Getting Started: Journey to Modernization with IBM Z


Book Description

Modernization of enterprise IT applications and infrastructure is key to the survival of organizations. It is no longer a matter of choice. The cost of missing out on business opportunities in an intensely competitive market can be enormous. To aid in their success, organizations are facing increased encouragement to embrace change. They are pushed to think of new and innovative ways to counter, or offer, a response to threats that are posed by competitors who are equally as aggressive in adopting newer methods and technologies. The term modernization often varies in meaning based on perspective. This IBM® Redbooks® publication focuses on the technological advancements that unlock computing environments that are hosted on IBM Z® to enable secure processing at the core of hybrid. This publication is intended for IT executives, IT managers, IT architects, System Programmers, and Application Developer professionals.




Getting Started with z/OS Data Set Encryption


Book Description

This IBM® Redpaper Redbooks® publication provides a broad explanation of data protection through encryption and IBM Z® pervasive encryption with a focus on IBM z/OS® data set encryption. It describes how the various hardware and software components interact in a z/OS data set encryption environment. In addition, this book concentrates on the planning and preparing of the environment and offers implementation, configuration, and operational examples that can be used in z/OS data set encryption environments. This publication is intended for IT architects, system programmer, and security administrators who plan for, deploy, and manage security on the Z platform. The reader is expected to have a basic understanding of IBM Z security concepts.




Accelerating Modernization with Agile Integration


Book Description

The organization pursuing digital transformation must embrace new ways to use and deploy integration technologies, so they can move quickly in a manner appropriate to the goals of multicloud, decentralization, and microservices. The integration layer must transform to allow organizations to move boldly in building new customer experiences, rather than forcing models for architecture and development that pull away from maximizing the organization's productivity. Many organizations have started embracing agile application techniques, such as microservice architecture, and are now seeing the benefits of that shift. This approach complements and accelerates an enterprise's API strategy. Businesses should also seek to use this approach to modernize their existing integration and messaging infrastructure to achieve more effective ways to manage and operate their integration services in their private or public cloud. This IBM® Redbooks® publication explores the merits of what we refer to as agile integration; a container-based, decentralized, and microservice-aligned approach for integration solutions that meets the demands of agility, scalability, and resilience required by digital transformation. It also discusses how the IBM Cloud Pak for Integration marks a significant leap forward in integration technology by embracing both a cloud-native approach and container technology to achieve the goals of agile integration. The target audiences for this book are cloud integration architects, IT specialists, and application developers.




Microservices from Theory to Practice: Creating Applications in IBM Bluemix Using the Microservices Approach


Book Description

Microservices is an architectural style in which large, complex software applications are composed of one or more smaller services. Each of these microservices focuses on completing one task that represents a small business capability. These microservices can be developed in any programming language. They communicate with each other using language-neutral protocols, such as Representational State Transfer (REST), or messaging applications, such as IBM® MQ Light. This IBM Redbooks® publication gives a broad understanding of this increasingly popular architectural style, and provides some real-life examples of how you can develop applications using the microservices approach with IBM BluemixTM. The source code for all of these sample scenarios can be found on GitHub (https://github.com/). The book also presents some case studies from IBM products. We explain the architectural decisions made, our experiences, and lessons learned when redesigning these products using the microservices approach. Information technology (IT) professionals interested in learning about microservices and how to develop or redesign an application in Bluemix using microservices can benefit from this book.




Value Realization from Efficient Software Deployment


Book Description

Many companies have a complex process for purchasing software that is required by IT projects, or better, by the business. Usually software is purchased by a centralized procurement function, and is either purchased on a project-by-project basis or as a large periodic software contract. Unfortunately purchasing software products does not automatically mean that these products are exploited throughout the organization providing the maximum possible value to the business units. Several issues call for a structured approach that gets the most business value out of software already purchased. The objectives of this approach are to: Create maximum awareness throughout the organization of the software purchased. Track software use in IT projects and act if products are not used at all, used improperly, or insufficiently used. Facilitate use of software products in projects, especially when software products are complex and require a lot of integration. We can summarize the overall objective of this approach as ensuring that the business units in an organization obtain the maximum possible value of software products purchased, which is also the scope of this IBM® Redbooks® publication.




Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform for IBM zCX


Book Description

Application modernization is essential for continuous improvements to your business value. Modernizing your applications includes improvements to your software architecture, application infrastructure, development techniques, and business strategies. All of which allows you to gain increased business value from existing application code. IBM® z/OS® Container Extensions (IBM zCX) is a part of the IBM z/OS operating system. It makes it possible to run Linux on IBM Z® applications that are packaged as Docker container images on z/OS. Application developers can develop, and data centers can operate, popular open source packages, Linux applications, IBM software, and third-party software together with z/OS applications and data. This IBM Redbooks® publication presents the capabilities of IBM zCX along with several use cases that demonstrate Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform for IBM zCX and the application modernization benefits your business can realize.




IBM z15 (8561) Technical Guide


Book Description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the features and functions the latest member of the IBM Z® platform, the IBM z15TM (machine type 8561). It includes information about the IBM z15 processor design, I/O innovations, security features, and supported operating systems. The z15 is a state-of-the-art data and transaction system that delivers advanced capabilities, which are vital to any digital transformation. The z15 is designed for enhanced modularity, which is in an industry standard footprint. This system excels at the following tasks: Making use of multicloud integration services Securing data with pervasive encryption Accelerating digital transformation with agile service delivery Transforming a transactional platform into a data powerhouse Getting more out of the platform with IT Operational Analytics Accelerating digital transformation with agile service delivery Revolutionizing business processes Blending open source and Z technologies This book explains how this system uses new innovations and traditional Z strengths to satisfy growing demand for cloud, analytics, and open source technologies. With the z15 as the base, applications can run in a trusted, reliable, and secure environment that improves operations and lessens business risk.




IBM z/OS Container Extensions (zCX) Use Cases


Book Description

Is it time for you to modernize your IBM® z/OS® applications to allow for access to an entire system of open source and Linux on IBM Z® workloads? Is co-location of these workloads on the z/OS platform with no porting requirements of value to you? Your open source or Linux on IBM Z software can benefit from being co-located and managed inside a z/OS environment; leveraging z/OS quality of service for optimized business continuity. Your software can be integrated with and can help complement existing z/OS workloads and environments. If your software can communicate with z/OS and external components by using TCP/IP, now is the time examine how IBM z/OS Container Extensions (IBM zCX) makes it possible to integrate Linux on Z applications with z/OS. This IBM Redbooks® publication is a follow-on to Getting started with z/OS Container Extensions and Docker, SG24-8457, which provides some interesting use cases for zCX. We start with a brief overview of IBM zCX. In Part 1, "Integration" on page 9, we demonstrate use cases that integrate with zCX. In Part 2, "DevOps in zCX" on page 165, we describe how organizations can benefit from running a DevOps flow in zCX and we describe the set up of necessary components. Finally, in Part 3, "Monitoring and managing zCX systems" on page 229, we discuss IBM Service Management Unite Automation, a free-of-charge customizable dashboard interface and an important discussion of creating the suitable container restart policy.




Maximizing Security with LinuxONE


Book Description

LinuxONE® is a hardware system that is designed to support and use the Linux operating system based on the value of its unique underlying architecture. LinuxONE can be used within a private and multi-cloud environment to support a range of workloads and service various needs. On LinuxONE, security is built into the hardware and software. This IBM® Redpaper® publication gives a broad understanding of how to use the various security features that make the most of and complement the LinuxONE hardware security features, including the following examples: Hardware accelerated encryption of data, which is delivered with near-zero overhead by the on-chip Central Processor Assist for Cryptographic Function (CPACF) and a dedicated Crypto Express adapter. Virtualization and industry-leading isolation capabilities with PR/SM, EAL 5+ LPARs, DPM, KVM, and IBM z/VM®. The IBM Secure Service Container technology, which provides workload isolation, restricted administrator access, and tamper protection against internal threats, including from systems administrators. Other technologies that use LinuxONE security capabilities and practical use cases for these technologies. This publication was written for IT executives, architects, specialists, security administrators, and others who consider security for LinuxONE.




Four Ways to Transform Your Mainframe for a Hybrid Cloud World


Book Description

The IBM® mainframe remains a widely used enterprise computing workhorse, hosting essential IT for the majority of the world's top banks, airlines, insurers and more. As the mainframe continues to evolve, the newest IBM Z® servers offer solutions for AI and analytics, blockchain, cloud, DevOps, security and resiliency, with the aim of making the client experience similar to that of using cloud services. Many organizations today face challenges with their core IT infrastructure: Complexity and stability An environment might have years of history and be seen as too complex to maintain or update. Problems with system stability can impact operations and be considered a high risk for the business. Workforce challenges Many data center teams are anticipating a skills shortage within the next 5 years due to a retiring and declining workforce specialized in the mainframe, not to mention the difficulty of attracting new talent. Total cost of ownership Some infrastructure solutions are seen as too expensive, and it's not always easy to balance up-front costs with the life expectancy and benefits of a given platform. Lack of speed and agility Older applications can be seen as too slow and monolithic as organizations face an increasing need for faster turnaround and release cycles. Some software vendors suggest addressing these challenges with the "big bang" approach of moving your entire environment to a public cloud. But public cloud isn't the best option for every workload, and a hybrid multicloud approach can offer the best of both worlds. IBM Z is constantly being developed to address the real challenges businesses face today, and every day we're helping clients modernize their IT environments. There are 4 strategic elements to consider when modernizing your mainframe environment: Infrastructure Applications Data access DevOps chain This paper focuses on these four modernization dimensions.