Experiences with Oracle for Linux on zSeries

12 Experiences with Oracle for Linux on zSeries

2.1 Deployment options

The major decisions to be made when deploying Linux/390 are:

򐂰 Should the Linux machine images be guests under z/VM, or should they be

run natively in a logical partition provided by the Processor

Resource/Systems Manager (PR/SM) feature available on zSeries

processors?

򐂰 Should the Linux images be run on the zSeries processor general purpose

CPs, or using IFL CPs?

򐂰 Should we use the SuSE or Red Hat distribution of Linux?

򐂰 What network topology should we use to connect the Linux machine images

to the network?

򐂰 How much CPU and memory resource should be allocated to the Linux

machines?

2.1.1 z/VM or LPAR?

zSeries processors have a feature called Processor Resource/Systems Manager

(PR/SM) which allows the z/800 or z/900 processor to run in Logical Partitioned

(LPAR) mode. In this mode, the zSeries processor can be divided up into up to

15 logical partitions (LPs). Each of these LPs can run a separate operating

system, such as z/OS, z/VM or Linux. The PR/SM feature isolates the different

LPs so they run completely independent from one another.

z/VM is an operating system that provides support for multiple

virtual machines,

each with their own operating system. The virtualization capability of z/VM allows

you to run an effectively unlimited number of operating system images on the

same z/900 or z/800 machine. By providing virtual machine facilities, z/VM also

simplifies the management of multiple guest operating systems. See

z/VM

General Information,

GC24-5991 for more information on z/VM. The redbook

Large Scale Linux Deployment,

SG24-6824 also has a chapter that provides a

basic introduction to z/VM.

Deploying in a logical partition

LPAR mode supports a maximum of 15 logical partitions. Each of these LPs can

run a different operating system. Many customers will already run their zSeries

processor in LPAR mode to support z/OS or OS/390 images for their normal

work. It is not that difficult to add another logical partition to run Linux.