This IBM® Redbooks® publication shows the power of IBM System z® virtualization and flexibility in sharing resources in a flexible production environment. In this book, we outline the planning and setup of Linux on System z to move from a development or test environment into production. As an example, we use one logical partition (LPAR) with shared CPUs with memory for a production environment and another LPAR that shares some CPUs, but also has a dedicated one for production. Running in IBM z/VM® mode allows for virtualization of servers and based on z/VM shares, can prioritize and control their resources. The size of the LPAR or z/VM resources depends on the workload and the applications that run that workload. We examine a typical web server environment, Java applications, and describe it by using a database management system, such as IBM DB2®. Network decisions are examined with regards to VSWITCH, shared Open Systems Adapter (OSA), IBM HiperSocketsTM and the HiperPAV, or FCP/SCSI attachment used with a storage area network (SAN) Volume Controller along with performance and throughput expectations. The intended audience for this IBM Redbooks publication is IT architects who are responsible for planning production environments and IT specialists who are responsible for implementation of production environments.

Data is one the most critical and valuable assets of a business. Critical strategic decisions can be made more quickly and effectively when they are based on complete, accurate, and timely operational data. From this point of view, it is important to have an enterprise data management architecture that supports a flexible global view of the business. Many environments today are heterogeneous with a high quantity and diversity of data. In this IBM® Redbooks® publication, we help enterprise architects and IT managers with these environments make decisions for a centralized database or data warehouse. We recommend a centralized data management environment on Linux® on System z®. We include guidance for IBM z/VSETM and Linux specialists to reorganize existing IBM DB2® VSE data and build a database environment with continuous operation in Linux on System z. We begin this book by describing the possibilities and advantages of enterprise data management and different technical ways to realize it. Then we discuss planning, which is important for setting the foundation of the architecture that is implemented. We explain the hardware considerations for capacity and performance planning. For the z/VSE system and Linux on System z, we describe considerations for operation in a logical partition (LPAR) and in a virtualized environment with IBM z/VM®. In addition, we discuss the disk behavior for different workloads, storage dependencies, network connections, and DB2 database considerations. We also guide you in customizing the DB2 server for z/VSE, z/VM, and DB2 on Linux to allow existing z/VSE and z/VM applications to access the database on Linux on System z. We include the data migration, application considerations, dependencies, compatibility, monitoring, and tuning possibilities in such an environment.

LinuxONE is a portfolio of hardware, software, and solutions for an enterprise-grade Linux environment. It has been designed to run more transactions faster and with more security and reliability specifically for the open community. It fully embraces open source-based technology. Two servers are available for LinuxONE: The IBM® LinuxONE III LT1 and IBM LinuxONE III LT2. We describe these servers in "IBM LinuxONE servers" on page 5. Aside from still running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Servers, LinuxONE runs Ubuntu, which is popular on x86 hardware. Ubuntu, which runs the cloud, smartphones, a computer that can remote control a planetary rover for NASA, many market-leading companies, and the Internet of Things, is now available on IBM LinuxONE servers. Together, these two technology communities deliver the perfect environment for cloud and DevOps. Ubuntu 16.04 on LinuxONE offers developers, enterprises, and Cloud Service Providers a scalable and secure platform for next generation applications that include OpenStack, KVM, Docker, and JuJu. The following are reasons why you would want to optimize your servers through virtualization using LinuxONE: Too many distributed physical servers with low utilization A lengthy provisioning process that delays the implementation of new applications Limitations in data center power and floor space High total cost of ownership (TCO) Difficulty allocating processing power for a dynamic environment This IBM Redbooks® publication provides a technical planning reference for IT organizations that are considering a migration from their x86 distributed servers to LinuxONE. This book walks you through some of the important considerations and planning issues that you might encounter during a migration project. Within the context of a pre-existing UNIX based or x86 environment, it presents an end-to-end view of the technical challenges and methods necessary to complete a successful migration to LinuxONE.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication is Volume 3 of a series of three books called The Virtualization Cookbook for IBM z Systems. The other two volumes are called: The Virtualization Cookbook for IBM z Systems Volume 1: IBM z/VM 6.3, SG24-8147 The Virtualization Cookbook for IBM z Systems Volume 2: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 Servers, SG24-8303 It is suggested that you start with Volume 1 of this series, because IBM z/VM® is the base "layer" when installing Linux on IBM z SystemsTM. Volume 1 starts with an introduction, describes planning, and then describes z/VM installation into a two-node, single system image (SSI) cluster, configuration, hardening, automation, and servicing. It adopts a cookbook format that provides a concise, repeatable set of procedures for installing and configuring z/VM using the SSI clustering feature. Volumes 2 and 3 describe how to roll your own Linux virtual servers on z Systems hardware under z/VM. The cookbook format continues with installing and customizing Linux. Volume 3 focuses on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12. It describes how to install and configure SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 onto the Linux administration system, which does the cloning and other tasks. It also explains how to use AutoYaST2, which enables you to automatically install Linux using a configuration file, and explains how to create and use appliances and bootable images from configuration files. In addition, it provides information about common tasks and tools available to service SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication is Volume 2 of a five-volume series of books entitled The Virtualization Cookbook for IBM Z®. This volume includes the following chapters: Chapter 1, "Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux on LNXADMIN" on page 3, describes how to install and configure Red Hat Enterprise Linux onto the Linux Administration server, which performs the cloning and other tasks. Chapter 2, "Automated Red Hat Enterprise Linux installations by using Kickstart" on page 37, describes how to use Red Hat's kickstart tool to create Linux systems. This tool is fundamentally different from cloning in that an automated installation is implemented. You can try kickstart and cloning. Understand that these applications attempt to accomplish the same goal of quickly getting Linux systems up and running, and that you do not need to use both. Chapter 3, "Working with subscription-manager, yum, and DaNdiFied" on page 47, describes how the Red Hat Network works. It provides centralized management and provisioning for multiple Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. Kickstart is an easy and fast way to provision your Linux guests in any supported Linux platform. It re-creates the operating system from the beginning by using the kickstart profile configuration file that installs the new operating system unattended. It also sets up the new guest according to the definition that was set up in the kickstart file. Usually, Linux is administered by the same team that manages Linux on all platforms. By using kickstart, you can create a basic profile that can be used in all supported platforms and customize Linux profiles, as needed. Cloning requires a better understanding of the z/VM environment and z/VM skills. It is a fast process if you enable the IBM FlashCopy® feature in advance. It clones the disks from a golden image to new disks that are used by the new Linux guest. The process can be automated by using the cloning scripts that are supplied with this book. It is recommended that you start with The Virtualization Cookbook for IBM Z Volume 1: IBM z/VM 7.2, SG24-8147 of this series because the IBM® z/VM hypervisor is the foundation (or base "layer") for installing Linux on IBM Z.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication helps you install, configure, and maintain the IBM z15TM (machine types 8561 and 8562) systems. The z15 systems offers new functions that require a comprehensive understanding of the available configuration options. This book presents configuration setup scenarios, and describes implementation examples in detail. This publication is intended for systems engineers, hardware planners, and anyone who needs to understand IBM Z® configuration and implementation. Readers should be familiar with IBM Z technology and terminology. For more information about the functions of the z15 systems, see IBM z15 Technical Introduction, SG24-8850, IBM z15 (8561) Technical Guide, SG24-8851 and IBM z15 (8562) Technical Guide, SG24-8852.