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Virtualization building blocks
From simple multitasking to logical partitions to complete simulation of virtual hardware, the virtualization capabilities of the IBM mainframe continues to represent some of the most mature and sophisticated in the industry today.
System z Virtualization
Introduced in 1968, IBM virtualization technology-virtual machine (VM) Hypervisor through today's z/VM* product which provides you with the ability to create tens to hundreds of virtual machines or virtual systems — continues to evolve. In 1988, IBM introduced virtualization that's enabled by Processor Resource/System Manager* (PR/SM*) technology, which lets you create multiple logical partitions (LPARs), each of which, like z/VM, allows a full-scale OS to operate concurrently on the same physical mainframe footprint.
PR/SM is fundamental to all System z mainframes, providing a highly stable and security-rich, firmware-encapsulated virtualization technology adjunct to z/VM, which is a full-scale hypervisor. Both of these virtualization-technology innovations for IBM mainframes have been continually refined and enhanced since their inceptions.
IBM mainframes have a history of hardware and software innovation, coordination, integration and reliability designed to help meet evolving on demand business requirements by allowing you to:
- Host multiple virtual servers running mission-critical applications
- Virtualize or partition and dynamically share physical system resources to support each concurrently executing server instance operating in either a z/VM or an LPAR
- Virtualize processor, communication, memory, storage, I/O and networking resources with advanced Hypervisor technology
- Direct system resources to business-critical applications with hardware- and software-enabled dynamic resource allocation
- Use mainframe system resources to achieve high system utilization for efficiency and scaling
- Perform flexible, cost-efficient, highly secure interserver communications at near memory-speed (via Virtual LANs and HiperSockets*)
- Use world-class, software-based advanced systems management, administration and accounting tools
- Help ensure high availability, reliability, resiliency and system-wide disaster recovery (Parallel Sysplex* and Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex* (GDPS*))
Highly advanced and intelligent workload management technologies such as z/OS Workload
Manager (WLM) and VM Resource Manager (VMRM) use established policy, business priorities and performance objectives to dynamically direct or apply computing resources to key applications when needed.
Intelligent Resource Director (IRD) extends z/OS WLM to automatically balance CPU and channel resources across LPARs in a System z environment based on business priority. Tight integration with VMRM enables the management and prioritization of mainframe system resources with a high degree of granularity based on customer-defined goals and business policies.
Additionally, the System z Parallel Sysplex and GDPS technologies allow data sharing, workload balancing and failover capabilities to be leveraged across multiple physical systems, which might be geographically dispersed positioning the IBM System z platform to provide high system availability and system-wide disaster recovery.
System z advanced hardware lets you logically partition the machine, share CPU, memory and I/O (channels and associated devices), add or remove computing Capacity on Demand, and provide high-speed communications among partitions.
Collectively, System z hypervisor technologies provide the ability to efficiently support and dispatch multiple LPARs and virtual machines. The z/VM virtualization layer is designed to allow the capability to run hundreds to thousands of virtual server images for larger deployments, and the PR/SM layer supports an ever-growing number of LPARs. The latest System z technology can support up to 60 distinct partitions or servers.
The application-enablement layer houses the OS, the infrastructure tools it requires and the enterprise-level applications that help satisfy business demands. System z virtualization technology can support Linux*, z/OS, z/VM, Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) and z/VSE*, enabling a mixed workload operating environment.
The IBM Virtualization Engine
The IBM
Virtualization Engine Platform is at the heart of the IBM On Demand infrastructure - it provides the ability to integrate and manage business processes and resources across a heterogeneous enterprise with a unified approach to enterprise-wide virtualization and infrastructure management that is consistent across IBM and select non-IBM systems. While IBM mainframe customers have been, for many decades, accustomed to the concepts of virtualization, the intelligent management of mixed workloads, autonomic functionality, rock solid security, and the flexible allocation of system resources, datacenters do not live by mainframes alone. In today's environment, it is increasingly common for customers to have multiple servers and storage devices running a variety of operating systems and middleware products.
The IBM
Virtualization Engine Platform is the foundation and delivery vehicle for key IBM virtualization and infrastructure management technologies and solutions that allow clients to virtualize and aggregate pools of diverse physical IT resources into a single logical entity, providing simplified virtual resource access, unified management and increased utilization of IT assets.
As business units traverse multiple operating environments, the inherent strengths of the IBM System z mainframe, coupled with support for the Virtualization Engine, position the System z mainframe to play a key role as a hub for enteprise-wide infrastructure management.
IBM Director for
Linux on System z, V5.20 delivers IBM Director platform management functions to run on a Linux on System z server, enabling System z to be a central system management site. In addition to the cross-platform management functions provided by the base IBM Director, z/VM Center feature is designed to further differentiate System z virtual servers under z/VM by helping to reduce the need for System z-specific administration skills and allowing you to manage those virtual servers similarly to other servers. If server capacity is needed, z/VM Center also allows Linux virtual servers under z/VM to be deployed on demand in a fast and repeatable fashion initiated from a simple and easy-to-use graphical user interface.
Expanding System z Virtualization Leadership
While IBM is beginning to incorporate and extend elements of mainframe virtualization concepts to UNIX* and Intel* systems, the System z mainframe will remain the premier platform for mission-critical, on demand computing. It continues to offer the leading edge of advanced system technology for IBM and is extending its capabilities to intelligently manage and secure virtualized resources across the heterogeneous enterprise.
Core competencies like data serving, virtualization, business continuity, advanced systems management, autonomic functionalities and the ability to process secure transactions continue to set the System z platform apart. The legendary security and reliability of the System z transaction environment, based on processor architecture, microcode and Hypervisor technologies, continues to provide an advanced level of virtualization, in terms of granularity, efficiency and dynamic management within an environment supporting diverse, integrated workloads. Unique I/O virtualization that supports the heritage of a reliable, fault-tolerant connectivity structure will continue to enhance the System z platform as it adopts emerging industry standards, architectural extensions and function to increase overall availability characteristics.
Learn about the virtualization technologies of IBM mainframe:
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