multiple virtual storage (IBM) (MVS)

A multivirtual storage (MVS) is a virtual memory program that provides each user with a private logical address space. The MVS operating system for IBM mainframes was developed for batch processing and provided each user with his own virtual memory.

MVS, which was introduced as early as 1974, was continuously developed and used in various IBM computers. Memory management increased from 2 GB to up to 16 TB.

The various MVS versions include MVS/ ESA, which stands for Enterprise Systems Architekture, i.e. an enterprise-wide system architecture, and MVS/XA, for Extended Architecture. The former name MVS has been renamed z/ OS.