1. Linux on IBM System z
[ zLinux ]
Two great operating systems, even better together

2. Agenda
 Introduction
 10 Years of zLinux
 System z and Linux : The winning Combination
 Virtualization
 Server Consolidation
 Benefits Snapshot
 Linux Distributions
 Open Source Software on zLinux
 Out of the Box Applications
 Questions
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3. Introduction
 Linux running on IBM System z machines
 The only difference between zLinux and other
platform versions of Linux are portions of the
compilers, runtime libraries, and a hardware-
dependent component of the Linux kernel.
 Linux on System z originated as two separate
efforts (Bigfoot (i370) and Linux for S/390) to
port Linux to IBM's largest servers.
 Linux on zSeries is completely open source under the GNU General Public License.
 Although the recommended approach is to run Linux under z/VM, Linux can run
in an IBM System z logical partition (LPAR) without virtualization.
 Linux on System z can execute on either a Central Processor (CP) or an
Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL). The major benefit of an IFL is that it has no
impact on IBM software pricing for z/OS.
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4. 10 Years Ago..
 Increased solutions through Linux
application portfolio
 Large number of highly skilled
programmers familiar with Linux
 Integrated business solutions
• Data richness from IBM zSeries
• Web capability of Linux
applications
 Industrial strength environment
• Flexibility and openness of Linux
• Qualities of service of zSeries
 Unique ability to easily consolidate
large number of servers
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5. 10 Years of zLinux
More applications Cloud Computing
The number of Cloud Computing
Linux on S/390 Major available applications and BI are only a
Project started Announcements approaches 1,000, with few workloads
as an effort to IBM to Spend $1B over 300 ISVs
that are best fit to
port Linux for First Release Hipersockets developing. Consolidation
Enterprise Linux
S/390 Linux 2.2.13 IBM announces on System z
SuSe ELS 7 More Software
machines kernel for project “Big Green”
System/390 250 applications to shrinks 3,900
released ported to Linux on servers to about 30
System z zLinux servers
1999 2000 2001 2003 2006 2009 2010
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6. SLES – SuSe Linux Enterprise Server RHEL - Redhat Enterprise Linux
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7. Mainframe - Practice Highlights
Virtualization
A Virtual Machine simulates the existence of a dedicated real machine, including
processor functions, storage, and input/output resources.
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8. Mainframe - Practice Highlights
Virtualization
The heart of the VM architecture is a control program or hypervisor called VM-CP. It runs
on the physical hardware, and creates the virtual machine environment.
 System z provides logical
(LPAR) and software (z/VM)
partitioning
 z/VM is a hypervisor(VMM),
which refers to a system that
virtualizes the real hardware
environment
 PR/SM enables highly
scalable virtual server
hosting for LPAR and z/VM
 IRD coordinates allocation
of CPU and I/O resources
among LPARs
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9. Mainframe - Practice Highlights
The Power and Flexibility of System z Virtualization
 Over 40 years of continuous innovation in virtualization technologies
 Multiple images concurrently share all physical resources
 Resources delivered as required, automatically, based on need
 New OS images can be started without affecting on-going work
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10. Mainframe - Practice Highlights
 Every component in the box operate in full isolation for security and
recoverability.
 Components are integrated through memory-to-memory speed
hipersockets (In-memory TCP/IP network) reducing intrusion points
to minimum.
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11. Server Consolidation on zLinux
 Consolidate more servers and spend less on
software
 Manage more server images with fewer people,
up to 50% improvement in staff productivity
 Save up to 80% on energy and floor space
 Deploy new servers and applications faster
 Absorb workload spikes and maintain service
level agreements with less complexity
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12. Server Consolidation on zLinux
 Discrete servers consume incremental
expense  Reduce costs without sacrificing server
 Hardware price and maintenance autonomy (one server per application)
 Floor space, power, cooling  Virtual, high-speed, inter-server connectivity
 Additional support staff  Exploit an architecture designed for high
 Per server (engine) software fees availability
 Mainframe qualities of service
 Connectivity requires kilometers of cables
 Proven disaster recovery services
 High availability ensured by spares / re-boots  Connect to discrete servers as required
 Disaster recovery rarely successfully tested
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13. Rapid Horizontal Growth
 Dedicated processors and disks  Shared resources
 Complex system management  Simplified system management
 New servers available in days  New servers online in minutes
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14. Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) There are many ways to run
Linux on a mainframe.
 An IBM mainframe processor dedicated to
running the Linux operating system, with or  As a job under z/OS, the Linux
without z/VM. workload benefits from the
 IBM introduced IFLs on September 29, 2000 direct management by z/OS.
expressly designed to reduce software costs. (OMVS is an example)
 An IFL is not required to run Linux — Linux runs
 Linux as a single operating
on general purpose processors (CPs) as well. system on a System z
IFLs simply cost less. logical partition (LPAR)
 Will not support traditional mainframe operating
systems. Only Linux and z/VM Version 4 will run  Running under the z/VM
on IFL engines operating system with z’s
 Only usable in LPAR mode and cannot be Central Processors.
"mixed" with standard processors
 Running under the z/VM
operating system with z’s
IFL special-purpose Linux
Engines.
 IFL engine has a one-time fee, which is
approximately $40K
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15. System z and Linux : The winning Combination
 Combine workloads from heterogeneous  Linux on MSAT Mainframe
low-to-mid range servers into zLinux  12 Linux images on z/VM
images using virtualization  Various DBCLOB on different
software
 Leverage Open Source software on Images
zLinux to host internet/intranetCLOB  One Image with Open Source
Software Stack
applications and reduce the software
 IFL Engines to reduce operating
cost significantly cost
BLOB
 Utilize zLinux environment for training and
development and reduce maintenance
cost of other servers
 Consolidate WebSphere and Java
applications on zLinux to achieve higher
system utilization
 Improve server management with Tivoli
monitoring and automated provisioning on
zLinux to reduce operating costs
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16. Benefits Snapshot
The Linux on System z infrastructure provides significant IT cost savings
opportunities:
 People Cost – increase the productivity of
the IT staff
 Software Costs – reduce software license
fees by consolidating a large number of
virtual machines per System z core
 Energy Costs – dramatic reduction in power
usage
 Facilities Costs – reduce floor space with
dense server consolidation on System z
 Networking Costs – consolidate networks
inside the box
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17. Linux Distributions
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18. Linux Distributions
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