Welcome to the Virtual IMS user group
The Virtual IMS user group is an independently-operated vendor-neutral site run by and for the IMS user community.
The Virtual IMS user group was established as a way for individuals using IBM's IMS hierarchical database and transactional processing system to exchange information, learn new techniques, and advance their skills with the product.
This Web site provides a central point for coordinating periodic meetings (which contain technically-oriented topics presented in a webinar format), and provides articles, discussions, links, and other resources of interest to IBM IMS practitioners. Anyone with an interest in IMS is welcome to join the Virtual IMS user group and share in the knowledge exchange.
The Virtual IMS user group is free to its members.
We are pleased that BMC Software is able to help us maintain the independence and existence of this group.
Sponsorship opportunity »
We are looking for additional co-sponsors for the Virtual IMS user group.
The user group has been in existence since 2007 and is well-respected among users of IMS. The user group gives its sponsors an opportunity to show that they are working with, and helping to build, the IMS user community.
Currently, the user group meets six times a year with a presentation filling most of the meeting. In the other months, members receive a newsletter. And there is a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, and a LinkedIn group keeping members up-to-date with information about new products or product updates, and articles about IMS.
If you work for a software vendor and can see the benefits of sponsorship, please contact me (trevor@itech-ed.com).
Meeting »
18 April 2023, 10:30am Central Daylight Time
At the next virtual user group meeting, Dusty Rivers, Senior Director, US Systems Z at Mainline Information Systems, will discuss "Mainframe Systems (IMS, CICS, etc) As Clients in the New World ".
We use Zoom for our meetings.
The meetings take place at 10:30am CST (which 16:30 GMT), and 10:30 CDT (which is 15:30 GMT) during Daylight Saving Time. Because Summer Time and Daylight Saving Time start and end dates differ in different countries, take care to get online for the meeting at the correct local time!
read more...
Newsletter »
The latest User Group newsletter is available for download. The contents include information about future meetings and dates, a round-up of the latest IMS-related news, and recent IMS articles.
Click here to download...
The newsletter is also available in flipbook format here.
Earlier issues are available here.
White paper »
Evolution of IMS to a complete Enterprise solution: White Paper by Vinodh Kumar Natanasigamani.
This white paper explains the key integration and access points enabling IMS assets to provide high value as part of a distributed, multitier architecture. It also focuses on the ways that organizations can integrate IMS assets across the enterprise to save time and money and achieve optimum results, without having to re-architect solutions.
User Group and social media »
We've formed an open user group on LinkedIn, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest IMS and user group news, and also start your own discussion. Click on the icon to find the group and join. And you can now find out what's going on in the IMS world and with this user group by following us on Twitter or finding us on Facebook
IMS Tools »
If you're an IMS user then the Tools page on this Web site contains a list of all the software that runs alongside IMS.
If you're a vendor, then please make sure that the information about your software is complete and up-to-date.
A complete list of Tools available to IMS professionals can be found here.
Recent IMS news »
IBM has announced IMS V15.3, which, it says, streamlines your journey to the cloud
Recent IMS articles »
Curious how IMS 15.3 performs on the new IBM z16 platform? by Amanda Stephens and Justin Soe in the IMS part of the IBM Z and LinuxONE Community (9 February 2023).).
Arcati Mainframe Yearbook »
The brand new edition of the Arcati Mainframe Yearbook 2023 is available now. It includes an annual user survey, an up-to-date directory of vendors and consultants, a resources guide, a strategy section with papers on mainframe trends and directions, a glossary of terminology, and a mainframe evolution section.
Click here to visit the download page. The Yearbook is available in PDF format and is completely FREE.
Suggestion Box »
Do you have a hot topic in mind that you think other IMS users would like to hear about? Know of a dynamic speaker who can educate and entertain? Send us a note!
Send it
Click HERE to join the Virtual IMS User Group and to receive announcements of upcoming meetings.