Should you deploy Linux on the mainframe?

Should you deploy Linux on the mainframe?

Many positive and negative feedback on the Linux mainframe confirms that the Linux mainframe is not suitable for all IT departments. The two experts have begun to talk about what is appropriate for the data center: running Linux workloads on the mainframe or running them in a distributed service environment.

Consortium: run Linux workloads on the mainframe

By placing Linux workloads on the mainframe, you can achieve better reliability, availability, security, and performance.

Joe Clabby, president of Clabby Analytics, said: "In short, if you want to run a large number of virtual machines in an environment with a large amount of memory, and this environment is very efficient and highly manageable, then the mainframe should be IBM System z."

The mainframe ensures security, and the assessment guarantee level (EAL) is 5 +, with the highest security factor on the mainframe. The latest Linux kernel can run key-level task applications without the risk of intrusion or destruction. Protects the central server. The administrator needs to pay attention to the network interfaces of each container and lock all accessible points.

Compared with the distributed service environment, the mainframe has a high resource usage. Linux processors on the mainframe can handle workloads immediately and efficiently. Running Linux workloads on System z is cheaper than running Linux workloads in a distributed service environment, because the mainframe software protocol corresponds to the processor kernel.

Virtualization and service technologies also increase mainframe usage. Keeping the mainframe running will provide the highest ROI for the enterprise.

Opposite: Linux mainframe may not be suitable for you

If you don't want to use a Linux mainframe, don't worry, because you're not alone, said Robert Crawford, a data center system programmer. Linux Hosts may not be suitable for everyone.

Crawford pointed out: "the reason why we cannot turn the enterprise economy should be attributed to these beloved hardware and protocols with Linux vendors, together with our heavily virtualized distributed environment. In the end, large infrastructure cannot work for zLinux ." This is why he did not deploy Linux on z.

IBM provides an IFL engine for Linux to make the Linux mainframe a reality. But how valuable is this processor?

Combine the fully utilized workloads on the server to several mainframes, and use IFL to successfully migrate these workloads to z/Linux. However, management programs are increasingly consolidating server workloads, including key workloads. This will make IFL less attractive, because the Conversion Price of the Linux mainframe will rise sharply.

This has aroused people's attention to performance and price. Not all Linux operating systems work similarly on the mainframe processor. The price of Linux Enterprise Edition varies: the price of Linux distributed vendors on the mainframe software is also specific.

Mainframe hardware and other server infrastructure also require different skill combinations and specialized technologies. Standard hardware is cheaper than mainframe processors.

Excluding the mainframe can also help eradicate office politics. Talking about the IT war when moving workloads between platforms. A fair workload analysis involves all departments, which is the best solution. How do you decide which platform is suitable for a specific task? The administrator needs to put the workload on z/Linux and the Linux service cluster to see how it runs.

Disclause: Each workload is different, so are enterprises. Take the arguments of the two parties as the starting point for IT organizations to make the best choice.