Vern Lee Watts

IMS/VS: an evolving system

The Information Management System, IMS, began in the mid-1960s as a batch-only data base system that was known then as Data Language/I (DL/I). IMS was introduced in 1969 as IMS/360, a program product for the System/360. As the System/360 evolved into System/ 370, including support for virtual storage, the operating system evolved into OS/VS2, OS/VS2, and then MVS. At the same time, IMS evolved to become IMS/VS. The Information Management System has continued to be adapted to new requirements, especially those of interactive, on-line operations that require data communications. Recent advances in the following categories of IMS/VS functions are discussed in this paper: Fast Path, Data Sharing, System Logging, Data Base Recovery Control, on-line changes in system environment, Intersystem Communications, MVS Common Services Area usage, and architectural restructuring.