This document discusses running Linux on IBM System z mainframe computers. It begins with a brief history and introduction to zLinux, including how it originated from separate efforts to port Linux to IBM's largest servers. The document then covers topics like the benefits of virtualization, server consolidation, and integrated Linux processors on System z mainframes. It also lists several popular Linux distributions that run on zLinux and the benefits these provide, such as cost savings through reduced software licensing fees, energy costs, facilities needs, and improved productivity.

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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