In response to the
announcement that
IBM Open Enterprise Python is available for z/OS 2.3 and later, Ansible Content for IBM Z will support use with this new distribution of Python from IBM. Python is quickly becoming one of the most widely adopted and used programming languages. IBM Z having its own distribution of Python enables z/OS developers to automate infrastructure tasks, build applications, and create new tools for their teams. Python is popular across all platforms, helping IBM Z provide platform neutral language capabilities. This opens the doors for IBM Z to create and distribute Python packages specific for IBM Z, extending the possibilities and capabilities of Python developers on Z.
The IBM Open Enterprise Python also supports IBM's overall platform strategy for IBM Z, the journey to hybrid cloud, and cloud native developer experiences. A key component of the cloud native developer experience is ensuring we have an open and robust ecosystem for automation, which is why IBM is making key investments in Ansible. Furthermore, at the core of most successful DevOps transformations is the pipeline which provides the underlying infrastructure for the automation. With
IBM Wazi for Red Hat CodeReady Workspaces, you can embrace true parallel development on z/OS with Git, you can leverage a standard CI/CD pipeline with Jenkins as the orchestrator, while staging your deployment on popular artifact repos like Artifactory, leveraging Ansible playbooks to drive automated provisioning and configuration of subsystems and middleware on IBM Z. Tie this into
IBM z/OS Cloud Broker, and the developer can stand up the underlying infrastructure needed to test applications, all from their Red Hat OpenShift workspace.
How does this impact Ansible on Z?
Today Ansible with z/OS requires the Rocket distribution of Python for z/OS to be installed. This blog is announcing that Ansible with z/OS will now pre-req IBM Open Enterprise Python 3.8.2, instead of Rocket Python. This change will be effective immediately, but our team will support customers as they transition from the Rocket Python distribution through 3rd quarter 2020. One of the prerequisites for the
z/OS Core Collection, IBM Z Open Automation Utilities will also be impacted by the release of the IBM Python distribution. For the coming releases of
IBM Z Open Automation Utilities after 1.0.3, IBM Open Enterprise Python for z/OS will be the only supported distribution.
IBM Open Enterprise Python is available for zero license charge through
Shopz (5655-PYT) SMP/e, or you can download the PAX
here. Optional world-class IBM Software Subscription and Support is available with your order through Shopz (5655-PYS).
Supporting Links:
Ansible Content SolutionsIBM Ansible Galaxy CollectionsBlog:
Python for z/OS Now AvailableBlog:
IBM Intends to Enable Python on z/OSBlog:
Accelerate cloud-native development with IBM Wazi for Red Hat CodeReady Workspaces