Operating System Concepts › FMIDs and SMP/E

FMIDs and SMP/E

IBM distributes major component options as function modification identifiers (FMIDs). Each component of the operating system has been assigned an FMID. The system modification program extended (SMP/E) maintains an inventory of modules installed on the system, indexed by FMID. You can display the FMIDs for thousands of programs by using the CA Auditor Product Information Display. IBM provides SMP/E as an automated change‑control system for both IBM and user‑supplied updates to z/OS.

SMP/E has a data set called the consolidated software inventory (CSI), which serves as a master directory. You can use SMP/E to identify most of the program products that are incorporated into z/OS.

Unfortunately, the use of SMP/E is optional under z/OS. Not all program products that IBM and ISV/OEM vendors market are distributed in SMP/E format. Further, many third‑party software applications are not distributed in SMP/E format.

Many audit and security experts agree that SMP/E should install any system software that modifies z/OS in any way. Program development standards should require the use of SMP/E to apply locally developed operating system modifications. This protects the installed software from interference by IBM maintenance and documents the modification. You can request a list of SMP/E user modifications (USERMODs) from the data center’s technical support staff.