LinuxONE: IBM mainframe that runs on Linux only. Project Details



    IBM, along with a statement on expanding the strategy of using open source technologies and other solutions from the Open Source developer community on mainframes, introduced two new mainframes in the LinuxOne lineup . Mainframes are positioned as the most secure Linux systems in their industry. Plus, these are also the most powerful secure corporate servers that are adapted to work with hybrid cloud technologies and mobile applications.

    IBM has decided to open mainframe code for the open source community. In particular, IBM’s mainframe technology was disclosed to detect problems and prevent disruptions to the enterprise system, increase productivity on all platforms, and provide better integration with a wider network and cloud.

    LinuxOne Mainframes


    As mentioned above, two LinuxOne servers are running. The first, called LinuxOne Emperor, is built on the basis of the IBM z13 mainframe with its Z13 processor. The system is designed to work in large corporations, to solve a large number of business tasks. The second is Rockchopper, intended for medium-sized businesses. It works with a Z12 processor.



    LinuxONE Emperor configuration:
    • frequency of operation of the 8-core Z13 - up to 5 GHz;
    • up to 141 processors;
    • 10 TB of shared memory;
    • 640 input / output processors;
    • Support up to 8000 virtual machines.

    During testing, the system showed a result of 30 billion RESTful (Representational State Transfer) per day, using Node.js and MongoDB. No single Linux system has such indicators. The LinuxONE Rockhopper, which opens the list of solutions, is designed specifically for customers from emerging economies for whom speed, security, and mainframe availability are important, but in a smaller package.

    Note that the name of the mainframe was chosen for a reason - the name of the species of emperor penguins, the largest penguins in the world, is taken as the basis.


    Emperor Penguin looks confidently into the future of mainframes

    Both systems can work with software such as Apache Spark, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and Chef. The company will provide open source software products and industry tools, including Apache Spark, Docker, Node.js, MongoDB, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and Chef to work with IBM z Systems to provide customers with more choices and guarantee the flexibility of deploying hybrid cloud environments. Canonical and IBM also announced the launch of a joint initiative to promote the use of Ubuntu Linux on IBM z Systems, opening up access to mainframe capabilities for the Ubuntu development community.



    “Fifteen years ago, IBM surprised many industry representatives by installing Linux on mainframes. Today, more than a third of IBM mainframe customers work on Linux, said Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president of IBM Systems. “This announcement once again confirms IBM’s commitment to support the Open Source community.” Combining the best open systems with advanced capabilities will enable customers to cope with new mobile workloads and efficiently manage hybrid cloud computing. Based on the successful experience of using Linux on mainframes, we continue to push the boundaries for conventional servers that do not have high security and performance requirements. ”

    The company will provide new open source software and industry tools for working with mainframes


    By significantly expanding enterprise capabilities, IBM has provided LinuxONE and IBM z Systems with key industry-standard open source software technologies. These included Apache Spark, Node.js, MongoDB, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Chef, and Docker. These technologies can work on the mainframe as smoothly as on other platforms, without requiring additional skills or benefits in terms of performance.

    IBM has pioneered the creation of a virtual environment on mainframes. Today, the company offers a wide selection of virtualization solutions, endowing the new LinuxONE systems with virtual machine functions using the KVM hypervisor, which uses a set of open standards, like any other Linux server. SUSE, a leading Linux distributor, will provide initial KVM support for mainframes.

    Canonical and IBM also announced the launch of a joint initiative to promote the use of Ubuntu Linux on IBM z Systems. Canonical plans to distribute the Ubuntu operating system for LinuxONE and z Systems, including a third Linux distribution. SUSE and Red Hat already support this distribution format. Canonical also plans to support the KVM mainframe software solution.

    The company will join the new Linux Foundation project amid growing demand for mainframes from Open Source developers.


    For the open source community, expanding access to IBM mainframe technologies has become IBM's largest one-time open source mainframe application code. The company also allowed access to the source code of predictive analytics solutions that provide continuous monitoring to identify unusual system behavior and minimize its consequences. Such code can be used by developers to create a system similar in function and ability to respond.

    IBM Contribution Helps Launch New Open Mainframe Projectsponsored by the Linux Foundation, a non-profit Linux Foundation. IBM, together with the Linux Foundation, will support the Open Mainframe Project, whose participants are about ten organizations from the scientific, public and corporate sectors. The goal of the project is the development, implementation and promotion of Linux on mainframes.

    “Linux technology on mainframes has reached a critical mass, so developers, manufacturers, users and academia need an independent platform where they can work together to promote Linux tools and technologies, thereby bringing innovative technologies to enterprises and industries,” said Jim Zemlin , executive director of the Linux Foundation. - The Open Mainframe Project is a response to the expectations of Linux users. This project aims to support the development of the open source ecosystem with the goal of universally utilizing the unique features of mainframes to ensure security, availability and performance. ”

    IBM will provide free access to LinuxONE Developer Cloud


    As part of the announcement, IBM will also provide mainframe access for open source developers. The unprecedented step of the company is designed to help create and promote innovation in this area. IBM launches the LinuxONE Developer Cloud platform, which the developer community will have free access to. The cloud acts as a virtual R&D mechanism for creating, testing and launching new applications, including compatibility testing with interoperability systems, mobile and hybrid cloud applications.

    Marist College and Syracuse University's School of Information Sciences will host the cloud, with which developers will have free access to the IBM LinuxONE virtual mainframe. Under the program, IBM will also create a separate cloud platform for independent software vendors at IBM centers in Dallas (USA), Beijing (China) and Boeblingen (Germany). It will provide developers with access and a free trial period of working with LinuxONE resources to connect, test and evaluate the performance of new applications for the LinuxONE and z Systems platforms.

    The new financial offerings for the LinuxONE portfolio of solutions provide flexible pricing and resource options. This will allow enterprises to pay only for what they really use, and it is easy to increase capacity in the context of business growth. New LinuxONE systems are available today.

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