Abstract for z/VM: Getting Started with Linux on IBM Z

This document describes how to configure and use z/VM® functions and facilities for Linux® servers running on the IBM Z® platform (hereafter referred to as the mainframe). The document provides requirements and guidelines to implement during z/VM installation, but primarily assumes you have installed z/VM and are ready to deploy Linux in virtual machines.

Early sections acquaint you with z/VM and take you from the point after z/VM installation to the point where you are ready to install your first Linux server. At that point you must turn to the installation documentation provided by your Linux distributor. Following the deployment of your first Linux server, you can replicate or clone additional servers.

When you finish the early sections, you will have two or more Linux servers running on z/VM with TCP/IP connections to the network. Subsequently, you can turn to vendor-supplied documentation to install applications on Linux. Later sections cover operations, administration, performance, guest relocation, and other day-to-day bare essentials.

Intended audience: This document is designed to help anyone who does system programming, administration, or operation, but has limited knowledge of z/VM and wants to get started deploying Linux servers on z/VM. Before you begin, you must:
  • Understand mainframe hardware concepts, such as logical partitions (LPARs) and I/O
  • Know and have used the Linux operating system
  • Know and have used TCP/IP.
The environment for your z/VM system environment is assumed to include:
  • A mainframe with an OSA-Express device
  • z/VM 7.2
  • Directory Maintenance Facility
  • Performance Toolkit for z/VM
  • If you do not have an external file server for the Linux code, you might need an NFS or FTP server.

Conventions and terminology used in this document: This document is primarily a cookbook; that is, it provides instructions about how to accomplish a task or goal. When required, background concepts are provided to help you understand a key z/VM function or facility. Instructions and background concepts are separated but linked together through cross-references, providing an efficient path through the instructional material. At the beginning of each set of instructions, you will see a Before you begin section, which explains what you need to know or to do before you perform the task. Cross-references in the Before you begin section take you to the necessary background concepts. Thus, if you already know the necessary concepts, you do not need to read those background topics and can simply follow the instructions.

Though the topics in this document are self-sufficient, you might want to explore a function or facility in detail. Some topics end with a list of documents that you can use to understand a function or facility in detail.

In general, new terms (in italics) are defined in the context they are introduced.

Sometimes the manual focuses on the virtual machine functions (the virtual hardware) and other times the complete Linux server system (the virtual machine and the Linux operating system as a whole). When focusing on the virtual machine functions only, the term virtual machine or virtual machine for Linux is used. The term Linux virtual server refers to the complete Linux system (virtual machine hardware and the Linux operating system as a whole) running on z/VM.

Commands and statements that you must type are in bold while system responses are in normal font.

Example: In the example, you would type query processors. The rest of the example is the system response: 
query processors
PROCESSOR 00 MASTER
PROCESSOR 01 ALTERNATIVE
Ready;

Variable information appears in bold italics, which means you must substitute your own values for the variable.

Example: For the command, you would need to supply your own password for the variable new_password. 
dirm add linmstr like linux pw new_password
A vertical ellipsis 
⋮
indicates system responses that have been removed for clarity.