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 Linux on IBM Z mainframe
A scalable, secure and sustainable enterprise platform combining Linux flexibility with IBM mainframe performance reliability
Check out Linux on IBM z16™ Read product documentation
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Linux® on IBM Z®  is a powerful enterprise computing platform that combines the flexibility of open source Linux with the unmatched performance, reliability and security of IBM mainframe systems. It enables organizations to run modern applications, databases and containerized workloads efficiently, all while reducing their IT footprint.

Linux on IBM Z (IBM mainframe architecture) offers unique advantages, particularly for enterprise workloads:

  • Sustainable IT: Consolidate workloads with up to 2000 x86 cores in one system, reducing energy and costs.
  • Advanced data security: Encrypt up to 19 billion transactions daily, ensuring privacy and compliance.
  • Enhanced performance: Reduce latency by 4.7x and boost throughput with optimized workload colocation.
  • Unmatched scalability: Scale thousands of VMs or containers on a single, high-efficiency system.
  • Reliable and cost-effective: Achieve 99.999% uptime while lowering operational costs through consolidation.
Linux on IBM Z

Modernize for hybrid cloud with the Linux platform providing security and efficiency and helping on your sustainability goals.

Linux server platforms

IBM Z IBM LinuxONE
Linux server virtualization
LPAR virtualization

Partition a physical server into logical partitions (LPARs) with protection certified to EAL5+.

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IBM hypervisor

Host thousands of virtual machines on a single system with scalability, system management and performance.

 Explore IBM z/VM®
Open hypervisor

Create and manage virtual machines by using familiar tools with the open source KVM hypervisor.

 Explore KVM
Linux-certified tested platforms Get information on certified and IBM-tested Linux platforms from our distribution partners. Explore Linux platforms Linux documentation

See the latest technical information and guidance for Linux on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.

 Explore product documentation Open source software

Keep up-to-date on open source packages that have been ported and or validated by IBM.

 Explore validated open source software Linux distributions

Find out which Linux distributions (such as Red Hat, SUSE and Ubuntu) can be run on IBM Z enterprise servers. 

 Explore Linux distributions
Hybrid cloud software Containers and Kubernetes

Build and modernize applications and deploy them anywhere–aligned to the needs of your customers.

 Infrastructure-as-a-Service

Simplify workload management and integrate seamlessly with hybrid cloud using OpenStack-compatible APIs.

 Hybrid cloud

Deliver the hybrid cloud experience by building and modernizing faster across any environment.

 z/OS Dev and Test on Linux

Build mainframe applications, test code and environment changes before implementing them in production.
Cyber resiliency software Clustering technologies for resiliency

Support replication, high availability and disaster recovery at any distance with unified control.

 Storage software for resiliency

Manage data at scale and perform archive and analytics in place without bottlenecks.

 Server relocation for availability

Move a Linux guest from one z/VM system to another within a Single System Image cluster.

Resources

Learn about Integrated Facility for Linux: the dedicated processor for Linux workloads on IBM Z.

Protect your data-running up to 19 billion fully encrypted transactions per day, and manage data privacy by policy.

Reduce latency by 4.7x and improve throughput with co-location of Linux and other workloads.

Achieve a sustainable IT infrastructure with a single IBM z16™ multiframe that can do the work of up to 2000 x86 cores.¹

Explore the latest Linux and open source courses from IBM. Search, "Linux on Z" to see the available training.

Take the next step

Learn how you can use the best of the mainframe.

 Explore IBM Z operating systems
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Footnotes

¹ IBM internal tests show that when running WebSphere and Db2 workloads, the IBM z16 multi frame requires 16 times fewer cores than the compared x86 servers. If you scale this up to a complete IT solution this means when running this workload, the IBM z16 Max 125 would be doing the work of about 2000 cores of the compared x86 servers.

DISCLAIMER: This is an IBM internal study designed to replicate a typical IBM customer workload usage in the marketplace. Results might vary. The core consolidation study targeted comparison of the following servers: IBM Machine Type 3931 Max 125 system consists of three CPC drawers containing 125 configurable processor units (IFLs) and two I/O drawers to support both network and external storage. Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 (2U) with two 2nd Gen Intel® Xeon® Platinum processors 2.1 GHz, 16 cores per CPU. Both solutions had access to the same storage array. The workloads consisted of a transactional application running on WebSphere Application Server and IBM Db2 simulating core online banking functions. The actual test results were extrapolated to the stated above x86 servers by using IDC QPI metrics and IBM sizing methodology by using the following assumptions on a typical IT environment of a banking client using x86 servers. The production IT environment has 16 x86 servers running at 50% average utilization. There are 48 x86 servers in the nonproduction IT environments: development (4 environments with 2 servers each, 8 servers total), development test environment (4 servers), system integration test environment (8 servers), performance test environment (16 servers), user acceptance test environment (4 servers), production fix test environment (8 servers). A typical average CPU utilization is 7% across all nonproduction environments. An equivalent IBM Machine Type 3931 solution requires a single Max 125 server running at 85% average utilization across all IT environments separated using LPAR technology.