Linux on Mainframes

A Case Study

What is Linux

Open Source Operating system distributed under terms of GPL.

Developed by Linus Torvalds and maintained by a worldwide community of developers.

Available in different distributions with use ranging from desktop users to high end applications.

Why Linux ? Open source and hence offers high flexibility

Supports different architectures like Intel, Alpha, Sparc.

Ships with bundles of tools and utilities.

No cost of ownership involved.

Better Performance as compared to other operating Systems

Supported by World Wide network of developers

IBM S/390 Offering Provides features like Heavy Multi-way processors,

channelized I/O, High RAS Implements Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) for

faster data processing Provides large memory, logical partitions, large

volume DASDs Strong and rugged architecture ideal for high-end

business needs Added support for TCP/IP to connect to Ethernet or

token ring network, which was earlier missing Support for Parallel Sysplex environment and also

supports IEEE Floating point

Why Linux on S/390 ?

Reliability: IBM S/390 is the most reliable hardware platform available

Flexibility: Linux is the most flexible and easy configurable operating system available

Stability: Combining the best software and best hardware provide the most stable system

Security: IBM mainframe is the most secure system in the world

Why Linux on S/390 ?

High Load Capacity: Owing to its gigantic hardware and its excellent management in Linux, such a system has very high load capacities

Virtualization: Several instances of Linux can be run on this system eliminating the need to buy separate PC servers

Faster Processing: Linux can make best use of the rich features like SPM, channelized Input Output, thereby ensuring faster processing speeds

Change in Customer’s Perspective Customers need not replace mainframes to shift

to the web technologies. Mainframes now provide TCP/IP access thereby leveraging on the earlier investment instead of buying new PCs

Linux can exploit the mainframe’s strength and high capacity hardware to deliver better and reliable processing

Enables consolidating the number of separately running PC servers to virtual servers on mainframe

Linux on S/390 is supported by wide number of applications

Centrally managed and deployable system

Change in Customer’s Perspective Results in saving of administrative costs,

software costs, electricity costs and floor space by consolidation

Economical deployment of basic Internet Services

Provides robust, secured and centralized System

Large number of talent pool available to support the fusion of these two technologies

Customer can adapt to the new age technologies using a reliable, robust, secure system which is also scalable for future needs at a low Total Cost of Ownership

Supporting Partners IBM has formed the Linux Community Development System

(LCDS) and is providing the developers with Linux account on their OS/390 systems to encourage the development and support

IBM is offering free support in the form of redbooks and download of Linux to run on S/390 systems

Suse, Redhat, Turbo Linux, Debian are some of the Linux Distributors providing Linux support on S/390

Major ISV (Independent Software vendors) are providing support for applications for Linux on S/390 e.g. SAP, sendmail

A large community of developers worldwide comprising discussion forums and technical websites is providing support to Linux on S/390

Supporting Partners (contd..) Mainframe Linux solutions mature with mySAP.com for IBM

eServer zSeries E-Mail Inventor Ports Software to IBM Linux Mainframes Websphere, E-commerce suite supports Linux on Mainframes SuSE Ships Linux for IBM Mainframe

Changing Trends: Success Stories Banco Mercantil Moves to Linux on IBM Mainframe Deutsche Telekom AG chooses Linux on an IBM

zSeries mainframe for high availability Böllhoff selects Linux and mainframes for its IT strategy Winnebago Industries Hits the 'Open' Road with Linux

on the IBM Mainframe

Boscov deploys E-business solutions using Linux on IBM Mainframe

Korean Airlines flies with linux on IBM Mainframe Tamkang

University excels at data storage with IBM and Linux solution.

IBM Linux mainframe chosen by European telecom Taiwan Securities Firm Selects Acucorp

for Linux in IBM S/390 Server Migration

University of Florida: Linux Mainframe to Form Core of "Virtual Grid" Research Lab

Many more case studies of companies shifting to Linux on IBM Mainframe

Changing Trends: Success Stories

The demand for Web services based solutions is fast increasing

Linux on mainframes provides these web based solutions to the clients on their existing mainframes

This model also proves out to be cost efficient to the customers

IT service providers serve a number of clients using IBM mainframes.

These companies can leverage more business from these mainframe customers by building expertise in Linux on Mainframes

Triggers to the IT service providers

Links to Linux for S/390 web sites

http://oss.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/linux390 http://itsopok.itso.ibm.com/internsh.nsf/IntNumber /LS-J003 http://vm.marist.edu/linuxvm/ http://penguinvm.princeton.edu/ http://linux.s390.org/ http://linux390.marist.edu/ http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvlists/ http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports /1532/1/ http://www.vm.ibm.com/linux/

Thank You