Linux Utilities for IBM System z

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Linux Utilities sections:

Security Networking Systems Management

The following Linux Utilities are available and have been tested ¹ on System z in a z/OS and Linux workload scenario. So far the Linux Utilities focus on infrastructure solutions in the Security, Systems Management and Networking area.

IBM System z can provide a security-rich environment, that has helped enable enterprises around the world to support their mission critical applications across all industries, including the financial industry where security requirements and regulations can present special challenges. The Linux Utilities offer additional options to assist in performing "commodity" security processing.

	StoneGate™ firewall by Stonesoft The StoneGate firewall can take many forms and offers several possible benefits when deployed on System z. A DMZ can be created in z/VM in support of z/OS or z/VSE workloads and the StoneGate firewall can help protect entry points originating from the Internet and intranet into the System z hardware. Each can be governed by a different firewall policy. Demanding environments with high availability requirements or those that require hot standby firewalls to meet peak loads can also take advantage of the StoneGate firewall.     Details for planning, installation, customization and operation of the StoneGate firewall can be found in the technical paper: Installing and using the Stonesoft StoneGate client (PDF, 206KB)     More information and documentation can be found at the StoneGate web page
	webApp.secure™ by webScurity Inc. The next generation of attacks may not target network infrastructure, but instead may take aim at common weaknesses in web servers and the applications themselves. Deploying webApp.secure in the System z environment is designed to harden web application code, z/OS, and WebSphere or other middleware, while helping to determine that when the transactions are validated the remaining flow can be protected in a security-rich environment.     Details for planning, installation, customization and operation of webApp.secure can be found in the technical paper: Installing and using the webScurity webApp.secure client (PDF, 184KB)     More information and documentation can be found at the webApp.secure web page
	IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSEAL Network and application security is important: managing the authentication and authorization of users is required. RACF in z/OS is designed to do this and can set security policies, support digital certificates, LDAP, MLS, and more. IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSEAL is a network authentication and resource management solution, providing capabilities to build single sign-on solutions for Web-based z/OS transactions.     Details for planning, installation, customization and operation of WebSEAL can be found in the technical paper: Installing and using Tivoli Access Manager for e-business WebSEAL (PDF, 1.02MB)     More information and documentation can be found at the IBM Tivoli Access Manager web page

IBM System z offers many wide-ranging and effective management solutions that have been designed to provide IT professionals with the ability to monitor, manage and automate the on demand data center environment.

OMEGAMON z/OS Management Console Many Tivoli systems management products, including OMEGAMON z/OS Management Console, Tivoli OMEGAMON XE for z/OS, and IBM Tivoli Monitoring share common management components. Hosting these components on Linux for System z, such as the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server, can offer several advantages, especially for z/OS customers looking to extend the business value of their mainframe investment to include enterprise-wide system monitoring.     Details for planning, installation, customization and operation of OMEGAMON z/OS Management Console can be found in the technical paper: Hosting Components of IBM OMEGAMON z/OS Management Console on Linux on System z (PDF, 327KB)     More information and documentation on the IBM Tivoli Management Services can be found at the OMEGAMON z/OS Management Console, OMEGAMON XE for z/OS and IBM Tivoli Monitoring web page

The primary networking infrastructure in use today is IP, still many critical business transactions use Systems Network Architecture (SNA) applications. Modernization of today's SNA environment does not mean rewriting applications; it means continuing to use the existing and reliable applications.

IBM Communication Controller for Linux on System z The Communication Controller on Linux (CCL) provide an alternative to consolidate SNA networking to the mainframe and support SNA transactions, including subarea SNA traffic, over an IP network. CCL is the first communication controller that is not new hardware; therefore, machine room floor space, power and a/c requirements of the 3745/3746 hardware are no longer needed for the CCL software solution.     Details on CCL can be found in the Redbook: IBM Communication Controller for Linux on System z V1.2.1 Implementation Guide (PDF, 4.5MB)     More information and documentation can be found at the IBM Communication Controller for Linux on System z web page

More infrastructure solutions and tools are available from IBM and other software vendors providing you more choices to help enhance your System z environment, see at the web page Software Developer Products for Linux on System z.

¹ While expected to execute on all System z hardware, the Linux Utilities have been tested by IBM only on selected System z hardware in a z/OS and Linux workload scenario. For the software versions, levels and/or releases, each of the Linux Utilities have unique requirements, all of which are documented in their individual write-ups. Testing is based on a controlled environment. No assurance is given that an individual user will achieve throughput or performance equivalent to that which may be set forth herein.