Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL)

Reduce licensing costs with IFL
The Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) is a processor dedicated to Linux workloads on IBM System z servers. The IFL is supported by the z/VM virtualization software and the Linux operating system; it cannot run other IBM operating systems1.

The attractively priced IFL processor enables you to add processing capacity exclusively for Linux workloads: consolidations, re-deployments and new deployments.

The faster speed of the IFL on the new zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) enables you to host more virtual servers per processor core than other server platforms. Combined with the up to 101 user-configurable IFLs, the total Linux processing capacity has enormously increased with the zEC12.

Improve your IT economics by consolidating, re-deploying existing and deploying new workloads on zEC12 and reduce expenses in the areas of operational efforts, energy, floor space and software license fees. An zEC12 solution can

  • Reduce energy costs by up to 80 percent and can
  • Lower overall solution acquisition costs by up to 60 percent compared to x86 alternatives2

The improved consolidation ratio and the improved capacity of the zEC12 provides up to 16 percent improvement in price/performance for Linux2 and enables significant savings.

Highlights

  • IT optimization and cloud computing on zEnterprise can deliver enhanced economics in the enterprise
  • Full functionality of a general purpose System z processor and operating on full capacity
  • z/VM4 virtualization software, most IBM middleware and many software vendor products that run on Linux on System z are priced per processor
  • Performance improvement for Linux workload with each successive generation of technology
  • Linux workload on the IFL does not result in any increased IBM software charges for traditional System z operating systems and middleware

The dedicated IBM Linux Enterprise Server

The IBM Enterprise Linux Server is a dedicated System z Linux server – a Linux-only server, meaning that all processors are IFLs on this server.

The IBM Enterprise Linux Server builds on the robust and reliable virtualization capabilities available with IBM System z servers and z/VM virtualization software to greatly enhance the economic attractiveness of hosting Linux workloads in a single, easy-to-scale, easy-to-mange system. The Enterprise Linux Server includes processor cores, memory, I/O connectivity, and z/VM software with solution pricing that helps accelerate return on investment.

With the virtualization capabilities of the Enterprise Linux Server, your business can consolidate applications and servers, build clusters that can share system resources at extreme levels of utilization, relocate workloads nondisruptively and provide a more flexible and dynamic IT infrastructure that will help you achieve superior levels of service and greater control in managing the growth of your business.

The Enterprise Linux Server provides an ideal platform for enterprise-class IT optimization and cloud computing.

IFL Attributes

  • Same functionality as a general purpose processor on a System z server.
  • A full capacity processor, independent of the capacity of the general purpose processors.
  • Designed to operate asynchronously with general purpose processors.
  • Support for On/Off Capacity on Demand (O/O CoD), Capacity Upgrade on Demand for the non-disruptive addition of one or more IFLs, and Capacity BackUp (CBU) for emergency situations.
  • HiperSockets™(5) can be used for communication between Linux images, or Linux and other operating system images on the same System z system.
  • z/VM virtualization software, 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.
  • 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.
  • Supported by the current z/VM virtualization software versions, including Version 6 Release 2, which provides the z/VM Single System Image feature and Live Guest Relocation capabilities.
  • Available for the IBM zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12), IBM zEnterprise 114 (z114), IBM zEnterprise 196 (z196), IBM System z10 Business Class (z10 BC), System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC) and the IBM Enterprise Linux Server.
  • Orderable as System z hardware feature. The number of orderable IFL features varies by the server model and configuration.

No additional IBM software charges for traditional environment

In this example a traditional System z environment with three 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.

Traditional System z environment – business as usual

  • Typical z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE environment on general purpose processors

One IFL added

  • Software cost remains the same for traditional System z environment on general purpose processors
  • Cost for IFL
  • Software cost for z/VM and Linux distribution*

Multiple IFLs and IBM software added

  • Software cost remains the same for traditional System z environment
  • Cost for multiple IFLs
  • Software cost for z/VM and Linux distribution*
  • Software cost for IBM middleware (z/VM, DB2 Connect and WebSphere), processor-based pricing

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.

The picture below shows an example with many IFLs and different workloads running concurrently on Linux guests with z/VM, native Linux, z/OS and z/VSE, communicating via HiperSockets, on one physical System z server.

* Open source applications such as Apache and Samba included in cost for the Linux distribution.

1 The IFL may also be used for execution of the OpenSolaris™ operating system. Solaris and OpenSolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

2 Distributed server comparison is based on preliminary IBM internal measurements and projections and subject to change. Given there are multiple factors in this analysis such as utilization rates, application type, local pricing, etc., savings may vary by user.

3 z/VM V4/V5/V6 is priced per processor.

4 HiperSockets are an internal high speed communication path between logical partitions in the same System z server.

Special offers

Learn more