It is often tempting to assume that because a specific ZMF module writes output stating that it is running at a certain version, that must be the definitive version of the product that is in use. For example, module CMNBATCH writes the following:

ChangeMan(R) ZMF CMNBATCH - 8.2 Patch 6 2023/10/18 03:23:16

Or the CMNLNKDT report generated at ZMF Server started task start-up time writes the following to the task's SYSPRINT output file:

ChangeMan(R) ZMF CMNLNKDT - 8.2 Patch 6 Link Date Report WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18, 2023 @ 03:11:49 Page 1

So, we must be running ZMF 8.2 Patch 6, yes? Well, no. Both of the above messages are taken from a subsystem running the original GA version of ZMF 8.2 Patch 7.

Whilst all modules will be typically rebuilt for any new, major release (e.g. 8.2, 8.3, etc.), this is not true for interim patch releases. Only those modules that actually change in the associated patch levels will be rebuilt. As neither the CMNBATCH or CMNLNKDT modules changed in the original 8.2 Patch 7 release they will still reflect the last release in which they did change. This was 8.2 Patch 6 for both of these particular modules.

There are a number of ways in which users can verify the exact version of ChangeMan ZMF they are actually using:

1. Find the CMNs308I (where s = ZMF Subsystem ID) in the ZMF Server started task SERPRINT output file. For example, for SUBSYS=U the message will look like this:

CMNU308I CMNSTART ZMF version: 8.2 Patch 7

2. The splash screen on entry to the ZMF ISPF User Interface displays panel CMNINIT which contains the version of the software that is in use:

…
              Version = 8.2 Patch 7
…

If CMNINIT flashes up too quickly, the same information can be obtained by pressing the <F1> key whilst on the CMN@PRIM ChangeMan ZMF Primary Option Menu panel to display help panel CMN00003. 

3. Connections via the ZMF Client Pack UIs, both ZDD and ZMF4ECL, can also display this information. Using ZDD, right-click on the ZMF Server folder, select Properties, ChangeMan and view the Software version:

In ZMF4ECL simply logon to the relevant ZMF instance and the mainframe software versions will be displayed next to the Server:

4. If all else fails, simply browse the CMNVRM executable module in the shipped ‘somnode.CMNZMF.LOAD’ dataset and locate the fingerprint information. It will look something like the following and the version is displayed immediately after the open parantheses:

CMNVRM (MVS-8.2 Patch 7:CMNVRM/761CFDD9/CZMF000128) 20221017 07.38