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IBM System z servers are supported by a multitude of operating systems, such as z/OS, z/OS.e, z/VSE, TPF, Linux on System z and the z/VM hypervisor. Visit the links below to learn more about them.

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Announcing z/VM virtualization technology leadership
IBM extends its virtualization technology leadership with the release of z/VM Version 5.4. The new release enables clients to exploit new capabilities of the System z10 platform. It also enables them to grow z/OS and Linux workloads by dynamically adding memory and CPUs, which helps reduce outages.

Free trial: z/VM Version 5.3 Evaluation Edition now available
IBM has made available zVM 5.3 Evaluation Edition, a free trial version of z/VM 5.3 that is intended to provide all IBM System z10 Enterprise Class customers the opportunity to evaluate z/VM. This no-charge license allows new z/VM customers to familiarize themselves with z/VM virtualization technology on the System z10 EC. The z/VM Evaluation Edition can be used for proofs-of-concept as well as to evaluate its effectiveness and robustness as well as all the capabilities of z/VM.

Announcing z/VSE innovations

z/VSE V4.2 addresses the needs of VSE clients with growing workloads. The release empowers innovative clients adding new Linux applications to the same IBM System z10 and z9 mainframe that also runs their production z/VSE applications.

Operating systems for IBM mainframes

z/OS z/OS is designed to deliver the highest qualities of service for enterprise transactions and data, and extends these qualities to new applications using the latest software technologies. It offers a highly secure, scalable, high performance base on which to deploy SOA-enabled applications using Internet and Java™ technologies, designed to provide a comprehensive and diverse application execution environment coupled with a highly secure and resilient enterprise data store. z/OS.e V1.8 is the last release of z/OS.e. It is no longer orderable. IBM plans to withdraw service for z/OS.e V1.8 in September 2009.



Linux on System z Linux on System z combines the advantages of the IBM mainframes with the flexibility and open standards of the Linux operating systems. Linux can play a major role in the simplification of the IT infrastructure—not only because it helps simplify business integration through the use of open and industry standards, but also because it supports deployment of new solutions more quickly and accelerates time to market.



z/VM The z/VM hypervisor is designed to help clients extend the business value of mainframe technology across the enterprise by integrating applications and data while providing exceptional levels of availability, security, and operational ease. z/VM virtualization technology is designed to allow the capability for clients to run hundreds to thousands of Linux servers on a single mainframe running with other System z operating systems, such as z/OS®, It also enables System z to be used as a large-scale Linux-only enterprise server solution using z/VM's proven capabilities to provide the Linux guests with the mainframe's powerful resources. z/VM Version 5.4 can also help to enhance productivity by hosting non-Linux workloads running on other operating systems, such as z/OS, z/VSE™ and z/TPF.



TPF TPF remains the "high volume transaction processing" (HVTP) platform of choice for many of IBM's largest customers for many years. These customers cover several industries, including airlines, lodging, finance, health, and travel.



z/VSE z/VSE, the follow-on product for customers with VSE/ESA installed, is designed to exploit selected IBM System z and IBM Systems Storage technology and help address the needs of VSE clients. z/VSE continues the focus on interoperability. Learn more about the z/VSE V4.1, z/Architecture, new pricing metric and encryption enhancement.