zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift Everything you need to get started quickly. Get started - Play overview Transcript
zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift, or zCX for OpenShift, provides the ability to run Red Hat OpenShift on z/OS, using IBM z/OS Container Extensions (zCX). With zCX for OpenShift, you can deploy containerized Linux-on-Z applications on z/OS, with zCX, bringing applications and workloads that have an affinity for z/OS closer to z/OS applications and data. The containerized Linux-on-Z workloads, and OpenShift cluster nodes, transparently inherit z/OS qualities of service. See what zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift can do for your business. Learn more about Red Hat OpenShift Related solution z/OS Container Extensions (zCX)

Run Linux on IBM Z applications as Docker container images on z/OS.

Big picture 1. The z/OS system programmer plans for and installs zCX for OpenShift. 2. The OpenShift administrator validates the install, completes post-install steps and prepares the cluster for users and workloads. 3. The OpenShift application developer deploys a workload. How to get started
Overview

Install OpenShift on z/OS, with zCX. You also provide OpenShift infrastructure services, including network, storage and load balancing configuration.

An IBM z14 or higher with z/OS 2.4 or higher is required, as well as zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift product licensing, which entitles you to run Red Hat OpenShift on z/OS using zCX. For service and licensing requirements, see Program Directory for IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift.

zCX for OpenShift is zIIP-eligible.

To learn more about OpenShift, see a guide to Red Hat OpenShift documentation
Plan and prepare

You install an OpenShift cluster, which is made up of control plane nodes that manage compute nodes, which run your workloads. The recommended configuration is 3 control nodes and a minimum of 2 compute nodes for each control node. Deploy the control nodes using zCX in separate address spaces spread out across the z/OS sysplex.

You install with user-provisioned infrastructure, meaning you also provide OpenShift infrastructure services.

Review memory considerations Review storage considerations Review network considerations Review workload management considerations Review security considerations Review the installation process Prepare for restricted network installation (optional) Understand z/OSMF workflows Prepare for z/OSMF workflows Prepare your z/OS environment to run a zCX for OpenShift cluster Prepare the OpenShift infrastructure services Obtain the installation program
Install and provision

To install and provision an OpenShift Cluster with zCX, complete the following steps.

  1. Create the installation configuration file, install-config.yaml.
  2. Run the OpenShift installer to generate kubernetes manifests and ignition configuration files for zCX for OpenShift cluster nodes.
  3. Install Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and perform the OpenShift Container Platform bootstrap process, including provisioning zCX for OpenShift cluster node instances and starting zCX for OpenShift cluster node instances in z/OS address spaces.
  4. Inform the OpenShift administrator that they can validate the install.
Overview

Validate the installation of the OpenShift Container Platform cluster on z/OS with zCX, then perform some post-install configuration.

Once that is complete, the experience of using OpenShift on z/OS with zCX is identical to that of OpenShift on other platforms.

Plan and prepare

Depending on your workloads, you might need to take additional steps before you begin deploying applications, as described below.

Prepare the infrastructure to support your application build strategy Make provisions for low-latency workloads Protect sensitive workloads Configure monitoring for application workloads
Steps

To validate the install and prepare OpenShift for use, complete the following steps.

  1. Validate the install of your zCX for OpenShift cluster.
  2. Access the Red Hat OpenShift web console.
  3. Complete the image registry storage configuration.
  4. Prepare the zCX for OpenShift cluster for users.
  5. Set up an NFS storage for OpenShift cluster persistent storage.
  6. Complete any additional work that you identified in the Plan and prepare section.
  7. Explore the Red Hat Marketplace for applications.
Overview

The application developer can create a new project in the zCX for OpenShift cluster and deploy a sample application.

Planning Consider installing the CLI. Installing the OpenShift CLI
Steps
  1. Create a new project in the zCX for OpenShift cluster.
  2. Create and deploy a sample application in the zCX for OpenShift cluster under the new project that you created. Red Hat provides sample container images that you can add from the OpenShift web console.
Documentation zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift Documentation

Read more about zCX for OpenShift.

Information about zCX for OpenShift in IBM Documentation.
Technical resources Red Hat OpenShift documentation guide

Find information for your role.

Explore OpenShift documentation
Red Hat OpenShift

Get an introduction to OpenShift.

Learn about OpenShift
z/OSMF Guild

Learn about z/OSMF workflows through the z/OSMF workflows workshop presentation and recording.

New Learn about z/OSMF workflows
IBM Communities - Competitive Insights

Learn about performance and cost advantages of IBM zCX Foundation for Red Hat OpenShift

New Read the blog
Terminal Talk Podcast

Gary Puchkoff and Allison Moshier explain how z/OS Container Extensions has advanced recently and give a peek of things to come.

New Listen to the podcast (27:13)
IBM Communities

Deploying Bastion Infrastructure Services for IBM zCX for OpenShift

New Read the blog
Related solutions z/OS Container Extensions (zCX)

Run Linux on IBM Z applications as Docker container images on z/OS.

What's new

Links to Red Hat documentation were updated to target the latest level.

A new blog post, Deploying Bastion Infrastructure Services for IBM zCX for OpenShift, was added to the Technical resources section.

New resources were added to the Technical resources section.

Links to content about z/OSMF workflows were added to the How to get started and Technical resources sections.

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