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SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE

An enterprise-class, highly reliable, scalable and secure open source server operating system, optimized for IBM z Systems and LinuxONE and built to power physical, virtual and cloud-based mission-critical workloads.

For nearly 20 years, businesses have trusted their mission-critical applications to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE. As your workloads increase, turn to the operating system that’s better optimized for the mainframe and LinuxONE systems than any other Linux OS – increasing uptime, reducing operating costs and accelerating innovation. The operating system provides state-of-the-art hardware exploitation of IBM Z and LinuxONE processors – for a much faster Linux system with enhanced compiler and toolchain to help boost your application performance.

More businesses choose SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE than any other Linux for running workloads on IBM mainframes. The reasons are engineering excellence and long-term business expertise that accelerate innovation. SLES is optimized for IBM mainframes like no other Linux operating system, ensuring you benefit from continuous improvement and innovation. Our longstanding development jointly with IBM means you can confidently rely not only on our business expertise, but also on true engineering excellence.

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Key Features

High performance and throughput with support for the latest technology advances in SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) and SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) across the full range of IBM Z and LinuxONE systems.

Increased security and data protection by supporting the latest cryptographic acceleration for secure-key operations and new hardware assists for fast data encryption.

Enhanced virtualization capabilities to boost resource utilization using KVM and z/VM, giving you the ability to create several virtual machines that run on a single processor and handle multiple workloads. This lets you reduce or eliminate the need to buy more hardware and lets you consolidate physical systems to shrink your data center footprint and simplify maintenance for your IT staff.

Advanced RAS capabilities increase reliability and reduce costs, providing extra dimensions of availability and ensuring the highest levels of security while reducing your planned and unplanned downtime and supporting the legendary RAS characteristics of IBM z Systems.

Improved operational efficiency with tools you won’t find anywhere else and by taking advantage of the networking and communications features for OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution, shared memory communications and enhanced HiperSockets support. Our systems management tools dramatically reduce tedious, complicated and labor-intensive maintenance.

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Tech Specs

HARDWARE

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE runs on the following platforms:

IBM z15 (8561)
IBM LinuxONE III (8561)
IBM z14 (3906)
IBM z14 ZR1 (3907)
IBM LinuxONE Emperor II (3906)
IBM LinuxONE Rockhopper II (3907)
IBM z13 (2964)
IBM z13s (2965)
IBM LinuxONE Emperor (2964)
IBM LinuxONE Rockhopper (2965)
IBM zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) (2827)
IBM zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12) (2828)

NETWORK CONNECTION

A network connection is needed to communicate with your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server system. This can be one or more of the following connections or network cards:

OSA Express Ethernet (including Fast and Gigabit Ethernet)
HiperSockets or Guest LAN
10 GBE, vSwitch
RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)

The following interfaces are still included, but are no longer supported:

CTC (or virtual CTC)
ESCON
IP network interface for IUCV

For installations under KVM make sure the following requirements are met to enable the VM Guest to access the network transparently:

The virtual network interface is connected to a host network interface
The host network interface is connected to a network in which the virtual server will participate

DISK SPACE

The disk requirements depend largely on the installation. Commonly, you need more space than the installation software itself needs to have a system that works properly. Minimal requirements for different selections are:

1.5 GB for text mode installation
2.5 GB for minimal system installation
3 GB for GNOME Desktop installation
4 GB for all patterns installation
10 GB recommended minimum (no Btrfs snapshots)
16 GB required minimum (with Btrfs snapshots)
32 GB recommended minimum (with Btrfs snapshots)

MEMORY

Different installation methods have different memory requirements during installation. After installation is complete, the system administrator may reduce memory to the desired size. SUSE recommends using:

1 GB for installation under z/VM or KVM
1 GB for installation under LPAR

For installation from NFS, FTP or SMB installation sources or whenever VNC is used, 512 MB of memory is required as a minimum. Otherwise, the installation attempt is likely to fail. Further note that the number of devices visible to the z/VM guest or LPAR image affects memory requirements. Installation with hundreds of accessible devices (even if unused for the installation) may require more memory.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Quick Start

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Webinars

Igniting Innovation with SUSE Linux on IBM z Systems and LinuxONE

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Managing Growth and Controlling Costs with SUSE Linux Enterprise and IBM z Systems

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Mission-critical Computing with Linux on IBM z Systems

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Success Stories

Banque du Liban

60% reduction in licensing costs for Oracle databases
Increases performance and availability of key business applications
Enables the bank to maximize utilization of its mainframe

Managed entire mainframe environment with just 1.5 FTEs
Delivered cloud-based services to other universities
Delivered outstanding performance for compute-intensive SAP applications

Cut software costs by approximately 50 percent
Increased administration efficiency; a team of three can manage 120 virtual environments
Improved business continuity by providing automated failover within seconds

Saves USD 2.5 million a year thanks to a huge increase in available processing power
Accommodates a 50 percent increase in business volumes with 40 percent fewer mainframe cores
Enables faster, easier system management with built-in configuration tools

Improves processing speeds and reduces database backup window by more than
Offers strong reliability for key financial applications and business systems
Supports a more open and flexible infrastructure model

Gained agility to quickly provide new services as needed
Maximised IT staff efficiency; managing the z/Linux infrastructure with less than one FTE
Ensured continuous availability for business critical applications