zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift Everything you need to get started quickly. Get started - Play overview Transcript
zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift, or zCX for OpenShift, provides the ability to run Red Hat OpenShift on z/OS, using IBM z/OS Container Extensions (zCX). With zCX for OpenShift, you can deploy containerized Linux-on-Z applications on z/OS, with zCX, bringing applications and workloads that have an affinity for z/OS closer to z/OS applications and data. The containerized Linux-on-Z workloads, and OpenShift cluster nodes, transparently inherit z/OS qualities of service. Learn more about Red Hat OpenShift Related solution z/OS Container Extensions (zCX)

Run Linux on IBM Z applications as Docker container images on z/OS.

 Big picture 1. The z/OS system programmer plans for and installs zCX for OpenShift. 2. The OpenShift administrator validates the install, completes post-install steps and prepares the cluster for users and workloads. 3. The OpenShift application developer deploys a workload. How to get started
Overview

Install OpenShift on z/OS, with zCX. You also provide OpenShift infrastructure services, including network, storage and load balancing configuration.

An IBM z14 or higher with z/OS 2.4 or higher is required, as well as zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift product licensing, which entitles you to run Red Hat OpenShift on z/OS using zCX. For service and licensing requirements, see Program Directory for IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift.

zCX for OpenShift is zIIP-eligible.

To learn more about OpenShift, see a guide to Red Hat OpenShift documentation
Plan and prepare

You install an OpenShift cluster, which is made up of control plane nodes that manage compute nodes, which run your workloads. The recommended configuration is 3 control nodes and a minimum of 2 compute nodes for each control node. Deploy the control nodes using zCX in separate address spaces spread out across the z/OS sysplex.

You install with user-provisioned infrastructure, meaning you also provide OpenShift infrastructure services.

Review memory considerations Review storage considerations Review network considerations Review workload management considerations Review security considerations Review the installation process Prepare for restricted network installation (optional) Understand z/OSMF workflows Prepare for z/OSMF workflows Prepare your z/OS environment to run a zCX for OpenShift cluster Prepare the OpenShift infrastructure services Obtain the installation program
Install and provision

To install and provision an OpenShift Cluster with zCX, complete the following steps.

  1. Create the installation configuration file, install-config.yaml.
  2. Run the OpenShift installer to generate Kubernetes manifests and ignition configuration files for zCX for OpenShift cluster nodes.
  3. Install Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and perform the OpenShift Container Platform bootstrap process, including provisioning zCX for OpenShift cluster node instances and starting zCX for OpenShift cluster node instances in z/OS address spaces.
  4. Inform the OpenShift administrator that they can validate the install.
Overview

Validate the installation of the OpenShift Container Platform cluster on z/OS with zCX, then perform some post-install configuration.

Once that is complete, the experience of using OpenShift on z/OS with zCX is identical to that of OpenShift on other platforms.

Plan and prepare

Depending on your workloads, you might need to take additional steps before you begin deploying applications, as described below.

Prepare the infrastructure to support your application build strategy Make provisions for low-latency workloads Protect sensitive workloads Configure monitoring for application workloads
Steps

To validate the install and prepare OpenShift for use, complete the following steps.

  1. Validate the install of your zCX for OpenShift cluster.
  2. Access the Red Hat OpenShift web console.
  3. Complete the image registry storage configuration.
  4. Prepare the zCX for OpenShift cluster for users.
  5. Set up an NFS storage for OpenShift cluster persistent storage.
  6. Complete any additional work that you identified in the Plan and prepare section.
  7. Explore the Red Hat Marketplace for applications.
Overview

The application developer can create a new project in the zCX for OpenShift cluster and deploy a sample application.

Planning Consider installing the CLI. Installing the OpenShift CLI
Steps
  1. Create a new project in the zCX for OpenShift cluster.
  2. Create and deploy a sample application in the zCX for OpenShift cluster under the new project that you created. Red Hat provides sample container images that you can add from the OpenShift web console.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are the benefits of zCX for OpenShift? 

A: zCX for OpenShift expands and modernizes the software ecosystem for z/OS to include Linux on Z applications. Most applications (including systems management components and development utilities and tools) that were previously available only on Linux can now run on z/OS as Open Container Initiative (OCI) containers.

Linux on Z applications can run on z/OS, using existing z/OS operations staff and reusing the existing z/OS environment.

zCX for OpenShift runs Linux on Z applications on z/OS while maintaining operational control within z/OS and z/OS qualities of service (scalability, availability, integrated disaster recovery, backup, WLM, and integration with z/OS security).

Q: Does zCX Foundation for OpenShift run as ASCII or EBCDIC?

A: It runs as ASCII like any typical Linux distribution.

Q: How is zCX for OpenShift installed?

A: zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift is an IBM Shopz product with a zero charge PID (5655-zCX) and a required monthly Service and Support (S&S) charge PID (5655-zCY). Included in the order are the SMP/E-installable parts for the product. You also receive an entitlement in your Red Hat account for the OpenShift binaries.

Q: What is the difference between z/OS Container Extensions and zCX for OpenShift?

A: z/OS Container Extensions allows clients to deploy Linux on Z applications as individual Docker containers, whereas zCX for OpenShift allows you to deploy Linux on Z applications in a self-contained Red Hat OpenShift cluster. The cluster is managed by Kubernetes and then improved by the industrial strength Red Hat management software.

Both offerings provide you the benefits of extending and modernizing your z/OS ecosystem and capitalizing on the benefits of IBM z/OS qualities of service (QoS). In addition, Red Hat OpenShift brings the same management assistance to z/OS that is present in all other OpenShift distributions.
Q: On which machines does zCX for OpenShift run?

A: z/OS for OpenShift runs on IBM z14 or higher.

Q: Do application developers require knowledge of z/OS to create and deploy Linux on Z applications to run in zCX for OpenShift?

A: Applications look like OCI images to the application developer and not like native z/OS applications. If your application comes from Linux on Z, then no z/OS development skills are required. Container and Linux knowledge are all that is required.
Q: How are zCX and zCX for OpenShift different from Linux on Z?

A: zCX gives z/OS environments the ability to deploy Linux on Z applications for workloads with an affinity to z/OS. It is not a replacement for traditional Linux on Z environments.

If you are a client with Linux on Z installations, you continue to run those installations.

If you are a z/OS client that used to, but no longer has a Linux on Z installation, you should consider zCX and zCX for OpenShift.

If you are a z/OS client that has never had a Linux on Z installation, then zCX and zCX for OpenShift is a low-effort way to try Linux on Z.
Q: What can run in zCX for OpenShift?

A: Anything with s390x architecture (the IBM Z opcode set) in OpenShift from the Red Hat Marketplace or existing workloads / applications in other OpenShift environments. The code is binary-compatible between Linux on Z and zCX for OpenShift.

In addition to open source packages, there is IBM and third-party software available and clients can participate with their own Linux applications, which can be deployed in the same way as open source IBM and vendor packages.
Q: How is IBM software running in the zCX for OpenShift environment licensed and priced?

A: IBM software is licensed and priced as it is in the Linux on Z offering.

Q: What are the costs associated with zCX for OpenShift?

A: You must acquire zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift through Shop Z. Additional costs include z14 or higher, additional zIIPs and any software licensing costs of Linux on Z applications running inside zCX for OpenShift.

Q: Are licenses required for applications running inside zCX for OpenShift?

A: Yes, any licenses that you would procure to run applications in a traditional Linux on Z environment are also required to run those same applications inside zCX for OpenShift. Licenses are obtained from the same sources that are used for traditional Linux on Z applications.

Q: Are the IBM licenses transferable from traditional Linux on Z applications to the zCX for OpenShift environment?

A: The IBM licenses for the Linux on Z applications are the same, regardless of if they are running in a traditional Linux on Z environment or in a zCX for OpenShift environment. You must ensure you have enough licensed capacity available to run the application on all the cores on which it will be active.

Documentation IBM Documentation

Read more about zCX for OpenShift.

Information about zCX for OpenShift in IBM Documentation. Technical resources IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift

Learn more about IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift.

Explore the product page Red Hat OpenShift documentation guide

Find information for your role.

Explore OpenShift documentation Red Hat OpenShift

Get an introduction to OpenShift.

Learn about OpenShift z/OSMF Guild

Learn about z/OSMF workflows through the z/OSMF workflows workshop presentation and recording.

Learn about z/OSMF workflows IBM Communities - Competitive Insights

Learn about performance and cost advantages of IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift

Read the blog IBM Communities - Persistent Storage

IBM Storage Fusion 2.5 now supports IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift

Read the blog Terminal Talk Podcast

Gary Puchkoff and Allison Moshier explain how z/OS Container Extensions has advanced recently and give a peek of things to come.

Listen to the podcast (27:13) IBM Communities

Deploying Bastion Infrastructure Services for IBM zCX for OpenShift

Read the blog IBM Communities

Expanding Multi-Architecture OpenShift Cluster with IBM zCX for OpenShift Compute Node Instances

New Read the blog Release notes

Learn about supported features and restrictions.

New Explore the release notes Related solutions z/OS Container Extensions (zCX)

Run Linux on IBM Z applications as Docker container images on z/OS.

 What's new

The FAQ section was expanded.

A link to Release notes, which describe supported features and restrictions, was added to the Technical resources section. An FAQ section was added.

A new blog post, Expanding Multi-Architecture OpenShift Cluster with IBM zCX for OpenShift Compute Node Instances, was added to the Technical resources section.

Links to Red Hat documentation were updated to target the latest level.

A new blog post, IBM Storage Fusion 2.5 now supports IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift, was added to the Technical resources section.

Links to Red Hat documentation were updated to target the latest level.

A new blog post, Deploying Bastion Infrastructure Services for IBM zCX for OpenShift, was added to the Technical resources section.

New resources were added to the Technical resources section.

Links to content about z/OSMF workflows were added to the How to get started and Technical resources sections.