Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL)

The attractively priced IFL processor enables you to purchase additional processing capacity exclusively for Linux workloads, without affecting the MSU rating or the IBM System z model designation. This means that an IFL will not increase charges for System z software running on general purpose (standard) processors in the server.

The IFL hardware feature is isolated from general use. It is supported by z/VM, the Linux operating system and Linux applications, and cannot run other IBM operating systems.

As part of IBM’s commitment to deliver on-going price/performance improvement (founded in the Mainframe Charter) and to help increase the economic value to our clients we are taking actions to reduce the cost of deploying and growing new workloads on System z.

Our commitment is to continually assess our client needs and industry conditions and to make changes as required. Our goal is to assure we continue to provide highly competitive alternatives for new workloads being deployed on System z.

Leverage the ability of Linux on System z to run many distributed workloads and consolidate x86 processor cores to unleash significant IT cost savings opportunities:

• People Costs – increase the productivity of the IT staff
• Software Costs – reduce software license fees by consolidating a large number of virtual machines per System z core
• Energy Costs – dramatic reduction in power usage
• Facilities Costs – reduce floor space with dense server consolidation on System z
• Networking Costs – consolidate networks inside the box too

The IFL is available for the IBM System z10 Business Class (z10 BC), the System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC), IBM System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC), IBM System z9 Business Class (z9 BC), and zSeries 990 (z990).

The IFL has the same functionality as a general purpose processor on a System z server. Support for On/Off Capacity on Demand (O/O CoD), Capacity Upgrade on Demand for the nondisruptive addition of one or more IFLs, and Capacity BackUp (CBU) for emergency situations.

HiperSockets™ (internal high speed communication path between logical partitions in the same System z) can be used for communication between Linux images, or Linux and other operating system images on the same System z system.

The IFL provides a full capacity processor, independent of the capacity of the general purpose processors; IFLs are designed to operate asynchronously with general purpose processors.

IFLs are managed by PR/SM™ in logical partition with dedicated or shared processors. The implementation of an IFL requires a Logical Partition (LPAR) definition, following normal LPAR activation procedure, and an LPAR defined with an IFL cannot be shared with a general purpose processor.

IFLs are ordered as hardware features, and they are unique to System z. The number of orderable IFL features varies by the server model and configuration.

• Platform for virtualization and server consolidation.
• Linux platform to provide the security, flexibility, scalability, resiliency and integration needed to respond to the demands of this dynamic marketplace.
• Platform to deliver enhanced economics in the enterprise.

The dedicated IBM System z Linux server
A dedicated System z Linux server is available, meaning that all processors are IFLs on this server. A dedicated System z Linux server is ideal for the consolidation of work typically handled by UNIX and Microsoft Windows servers; it is offering a total solution for the infrastructure simplification on Linux..

The pictures below illustrates that adding one or more IFLs to the processing capacity has no effect on the System z model designation. In this example, a traditional System z environment with 3 general purpose processors, adds additional workspace and software in an IFL but still reports its System z capacity. Consequently, executing Linux workload on the IFL does not result in any increase in monthly license charges for the IBM operating systems or IBM software running on the general purpose processor.

Moreover, your software vendor may be among those software vendors who have adopted this IBM model for the hardware workspace dedicated to Linux. To determine if the vendor software charges for existing System z applications on your System z servers is unaffected by adding the IFL to the server, please contact your software vendor.

z/VM, most IBM Linux middleware products, and most vendor software products are priced per processor according to the System z IBM International Program License Agreement (IPLA). IPLA products have a one-time-charge (OTC) and an annual (optional) maintenance charge, called Subscription & Support.

The IFL price for the z10 EC servers is now $75,000 USD^{2, 3}. The IFL price for the z10 BC servers is $47,500². In addition to the price reductions on the z10 EC, z10 BC and z9 BC, all IFLs should continue to deliver a significant price/performance that comes with successive generations of technology and capacity improvements.

Aside from the reduced prices for the IFL on the z10 EC, z10 BC and z9 BC, the $125K² price of the IFL remains the same for all other System z servers. However, since the performance of the IFL engine increased compared to previous generations, you get a price/performance improvement for Linux workload with each successive generation of technology.

Some environments may realize lower and other environments higher improvements, depending on the z10 server model being upgraded.

Contact Information
For more information, please contact your IBM sales representative or IBM Business Partner or request a quote. Visit us at ibm.com/systems/z/linux