Development stream - Technical Details

IBM support is available for

• IBM System z10™ Enterprise Class (z10 EC)
• IBM System z9™ Enterprise Class (z9 EC)
• IBM System z9 Business Class (z9 BC)
• IBM eServer™ zSeries™ 990
• IBM eServer zSeries 890
• IBM eServer zSeries 900
• IBM eServer zSeries 800

for Linux on System z running:

• in LPAR
• as z/VM guest

IBM supports only 64-bit distributions based on this stream; 31-bit applications are supported on the 31-bit emulation layer.
IBM System z™ (or System z, for short) is used on these pages when referring to the above mentioned mainframes.

Hardware requirements

• An IBM System z configuration with an absolute minimum of 32MB of memory

Software requirements

• If you are using Linux as a VM-guest, z/VM Version 5 Release 1 or higher is required

Kernel (general)

• Character devices
  • 3215 console
  • 3270 console
  • Integrated Console
  • VMUR - virtual unit-record device driver
• 
  
• Cryptographic devices
  • PCICC (PCI Cryptographic Coprocessor)
  • PCICA (PCI Cryptographic Accelerator)
  • PCIXCC (PCI-X Cryptographic Coprocessor)
  • CEX2C (Crypto Express 2 Coprocessor)
  • CEX2A (Crypto Express 2 Accelerator)

Networking

• Network devices
  • QETH:
  • OSA-Express, OSA-Express2, OSA-Express3 - Gigabit Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, ATM LAN Emulation, High Speed Token Ring, CDLC (OSN)
  • HiperSockets
  • z/VM Guest LAN, z/VM VSWITCH
  • LCS:
  • OSA-Express, OSA-Express2, OSA-Express3 - Token Ring, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
  • 2216 - Token Ring, Ethernet
  • CTCM:
  • CTCM protocol 4 (former CTCMPC)
• Network devices not recommended for Distributions based on the "Development stream":
  • CLAW
  • CTCM protocols 0, 1, and 2 (former CTC)
  • NETIUCV network device -- Note that the IUCV-infrastructure is not being deprecated

Storage

• Tape Devices All models of the following IBM Magnetic Tape Subsystem and 100% compatibles
  • IBM 3480
  • IBM 3490
  • IBM 3590
  • IBM 3592
• 
  
• Block Devices
  • ECKD™ 3380 or 3390 DASDs
  • Expanded Storage
• 
  
• Additional Block Devices under z/VM
  • VM minidisks
  • Virtual FBA (for native FBA see Restrictions)
  • DCSS
• 
  
• FCP
  • FCP channels - System z
  • For more information on FCP-attachable devices, please refer to http://www.ibm.com/systems/z/connectivity/products/fc.html
• 
  
• IPL mechanisms
  • 3480, 3490, 3590, 3592 tape units
  • DASD
  • Load from CD-ROM (Hardware Management Console - HMC) or FTP-Server
  • SCSI IPL (requires FCP channels, requires enablement by FC9904)
• 
  
• Additional IPL mechanisms under z/VM
  • VM reader
  • Kernel NSS