linux applications into zCX and realize efficiencies immediately.
Availability
This capability targets z/OS 3.1 and above and is delivered via a set of APARs/PTFs.
PTFs for APAR OA67313 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2603 in the first week of April 2026.
PTFs for APARs OA66133, OA67855, OA67856, OA67857, OA67858, OA67859, and OA67660 are already available individually or will be individually available this month and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
Making IBM Z simpler and more intuitive
Faster, easier system management with z/OSMF and RMF
The following updates help teams automate more and touch configurations less:
- Seamless Representational State Transfer (REST) from z/OS UNIX: Authenticated UNIX System Services users can invoke z/OSMF REST APIs without resupplying credentials—enabling native REST calls from z/OS UNIX to run more easily in pipelines and scripts. Availability: z/OS 3.2, PTFs for APAR PH68412 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
- Smarter software installation: z/OSMF Software Management adds a long‑requested enhancement (previously only in CustomPac): connect existing user catalogs to a new master catalog for data sets under a chosen high‑level qualifier—supporting a more flexible, shared‑catalog environment and simpler actions on target‑system data sets across multiple systems. Availability: z/OS 2.5 and above, PTFs for APAR PH66618 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2603 in the first week of April 2026.
- z/OSMF Storage Management plug‑in Construct Comparison: Lets users preview System Managed Storage (SMS) configuration changes before activation, comparing a Source Control Data Set (SCDS) with an ACTIVE Control Data Set (CDS) or another SCDS to prevent inadvertent changes that could cause issues such as premature data expiration. Availability: z/OS 3.2, PTFs for APAR PH68417 will be individually available this month and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
- Enhanced performance visibility with Resource Measurement Facility (RMF): RMF delivers new capabilities to simplify performance monitoring and integrate z/OS metrics with industry standard observability stacks. Teams can now expose RMF Monitor III metrics using OpenMetrics, streamline monitoring workflows, and leverage improved CPU, network, and ESS‑related reporting to troubleshoot issues faster.
- OpenMetrics support for RMF Monitor III: Expose key z/OS performance metrics in a standardized format to integrate with industry standard observability tools such as Prometheus and Grafana-enabling unified monitoring across hybrid environments. For more information about OpenMetrics Support in RMF, please see the following blog. Availability: z/OS 3.1 and above, PTFs for APAR OA67701 are already available as RSU2512 since the first week of January 2026.
- Distributed Data Server (DDS), Monitor III, and Postprocessor updates: DDS has added new metrics for total logical CPU utilization by logical partition (LPAR). Monitor III has added support for NETH PCIE card. The Postprocessor Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) Overview conditions and report supports larger values for virtual extents and extent pool statistics. Availability: z/OS 2.5 and above, PTFs for APAR OA68173 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2603 in the first week of April 2026.
- Grafana 2.0 integration: Users can import RMF Performance Monitoring dashboards and data sources directly into Grafana for visualization. For more information, please view the Grafana release page.
Security that’s stronger—and simpler to work with
z/OS encryption of cloud data
- Direct to Cloud encryption: Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem data facility product (DFSMSdfp) Cloud Data Access (CDA) integrates with z/OS Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) so data written to cloud object storage—via CDA APIs and the GDKUTIL JCL utility—can be encrypted with AES256 symmetric encryption and ICSF-managed keys. New DFSMS Data Set Services (DSS) DUMP/RESTORE keywords enable encryption for DSS direct to cloud backups. Both enhancements help provide needed security for z/OS data while it resides in cloud object storage. Availability: z/OS 3.1 and above, PTFs for APAR OA67620 and OA67643 will be individually available this month and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
Email hygiene and identity control
- CSSMTP MAILFROM validation: CSSMTP, the z/OS email-forwarding SMTP client, can validate that the JES spool‑associated user ID is authorized to use the MAILFROM email address—reducing spoofing risk from unauthorized sender identities. Availability: z/OS 3.1 and above, PTFs for APAR PH68037 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
Stronger protection for key exchange
- IPsec Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) with Advanced Encryption Standard in Galois/Counter Mode (AES‑GCM): Communications Server has enhanced IPsec to support AES‑GCM to protect IKEv2 key exchanges with a combined‑mode algorithm that provides both encryption and integrity (available when the IKE daemon runs in non‑FIPS mode). Availability: z/OS 3.1 and 3.2, PTFs for APAR PH68240 are already available individually and are expected to be available as RSU2606 in the first week of July 2026.
What this means for leaders
- Faster time to value: Run inference and models where the data lives using industry standard AI tooling.
- Lower risk with less effort: Gain clearer security visibility, strengthen certificate hygiene, and encrypt cloud‑bound data with ICSF‑managed keys—without adding operational drag.
- Operational simplicity: Streamlined catalog management and credential‑simplified REST calls reduce toil and error rates.
- Future‑ready scale: Storage and file system enhancements help minimize outages and support larger, more dynamic hybrid environments.
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