Using the IBM Power Development Cloud for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 (little endian) Beta application testing

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Excitement continues to build around Linux on IBM Power Systems from the first Scale-out POWER8 processor-based systems shipped in mid-2014 to the Enterprise POWER8 processor-based systems which began shipping in 4Q2014 and includes the Integrated Facility for Linux support. A big part of that excitement is around the new little endian distributions (Ubuntu and SLES), and their ties to the OpenPOWER Foundation (and the requirements it generates). Now, Red Hat has joined the party with a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 Beta for Power Systems based on little endian. IBM is making it easy for ISV’s to test their Red Hat Enterprise Linux applications, even before the Red Hat 7.1 general availability! More choice, more flexibility, more POWER8!

To be clear, Red Hat is continuing support for their Power Systems big endian distro – that is also included in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 Beta.  But for many ISV’s coming from x86, moving straight to little endian may be the right direction to go from the beginning. This means the Linux applications can migrate freely between POWER-based and x86-based systems. To learn more about big and little endian, refer to endian FAQs on developerWorks .

IBM is keeping the party going with the Power Development Platform (Power Cloud) which is offering a Promo Code for ISV’s to port/test their applications even before Red Hat declares general availability of the 7.1 distro. If you are an ISV, you can use  Promo Code 8217658 for the Power Development Platform (PDP) (click on the Program Tab). Additionally, IBM will be offering Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 porting and testing at the IBM Innovation Centers (IIC’s). For developers of corporate apps, ask your IBM account rep to help you get access.

ISV’s utilizing the PDP for porting and testing will find each VM including 35 GB of Storage, up to 4 POWER8 vCPU’s, and 8 GB of memory.  IIC setup will be customized for the particular partner’s needs, and both PDP and IIC’s will support not only the Red Hat Enterprise Linux VM, but also supply the latest IBM Java and the Advance Toolchain for Linux on Power Systems with Red Hat Enterprise Linux little endian support.  The IBM Software Development Kit for Linux on Power Systems (SDK), will be available soon.

For more background on porting from x86 Linux to the Power platform, you can get started here with the Guide to porting Linux on x86 to Linux on Power.Take advantage today, and you’ll be ready for tomorrow…POWER8, Red Hat, and little endian -do I hear Linux for the Enterprise?