The diag288 watchdog device driver

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 LPAR mode z/VM guest KVM guest

The watchdog device driver provides Linux watchdog applications with access to the watchdog timer.

You can use the diag288 watchdog in these environments:
  • Linux on z/VM®
  • Linux in LPAR mode as of z13s® and z13® with the enhancements of February 2016.
  • Linux as a KVM guest

The diag288 watchdog device driver provides the following features:

  • Access to the watchdog timer on IBM® Z.
  • An API for watchdog applications.

Watchdog applications can be used to set up automated restart mechanisms. Watchdog-based restart mechanisms are an alternative to a networked heartbeat with STONITH.

Watchdog applications that communicate directly with the IBM Z firmware, the z/VM control program (CP), or the KVM host do not require a third operating system to monitor a heartbeat.