Skip to main content

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

The first time you sign into developerWorks, a profile is created for you. Select information in your profile (name, country/region, and company) is displayed to the public and will accompany any content you post. You may update your IBM account at any time.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

The first time you sign in to developerWorks, a profile is created for you, so you need to choose a display name. Your display name accompanies the content you post on developerworks.

Please choose a display name between 3-31 characters. Your display name must be unique in the developerWorks community and should not be your email address for privacy reasons.

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

Select a language:

  • Close [x]
  • Close [x]

Development stream - Recommended

 

Tab navigation

The developerWorks 'Development stream' describes Linux on System z contributions and functionality against recent upstream kernel and other upstream Linux components which can be used to build Linux on System z distributions.

Overview 'Development stream'

The developerWorks 'Development stream' describes Linux on System z contributions and functionality against recent upstream kernel and other upstream Linux components which can be used to build Linux on System z distributions.

Currently, the 'Development stream' consists of and has been tested with:

  • kernel 3.3
  • Toolchain:
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 7.2, see http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/download/
    • strace 4.5.18, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/strace/
    • crash 5.1.0 or later - for latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/
    • Note that since kernel 2.6.35, lkcdutils (LKCD) is no longer supported for the 'Development stream' and therefore no more kerntypes-patches are provided

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

Back to top

2012-03-31 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 3.3

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 3.3 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 3.3 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2012-03-31 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 3.3 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 3.3:
    • Increase the maximum amount of physical memory a 64 bit kernel can utilize from 4 TB to 64 TB.
    • Allow to configure multiple point-to-point NETIUCV interfaces between your Linux on System z instance and another z/VM guest.
    • The DASD device driver can now detect mis-configuration and prevent data corruption, using a checking method which uses the unique identifier UID to detect a mis-cabling.
    • Add event interface to the System z hardware sampling module.
  • with s390-tools 1.17.1:
    • bugfixes and minor changes

Back to top

2012-02-29 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 3.2

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 3.2 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 3.2 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2012-02-29 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 3.2 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 3.2:
    • Support for the following features of IBM zEnterprise z114 and z196:
      • FCP end-to-end data consistency checking (T10 DIF and DIX)
      • FCP hardware data router
      • HiperSockets Completion Queue (via AF_IUCV)
    • The Linux kdump framework is integrated into the already available System z stand-alone dump tools and shutdown actions framework.
  • with s390-tools 1.17.0:
    • dump tools exploiting kdump framework
    • lsqeth supports HiperSockets Completion Queue

Back to top

2011-12-09 Technology Study: Integrating Applications with Linux on zEnterprise

This developerWorks update provides the experimental applint package (0.2-33) as a technology study for use on zEnterprise (z196, z114), integrating x86 environments running on zBX into Linux on System z, providing

If you have questions or should you be interested in formal support, please contact: APPLINT@de.ibm.com (monitored on a best can do basis).

Back to top

2011-11-30 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 3.1

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 3.1 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 3.1 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2011-11-30 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 3.1 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 3.1:
    • Extended DASD statistics to allow for a more detailed analysis of DASD I/O operations via debugfs, specifically for PAV and High Performance FICON (HPF).
  • with s390-tools 1.16.0:
    • The new dasdstat tool configures and formats the debugfs-based DASD statistics data provided with kernel 3.1.
  • with the development release of "Optimized algebra math library" libatlas 3.9.52:
    • Support and performance of the "Automatically Tuned Linear Algebra Software" (ATLAS) has been improved for System z and can be used to significantly accelerate business intelligence applications.
  • with Valigrind 3.7.0:
    • Support for Linux on System z is available for memory debugging.
  • with libica 2.1.1 (part of openCryptoki):
    • various bugfixes and other updates.
    • Note: libica is a library for accessing IBM System z crypto hardware functions in clear key mode, available from:
      http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencryptoki/files/libica/libica-2.1.1/

Back to top

2011-08-31 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 3.0

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 3.0 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 3.0 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages
  • libica Programmer's Reference

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2011-08-31 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 3.0 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 3.0:
    • New interface to identify the System z hardware on which the Linux instance is running (CPC name and network name), when running in an LPAR
    • Exploitation of hardware-accelerated crypto algorithms available with z196/z114
    • To improve problem determination the qeth driver now requests a hardware trace when the device driver or the hardware detect an error, plus new user command interface to capture a hardware trace
    • Note: Starting with kernel 3.0, Data execution protection support is removed
  • with s390-tools 1.15.0:
    • The cpuplugd daemon now supports more advanced control of the cmm memory balloon and allowsto access previous data (history)
  • with libica 2.1.0 (part of openCryptoki):
    • now supports new modes of operation supported by Message-Security Assist Extension 4, which is available for System z since z196
    • Note: libica is a library for accessing IBM System z crypto hardware functions in clear key mode, available from: http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencryptoki/files/libica/libica-2.1.0/

Back to top

2011-07-12 Update related to IBM zEnterprise System Announcements

The new IBM zEnterprise z114 announced with the 2011-07-12 U.S. Hardware Announcement Letter 111-136 "IBM zEnterprise 114 - Freedom by design" and the enhancements to z196 announced with U.S. Hardware Announcement Letter 111-121 "IBM zEnterprise 196 enhancements deliver faster access to data" are supported by Linux on System z.

The Technical details page has been updated to reflect the z114.

Please refer to IBM tested Linux environments to see the IBM support for your distribution.

Back to top

2011-06-30 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.39

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.39 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.39 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2011-06-30 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.39 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

Back to top

2011-05-19 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.38

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.38 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.38 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Using the Dump Tools
  • How to use FC-attached SCSI devices with Linux on System z
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2011-05-19 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.38 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

Back to top

2011-01-27 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.37

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.37 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.37 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • How to use FC-attached SCSI devices with Linux on System z
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2011-01-27 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.37 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 2.6.37:
    • CPU node affinity support for z196, allowing the Linux scheduler to optimize its decisions based on the z196 topology
    • The dasd device driver now has an API to query DASD reservation status
    • The qeth device driver and qdio now support the standard Linux kernel network interface NAPI ("New API")
    • The qeth device driver now handles tagged frames with VLAN-ID 0, with or without priority information (VLAN assisted null tagging)
    • The behavior of the zfcp device driver is now similar to other Linux SCSI drivers in that FCP subchannels running in NPIV mode are now scanned automatically by the SCSI midlayer
  • with s390-tools 1.12.0:
    • New tool hyptop provides a dynamic real-time view of a System z hypervisor environment (z/VM or LPAR) and shows for example CPU and memory consumption of active LPARs or z/VM guests
    • cmsfs-fuse now has a configuration file, to allow specifying for which file types automatic translation from EBCIDC to ASCII based should be done automatically

Back to top

2010-10-22 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.36

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.36 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.36 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Using the Dump Tools
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2010-10-22 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.36 optional patch for the message catalog.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 2.6.36:
    • Tunable default grace period for missing interrupts in DASD provides a user interface to specify the timeout for missing interrupts for standard I/O operations
    • Logging I/O subchannel status information is triggered by zfcp In case of severe errors for an FCP channel to provide a set of log entries with I/O subchannel status information
    • Support for HBA_GetEventBuffer() (events handling) in zfcp HBA API 2.1
  • with s390-tools 1.11.0:
    • cmsfs-fuse now allows to add, delete, and modify CMS files under Linux
    • zipl automatically builds and installs a boot menu including all IPL sections listed in the configuration file when the keyword "defaultauto" is specified in the defaultboot section of a zipl.conf file

Back to top

2010-09-16 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.35

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.35 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.35 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Using the Dump Tools
  • How to use FC-attached SCSI devices with Linux on System z
  • How to Improve Performance with PAV
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2010-09-16 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

  • kernel 2.6.35 (upgraded)
  • Toolchain:
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 6.8, see http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/download/
    • strace 4.5.18, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/strace/
    • crash 5.0.1 or later - for latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/
    • Note that as of kernel 2.6.35, lcrash (from lkcdutils / LKCD) is no longer supported for the 'Development stream'

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.35 optional patch for the message catalog.

Note that as of kernel 2.6.35, lcrash (from lkcdutils / LKCD) is no longer supported for the 'Development stream' and therefore no more kerntypes-patches are provided.

Features of this update:

  • with kernel 2.6.35:
    • Dynamic PAV toleration -- Tolerate dynamic Parallel Access Volume (PAV) changes for base PAV; see How to Improve Performance with PAV (kernel 2.6.35) for details
    • Breaking-event-address for user space programs -- requires hardware capabilities available with z10 or later
    • Support in qeth for new CHPIDs OSX and OSM introduced with z196:
      • OSM for connectivity to intranode management network (INMN) from z196 to Unified Resource Manager
      • OSX for connectivity and access control to the intraensemble data network (IEDN) from z196 to Unified Resource Manager functions
    • Support in qeth for Offloading Outbound Checksumming to the OSA adapter
    • Toleration for Optimized Latency Mode (OLM) in qeth
  • with s390-tools 1.10.0:
    • Support in znetconf for configuring OSX and OSM CHPIDs
  • with zfcp HBA API 2.1:
    • Additional features of the HBA API standard:
      • FCP pass-through support
      • events handling support
    • Two new utilities:
      • zfcp_ping -- sends a request to a specified destination and expects an answer to verify the existence of that destination
      • zfcp_show -- provides almost all available information about the connected SAN, including all involved interconnect elements (e.g. switches), the number and status of their ports and a potentially connected node port.
  • with snIPL 2.1.9:
    • snipl --scsidump for LPAR: new snipl option to issue a SCSI dump command for the target LPAR
    • snipl --stop for LPAR: new snipl option to stop all CPUs of the target LPAR. Stopping the CPUs is a prerequisite for taking a dump on DASD with snipl --load

Back to top

2010-07-22 Update related to 'IBM zEnterprise System' Announcement

The IBM zEnterprise 196 (z196) was announced 2010-07-22, see IBM U.S. Hardware Announcement Letter 110-170 "The IBM zEnterprise System -- A new dimension in computing", and is supported by Linux on System z.

The following features of the z196 are supported by the 'Development Stream':

  • Third subchannel set
  • Up to 32 HiperSockets

Support for the new OSA CHPID types OSX and OSM is accepted upstream for integration into kernel 2.6.35 -- appropriate s390-tools updates will be published here with the kernel 2.6.35 related developerWorks update.

Note that the 'Technical Details' page has been updated to reflect the z196.

Back to top

2010-06-30 Documentation for kernel 2.6.34

Back to top

2010-05-28 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.34

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.34 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.34 will be provided shortly.

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2010-05-28 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

  • kernel 2.6.34 (upgraded)
  • Toolchain:
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 6.8, see http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/download/
    • strace 4.5.18, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/strace/
    • lkcdutils (LKCD) SVN HEAD, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/lkcd/
    • crash 5.0.1 or later - for latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/ (upgraded)

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.34 optional patches for:

  • kerntypes
  • message catalog

Furthermore, a bugfix is available with snipl 2.1.8. Note that the z/VM System Management Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) used for snIPL for VM are no longer available with z/VM Version 6.

Features of this update:

  • GCC 4.5.0 and other changes in toolchain.
  • qeth supports the HiperSockets Network Traffic Analyzer (HS NTA, also known as 'HiperSockets Sniffer') is a feature available on latest z10, designed to trace HiperSockets network traffic for problem isolation and resolution purposes (see IBM U.S. Hardware Announcement Letter 109-678). lsqeth (in s390-tools 1.9.0) shows this as 'sniffer'.
  • When running Linux on System z as a VM-guest:
    • dasd now detects read-only devices and the respective Linux block device is set to read-only,
    • z/VM CP special messages can be delivered to user space as udev events (uevents), using the new kernel device driver smsgiucv_app.
  • The kernel image file can now be compressed (to save disk space).
  • Introduce support for converting Linux on System z dumps into the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF):
    • Previously, Linux on System z dumps were only available in s390-format or LKCD-format.
    • With kernel 2.6.34, zgetdump (in s390-tools 1.9.0), recent binutils, and recent crash, zgetdump can now read and write ELF dumps.
    • Note that multi-volume tape dump support is no longer available.
  • More features available with s390-tools 1.9.0:
  • With the new cmsfs-fuse command, files stored on a z/VM CMS disk can be read. The cmsfs-fuse file system translates the record-based EDF file system on the CMS disk to UNIX semantics. It is possible to mount a CMS disk and use common Linux tools to access the files on the disk.
  • New commands lsmem (to display the online status of the available memory) and chmem (to set hotplug memory online or offline).
  • New command ttyrun safely starts getty programs and prevents respawns through the init program, if a terminal is not available.

Back to top

2010-03-12 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.33

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.33 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.33 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Using the Dump Tools
  • How to use FC-attached SCSI devices with Linux on System z
  • How to use Execute-in-Place Technology with Linux on z/VM
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2010-03-12 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.33 optional patches for:

  • kerntypes
  • message catalog

Furthermore, a bugfix is available with snipl 2.1.7.

Features of this update:

Note that you can now use Extended Address Volume (EAV) support, also known as "large volume support", provided as patch for kernel 2.6.29 (2009-05-08), for Linux on System z running as a z/VM-guest if you are using z/VM 5.4 or z/VM 6.1 with the PTFs for APARs VM64709 (CP) and VM64711 (CMS).

Back to top

2009-12-11 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.32

This developerWorks update documents upstream contributions to kernel 2.6.32 from the Linux on System z team.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.32 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • How to use FC-attached SCSI devices with Linux on System z
  • Using the Dump Tools
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2009-12-11 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

  • kernel 2.6.32 (upgraded)
  • Toolchain:
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 6.8, see http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/download/
    • strace 4.5.18, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/strace/
    • lkcdutils (LKCD) SVN HEAD, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/lkcd/
    • crash, latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.32 optional patches for:

  • kerntypes
  • message catalog

The latest IBM System z10 -- see IBM U.S. Hardware Announcement Letter 109-678 -- introduces:

  • Crypto Express3 Accelerator (CEX3A) and Crypto Express3 Coprocessor (CEX3C)
    • With kernel 2.6.32:
      • CEX3A is supported as CEX2A (toleration)
      • CEX3C is supported as CEX2C (toleration)
        Note that CEX3C does not support secure key in toleration mode.
    • Exploitation of Crypto Express3 in zcrypt will be integrated into future kernel levels
  • HiperSockets Network Traffic Analyzer (HiperSockets NTA)
    • Exploitation of HiperSockets NTA will be integrated into future kernel levels

Back to top

2009-09-23 Updated 'Development stream' with enhancements - kernel 2.6.31

Starting with kernel 2.6.31, Linux on System z will document upstream contributions on these 'Development stream' pages triggered by the release of new kernel-levels.

Documentation updates matching kernel 2.6.31 are available here for the following Linux on System z manuals:

  • Device Drivers, Features, and Commands
  • Kernel Messages

The 'Development stream' pages for Technical details and Restrictions have been updated, too.

The 2009-09-23 developerWorks update for the 'Development stream' documents new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components which have been tested with:

  • kernel 2.6.31 (upgraded)
  • Toolchain:
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 6.8, see http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/download/
    • strace 4.5.18, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/strace/
    • lkcdutils (LKCD) SVN HEAD, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/lkcd/
    • crash, latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

Note that snIPL 2.1.6 with enhancements is available, too.

The main feature of kernel-2.6.31 from the Linux on System z perspective is the new support to suspend and resume Linux instances running in LPAR or as a z/VM-guest:

  • When Linux is suspended, data is written to a swap partition.
  • The resume process uses this data to make Linux continue from where it left off when it was suspended.
  • A suspended Linux instance does not require memory or processor cycles; it 'hibernates'.

The Linux on System z 'Development stream' provides the kernel 2.6.31 optional patches for

Starting with the kernel 2.6.31 base 'Development stream' there is no longer an optional feature patch for cmm2 delivering the 'full' cmm2-functionality.
(As the 'basic' cmm2-functionality is available in recent kernels, the cmma IPL-option is still there.)

Back to top

2009-09-18 Upgrades

The 2009-09-18 developerWorks update delivers:

  • s390-tools 1.8.2 which replaces s390-tools 1.8.1 - providing the following new tools:
    • cio_ignore allows querying and modifying the contents of the CIO device driver blacklist
    • znetconf lists and configures network devices for System z network adapters
    • as well as bugfixes and other enhancements

Back to top

2009-05-08 Updated 'Development stream' with major enhancements - kernel 2.6.29

The 2009-05-08 developerWorks update enhances the 'Development stream' significantly with major new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components.

Currently, the 'Development stream' consists of and has been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The kernel 2.6.29 based 'Development stream' has all features of the kernel 2.6.27 based 'Development stream', except for Enhanced Device Driver Packing (EDDP) - EDDP support has been removed as there are no performance benefits.

New features in the 'Development stream'

Back to top

2008-11-25 Updated 'Development stream' with major enhancements

The 2008-11-25 developerWorks update enhances the 'Development stream' significantly with major new functionality provided for recent upstream Linux components.

Currently, the 'Development stream' consists of and has been tested with:

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The deprecation statements for "October 2005 stream" regarding CLAW, CTC, and IUCV network devices are not documented for the 'Development stream'; however IBM does not recommend these deprecated functions for Linux on System z distributions based on the 'Development stream'.

With the introduction of "FCP automatic remote storage port discovery" (kernel 2.6.27 - upstream) and the new lsluns-tool (s390-tools 1.8.0), there is now no need for a SAN Discovery Tool as available for the "October 2005 stream" (and previously not available for the 'Development stream').

Note that the FCP adapter statistics (on IBM System z9 or later) and the zfcp statistics have been reworked and are now available using recent zfcp (kernel 2.6.27 - patch 01), the new ziomon-tool (s390-tools 1.8.0), and can be retrieved using blktrace-1.0.0 (http://brick.kernel.dk/snaps/).

New features in the 'Development stream'

  • Exploitation of features introduced with IBM System z10:
  • Exploitation of features introduced with IBM System z9:
    • Toolchain support for z9 instructions with:
    • Toolchain support for decimal floating point (DFP) with:
      • GCC 4.3.2
      • binutils 2.18.50.0.7
      • Use GDB 6.8 to be able to debug binaries using decimal floating point numbers.
      • Note that there is currently no glibc-support for decimal floating point.
    • Server time protocol (STP) support for clock synchronization (kernel 2.6.27 - upstream)
    • HiperSockets IPv6 support for Layer 3 - formerly, IPv6 support was only available when using HiperSockets Layer 2 (kernel 2.6.27 - patch 01)
  • Exploitation of other IBM System z features:
    • Enable to attach and use standby memory that is configured for a logical partition or z/VM guest (requires z/VM 5.4 plus the PTF for APAR VM64524) (kernel 2.6.27 - upstream)
    • Dynamic memory attach/detach (requires z/VM 5.4 plus the PTF for APAR VM64524) (kernel 2.6.27 - upstream)
  • Exploitation of z/VM 5.4 features:
    • Expanded shared memory addressability: Linux on System z can now use Discontiguous Saved Segments (DCSS) above 2047 MB (2G) of virtual storage (kernel 2.6.27 - patch 01)
    • Capability to dump Linux guests to SCSI disks: Requires zfcpdump-support for memory holes because z/VM allows to have discontiguous memory (s390-tools 1.8.0)
  • Other enhancements:
  • Optional kernel patches which (although unlikely to be accepted in upstream kernel) are recommended for all distributions which are built based on the 'Development stream':
    • Kernel types (kerntypes) enabling dump analysis via lcrash (kernel 2.6.27 - kerntypes)
    • Collaborative Memory Management Stage II (cmm2) useful when running as a guest of z/VM 5.2 or later (kernel 2.6.27 - cmm2)
    • Kernel message catalog enabling to build man pages with explanatory text to help understand the messages issued by the device drivers (s390) specific to Linux on System z (kernel 2.6.27 - message catalog)

Back to top

2008-11-18 Links to IBM announcement letters

Linux on System z is supported on:

Note that Communication Controller for Linux on System z (CCL) Version 1.3 is available -- see IBM U.S. Software Announcement Letter 208-377 and the CCL homepage.

Back to top

2008-05-16 Upgrades

The 2008-05-16 developerWorks update delivers:

Back to top

2008-05-07 Introducing the 'Development stream'

The 2008-05-07 developerWorks update introduces the 'Development stream', which is based on recent upstream Linux packages - as opposed to the former streams that were based on backlevel components.

Currently, the 'Development stream' consists of and has been tested with:

  • kernel 2.6.25
  • Toolchain:
    • GCC 4.1.3
      (Note that tests with gcc 4.2 were also successful.)
    • GNU Binutils - binutils 2.17.50.0.12
    • GNU C Library - glibc 2.5.0
  • utilities:
  • debug tools:
    • GDB 6.6
    • strace 4.5.15
    • lkcdutils (LKCD) SVN HEAD, see: http://sourceforge.net/projects/lkcd/
    • crash, latest available, see: http://people.redhat.com/anderson/

For other System z relevant Linux components refer to Other packages.

The 'Development stream' has all features of the "October 2005 stream" with the following exception:

  • SAN Discovery Tool (based on HBA API) is not supported on the 'Development stream' (The Linux on System z team is working on providing equivalent functionality)

The Linux on System z functionality in the 'Development stream' has changed in some cases compared to the "October 2005 stream", most noticably for the:

  • FCP adapter statistics (available on IBM System z9 and z10) formerly in debugfs, now in sysfs
  • zfcp statistics formerly in debugfs, can now be retrieved from BLKTRACE. The relevant code was checked-in (http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/axboe/blktrace.git;a=summary) on top of blktrace-0.99.3 (http://brick.kernel.dk/snaps/).

The deprecation statements for "October 2005 stream" regarding CLAW, CTC, and IUCV network devices are not documented for the 'Development stream'; however IBM does not recommend these deprecated functions for Linux on System z distributions based on the 'Development stream'.

New features in the 'Development stream'

These downloads deliver the following new features:

Back to top

Contact the IBM team

If you want to contact the Linux on System z IBM team refer to the Contact the Linux on System z IBM team page.

Share this page:

  • Close [x]

Follow developerWorks:

  • Close [x]