z/VM
z/VM V5.4 is designed to extend its System z virtualization
technology leadership by exploiting more capabilities of
System z servers including:
• Greater fl exibility, with support for the new z/VM-mode
logical partitions, allowing all System z processor-types
(CPs, IFLs, zIIPs, zAAPs, and ICFs) to be defi ned in the
same z/VM LPAR for use by various guest operating sys-
tems
• Capability to install Linux on System z as well as z/VM
from the HMC on a System z10 that eliminates the need
for any external network setup or a physical connection
between an LPAR and the HMC
• Enhanced physical connectivity by exploiting all OSA-
Express3 ports, helping service the network and reduc-
ing the number of required resources.
• Dynamic memory upgrade support that allows real
memory to be added to a running z/VM system. With z/VM
V5.4, memory can be added non-disruptively to individual
guests that support the dynamic memory reconfi guration
architecture. Systems can now be confi gured to reduce
the need to re-IPL z/VM. Processors, channels, OSA
adapters, and now memory can be dynamically added to
both the z/VM system itself and to individual guests.
The operation and management of virtual machines
has been enhanced with new systems management
APIs, improvements to the algorithm for distributing a
guest’s CPU share among virtual processors, and usability
enhancements for managing a virtual network.
Security capabilities of z/VM V5.4 provide an upgraded
LDAP server at the functional level of the z/OS V1.10 IBM
Tivoli
®
Directory Server for z/OS and enhancements to the
RACF Security Server to create LDAP change log entries
in response to updates to RACF group and user profi les,
including user passwords and password phrases. The z/VM
SSL server now operates in a CMS environment, instead of
requiring a Linux distribution, thus allowing encryption ser-
vices to be deployed more quickly and helping to simplify
installation, service, and release-to-release migration.
The z/VM hypervisor is designed to help clients extend the
business value of mainframe technology across the enter-
prise by integrating applications and data while providing
exceptional levels of availability, security, and operational
ease. z/VM virtualization technology is designed to provide
the capability for clients to run hundreds to thousands of
Linux servers in a single mainframe, together with other
System z operating systems such as z/OS, or as a large-
scale Linux-only enterprise-server solution. z/VM V5.4 can
also help to improve productivity by hosting non-Linux
workloads such as z/OS, z/VSE, and z/TPF.
August 5, 2008, IBM announced z/VM 5.4. Enhancements
in z/VM 5.4 include:
• Increased fl exibility with support for new z/VM-mode
logical partitions
• Dynamic addition of memory to an active z/VM LPAR
by exploiting System z dynamic storage-reconfi guration
capabilities
• Enhanced physical connectivity by exploiting all OSA-
Express3 ports
• Capability to install Linux on System z from the HMC
without requiring an external network connection
• Enhancements for scalability and constraint relief
• Operation of the SSL server in a CMS environment
• Systems management enhancements for Linux and
other virtual images
For the most current information on z/VM, refer to the z/VM
Web site at http://www.vm.ibm.com.
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