9.2. Running Linux on the mainframe

On the mainframe, there are three options for running Linux:

  • Natively on the mainframe hardware

  • In a logical partition (LPAR)

  • As a guest operating system under z/VM

Of these, the most interesting for the server consolidation case is the z/VM option.

Using LPARs, you can define up to 15 partitions (with the S/390 and zSeries machines), each of which hosts a separate server. If an LPAR contains CPUs that can run any operating system (so called general purpose engines), any mainframe operating system can run in that partition. The hardware resources of the mainframe (CPU, I/O, and memory) are divided according to the definition of each LPAR. zSeries and S/390 hardware have the computing power coupled with adequate ...

Get Linux® on the Mainframe now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.