Hierarchical File System (IBM MVS)

This article is about HFS in MVS. For HFS in MacOS, see Apple HFS. For other, see HFS (disambiguation).
HFS
Developer(s)IBM
Full namez/OS Hierarchical File System
Introduced1993 with DFSMS/MVS Version 1.2 for MVS/ESA
Other
Supported
operating systems		included in z/OS (until 2.5), all releases of OS/390, and MVS/ESA V5R1 and higher (optional for V4R3)

IBM's Hierarchical File System (HFS) is a POSIX-style hierarchical file system[1] for the MVS/ESA/SP through z/OS operating systems.

IBM introduced HFS on February 9, 1993 in MVS/ESA System Product Version 4 Release 3 OpenEdition[2][3] with DFSMS/MVS Version 1 Release 2[4] for 3090 mainframes. On April 6, 1994, IBM introduced MVS/ESA System Product (MVS/ESA SP) Version 5 Release 1,[5] which included MVS OpenEdition (MVS-OE) with HFS as a standard component. IBM continued providing HFS through z/OS 2.4 for z System mainframes.

IBM functionally stabilized HFS starting with z/OS 1.7, in 2005.[6] The z/OS File System (zFS) was released as the higher performance successor to HFS in 1995, and IBM recommended migration from HFS to zFS. Following the release of zFS, z/OS releases included a tool, BPXWH2Z, to convert HFS to zFS.[7]

IBM dropped the use of HFS in z/OS 2.5, in 2021.[6]

  1. ^ Hoskins, Jim; Frank, Bob (2003). Exploring IBM EServer ZSeries and S/390 Servers: See Why IBM's Redesigned Mainframe Computer Family Has Become More Popular Than Ever!. Maximum Press. ISBN 978-1-885068-91-0.
  2. ^ "OPENEDITION SERVICES ON MVS/ESA SP VERSION 4 RELEASE 3 ANNOUNCED AND AVAILABILITY OF MVS/ESA SP VERSION 4 RELEASE 3 WITH ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS". Announcement letters. IBM. February 9, 1993. 293-060. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Hierarchical File System Usage Guide" (PDF). IBM. September 2000. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  4. ^ "DFSMS/MVS Version 1 Release 2". Announcement letters. IBM. March 1, 1994. 294-095. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "IBM MVS/ESA SP Version 5 Release 1 and OpenEdition Enhancements". Announcement letters. IBM. April 6, 1994. 294-152. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Shacklett, Mary E.; Bigelow, Stephen J. "What is z/OS?". TechTarget. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  7. ^ IBM (January 2008). "HFS to zFS Migration Tool" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-09-01.