An Introduction to z/VM Single System Image (SSI) and Live Guest Relocation (LGR)

An Introduction to z/VM Single System Image (SSI) and Live Guest Relocation (LGR)
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2016-03-31
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738436623

IBM® z/VM® 6.2 introduces significant changes to z/VM in the form of multi-system clustering technology allowing up to four z/VM instances in a single system image (SSI) cluster. This technology is important, because it offers clients an attractive alternative to vertical growth by adding new z/VM systems. In the past, this capability required duplicate efforts to install, maintain, and manage each system. With SSI, these duplicate efforts are reduced or eliminated. Support for live guest relocation (LGR) allows you to move Linux virtual servers without disruption to the business, helping you to avoid planned outages. The z/VM systems are aware of each other and can take advantage of their combined resources. LGR enables clients to avoid loss of service due to planned outages by relocating guests from a system requiring maintenance to a system that remains active during the maintenance period. Together, the SSI and LGR technologies offer substantial client value, and they are a major departure from past z/VM practices. This IBM Redbooks® publication gives you a broad understanding of the new SSI architecture and an overview of LGR. We show an LGR example that shows a typical SAP user environment. In our example, the SAP Application Server Central Instance resides on a Linux on System z® guest and an IBM DB2® 10 database server runs on z/OS®. This book is written for IT architects, who design the systems, and IT specialists, who build the systems.

Using z/VM v 6.2 Single System Image (SSI) and Live Guest Relocation (LGR)

Using z/VM v 6.2 Single System Image (SSI) and Live Guest Relocation (LGR)
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2012-10-31
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738437042

In this IBM® Redbooks® publication, we expand upon the concepts and experiences described in "An introduction to z/VM Single System Image (SSI) and Live Guest Relocation (LGR)", SG24-8006. An overview of that book is provided in Chapter 1, "Overview of SSI and LGR" on page 1. In writing this book, we re-used the same lab environment used in the first book, but expanded it to include IBM DB2® v10 on Linux on System z®, two IBM WebSphere® Application Server environments, and added a WebSphere application, used for performance benchmarking, which provided a workload that allowed us to observe the performance of the WebSphere Application Server during relocation of the z/VM® 6.2 member that was hosting the application server. Additionally, this book examines the use of small computer system interface (SCSI) disks in the z/VM v6.2 environment and the results of using single system images (SSI) and live guest relocation (LGR) in this type of environment. In the previous book, a detailed explanation of relocation domains was provided. In this book, we expand that discussion and provide use cases of relocation domains in different situations. Finally, because the ability to back up and restore your data is of paramount importance, we have provided a discussion about how to use one tool, the IBM Backup and Restore Manager for z/VM, which can be used in the new z/VM6.2 environment. We provide a brief overview of the tool and describe the changes in the installation process as a result of using single system image clusters. We also demonstrate how to set up the configuration file, and how to back up and restore both a user and an identity. This publication is intended for IT architects who will be responsible for designing the system and IT specialists who will have to build the system.

DB2 10 for Linux on System z Using z/VM v6.2, Single System Image Clusters and Live Guest Relocation

DB2 10 for Linux on System z Using z/VM v6.2, Single System Image Clusters and Live Guest Relocation
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 94
Release: 2012-11-03
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738437425

IBM® z/VM® 6.2 introduced significant changes to z/VM with a multi-system clustering technology that allows up to four z/VM instances in a single system image (SSI) cluster. This technology is important because it offers you an attractive alternative to vertical growth by adding new z/VM systems. In the past, this capability required duplicate efforts to install, maintain, and manage each system. With SSI, these duplicate efforts are reduced or eliminated. Support for live guest relocation (LGR) allows you to move Linux virtual servers without disrupting your business or incurring loss of service, thus reducing planned outages. The z/VM systems are aware of each other and take advantage of their combined resources. LGR enables you to relocate guests from a system requiring maintenance to a system that will remain active during maintenance. A major advantage for DB2 v10 customers is that using z/VM 6.2 does not require any changes to existing DB2 structures. This remarkable benefit is due to the fact that DB2 v10 is installed as part of the LInux guest on z/VM and is fully integrated into LGR. This allows you to smoothly move DB2 v10 when you move Linux virtual servers, without interrupting either DB2 v10 or z/VM operations and services. This IBM Redbooks® publication will help you understand how DB2 10 on Linux for System z® behaves while running on a z/VM that is being relocated using z/VM's 6.2 Live Guest Relocation feature. In this book, we explore memory management, the DB2 Self-tuning memory manager feature, time synchronization, networking, and storage and performance considerations with regards to relocation. We also offer some best practices found during a live guest relocation for DB2 v10.

IBM zEnterprise System Technical Introduction

IBM zEnterprise System Technical Introduction
Author: Ivan Dobos
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2014-03-31
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738439134

In a smarter planet, information-centric processes are exploding in growth. The mainframe has always been the IT industry's leading platform for transaction processing, consolidated and secure data serving, and support for available enterprise-wide applications. IBM® has extended the mainframe platform to help large enterprises reshape their client experiences through information-centric computing and to deliver on key business initiatives. IBM zEnterprise® is recognized as the most reliable and trusted system, and the most secure environment for core business operations. The new zEnterprise System consists of the IBM zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) or IBM zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12), the IBM zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager, and the IBM zEnterprise IBM BladeCenter® Extension (zBX) Model 003. This IBM Redbooks® publication describes the zEC12 and zBC12, with their improved scalability, performance, security, resiliency, availability, and virtualization. The zEnterprise System has no peer as a trusted platform that also provides the most efficient transaction processing and database management. With efficiency at scale delivering significant cost savings on core processes, resources can be freed up to focus on developing new services to drive growth. This book provides a technical overview of the zEC12, zBC12, zBX Model 003, and Unified Resource Manager. This publication is intended for IT managers, architects, consultants, and anyone else who wants to understand the elements of the zEnterprise System. For this introduction to the zEnterprise System, readers are not expected to be familiar with current IBM System z® technology and terminology.

Securing Your Cloud: IBM z/VM Security for IBM z Systems and LinuxONE

Securing Your Cloud: IBM z/VM Security for IBM z Systems and LinuxONE
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2016-10-19
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 073844202X

As workloads are being offloaded to IBM® z SystemsTM based cloud environments, it is important to ensure that these workloads and environments are secure. This IBM Redbooks® publication describes the necessary steps to secure your environment for all of the components that are involved in a z Systems cloud infrastructure that uses IBM z/VM® and Linux on z Systems. The audience for this book is IT architects and those planning to use z Systems for their cloud environments.

Scale up for Linux on IBM Z

Scale up for Linux on IBM Z
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 78
Release: 2017-12-12
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 073845656X

This book was written by IBM® IT specialists who have experience implementing IBM Z® solutions, especially Linux on IBM LinuxONETM (LinuxONE) or IBM Z servers. Therefore, the content of this book follows the guidelines from Linux and IBM z/VM® regarding LinuxONE and IBM Z installations. The preferred practices described in this book are gathered from the experiences of those specialists in hundreds of projects at IBM and customer environments. This publication provides you with all of the information that you need to decide the best scaling architecture when implementing Linux on IBM Z or LinuxONE. This book has the following goals: To inform you about x86 sprawl problems To inform you that x86 Vertical Scale out architectures are problematic going forward To provide solutions to x86 server sprawl problems To inform you about the LinuxONE and IBM Z differentiation for each x86 server sprawl problem To provide virtulization and security options for LinuxOne and IBM Z The scaling up and scaling out architectures enable you to scale the capacity of an existing system to attend a sporadic application demand or an application workload. This gives you some freedom to operate in the environment. However, if this activity is performed without correct planning and the correct architecture choice, it leads to a server sprawl situation where your environment houses more servers than it should based on its current and predicted requirements. Although scaling out on x86 systems is a common form of scaling because of their popularity, the x86 systems were originally designed as cheap computers. Unfortunately, the scale out on x86 can easily become a problem in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO) when the environment starts to increase in terms of number of physical servers. The LinuxONE and IBM Z servers solve the sprawl problem caused by the scaling out of x86 servers, and are an excellent choice for cloud, mobile, big data, blockchain, analytics, and other workloads that require a robust and flexible environment. This publication describes the advantages and disadvantages of the scaling options. The audience of this publication consists of the following groups: Customers, IBM Business Partners, and IBM consultants planning and installing Linux on IBM Z, IBM Z family or x86 platform System administrators administering the Linux Systems If you are a customer considering LinuxONE and IBM Z family as a platform for your applications (analytics, blockchain, cloud, or other) or a pre-sales person, read those publications.

Securing Your Cloud: IBM Security for LinuxONE

Securing Your Cloud: IBM Security for LinuxONE
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2019-08-01
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738457949

As workloads are being offloaded to IBM® LinuxONE based cloud environments, it is important to ensure that these workloads and environments are secure. This IBM Redbooks® publication describes the necessary steps to secure your environment from the hardware level through all of the components that are involved in a LinuxONE cloud infrastructure that use Linux and IBM z/VM®. The audience for this book is IT architects, IT Specialists, and those users who plan to use LinuxONE for their cloud environments.

Practical Migration from x86 to LinuxONE

Practical Migration from x86 to LinuxONE
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2021-01-04
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738459305

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.

Scale up for Linux on LinuxONE

Scale up for Linux on LinuxONE
Author: Lydia Parziale
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 78
Release: 2019-07-17
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738457906

This book was written by IBM® IT specialists who have experience implementing Linux solutions on IBM LinuxONETM (LinuxONE). The contents of this book follow the guidelines from Linux regarding LinuxONE installations. The preferred practices that are described in this book are gathered from the experiences of those specialists in hundreds of projects at IBM and customer environments. This IBM Redbooks® publication provides you with the information needed in making a decision on scaling architecture when implementing Linux on LinuxONE. This book has the following goals: To inform you about x86 sprawl problems To inform you that x86 Vertical Scale out architectures are problematic going forward To provide solutions to x86 server sprawl problems To inform you about the LinuxONE solution for each x86 server sprawl problem To provide virtualization and security options for LinuxOne The scaling up and scaling out architectures enable you to scale the capacity of an existing system to accommodate sporadic application demands or application workloads. This provides some freedom to operate in the environment. However, if this activity is performed without correct planning and the correct architecture choice, it leads to server sprawl where your environment houses more servers than it should based on its current and predicted requirements. This can potentially cause your enterprise to both waste resources and increase costs. Although scaling out on x86 systems is a common form of growth because of inexpensive x86 systems, the scale out can easily become a problem in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO) when the environment starts to increase the number of physical servers and the resources needed to maintain them. LinuxONE servers solve the sprawl problem caused by the scaling out of x86 servers, and are an excellent choice for cloud, mobile, big data, blockchain, analytics, and other workloads that require a robust and flexible environment. This publication describes the advantages and disadvantages of the LinuxONE scaling option. The audience for this publication consists of the following groups: Customers, IBM Business Partners, IT architects and IT Specialists planning and installing Linux on LinuxONE System administrators managing the Linux Systems

Improving z/OS Application Availability by Managing Planned Outages

Improving z/OS Application Availability by Managing Planned Outages
Author: Frank Kyne
Publisher: IBM Redbooks
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2014-12-22
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0738440213

This IBM® Redbooks® publication is intended to make System Programmers, Operators, and Availability Managers aware of the enhancements to recent releases of IBM z/OS® and its major subsystems in the area of planned outage avoidance. It is a follow-on to, rather than a replacement for, z/OS Planned Outage Avoidance Checklist, SG24-7328. Its primary objective is to bring together in one place information that is already available, but widely dispersed. It also presents a different perspective on planned outage avoidance. Most businesses care about application availability rather than the availability of a specific system. Also, a planned outage is not necessarily a bad thing, if it does not affect application availability. In fact, running for too long without an IPL or subsystem restart might have a negative impact on application availability because it impacts your ability to apply preventive service. Therefore, this book places more focus on decoupling the ability to make changes and updates to your system from IPLing or restarting your systems.