Linux and the Mainframe

Linux on System z can help lower your IT costs by running up to hundreds of virtual Linux servers concurrently with ensured isolation of each virtual server.

Please! Verify all details or suggestions with the appropriate vendor and / or vendor's manuals.

Linux on System z is the collective term for the Linux operating system compiled to run on IBM mainframes, especially System z machines. Other terms with the same meaning include Linux on zEnterprise 196, Linux on System z10, Linux on System z9, Linux on zSeries, Linux/390, zLinux, z/Linux, etc.

History
Linux on System z originated as two separate efforts to port Linux to IBM's largest servers. The first effort, the "Bigfoot" project, developed by Linas Vepstas in late 1998 through early 1999, was an independent distribution and has since been abandoned.IBM published a collection of patches and additions to the Linux 2.2.13 kernel on December 18, 1999, to start today's mainline Linux on System z. Formal product announcements quickly followed in 2000, including the Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) engines. Think Blue Linux was an early mainframe distribution consisting mainly of Red Hat packages added to the IBM kernel. Commercial Linux distributors introduced mainframe editions very quickly after the initial kernel work, and these mainframe versions have now been available for several years.
Source: Wikipedia

Linux on IBM System z
Smarter Computing is IBM’s approach to IT innovation, helping to transform to an ideal IT infrastructure that is cloud ready, data ready and security ready.
Linux on System z offers a uniquely powerful solution for that approach, with datacenter simplicity, operational, trusted operations and unrivaled economics.
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Comparison between MVS data sets and the z/OS UNIX file system
z/OS V1R12.0 UNIX System Services User's Guide
SA22-7801-13
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Linux on System z advantages
Linux on System z: simple, efficient, secure.
Linux on System z servers can do more with less, providing IT organizations a robust and effective workload deployment platform for consolidation, to eliminate server sprawl and complexity, as well as re-deployment and new workload deployment. Linux on System z benefits from the open standards and the unmatched power of the IBM System z server and z/VM virtualization technologies.
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Executive Council material for Linux on System z
IBM hosts Linux on System z Executive Council meetings in locations across the United States to provide education on Linux for System z. The presentations are available for you, check frequently for updates.
Executive Council material

Instructor Led - Online Training
Linux Implementation for System z - ILO (SUSE)
Code: MZ100

Implementation for System z Linux – ILO (Red Hat)
Code: MZ110

Advanced Solutions for Linux on System z (Red Hat)
Code: MZ160

Advanced Solutions for Linux on System z (SUSE) - ILO
Code: MZ150

Installing, Configuring and Servicing z/VM for Linux Guests (ILO)
Code: MZ062

Classroom courses
Linux Implementation for System z (SUSE)
Code: ZL100

Implementation for System z Linux (Red Hat)
Code: ZL110

Installing, Configuring and Servicing z/VM for Linux Guests
Code: ZV062

z/VM and Linux Boot Camp
Code: ZL000

Linux on System z Intermediate Bootcamp
Code: BZ490

Advanced Solutions for Linux on System z (SUSE)
Code: ZL150

Advanced Solutions for Linux on System z (Red Hat)
Code: ZL160