The basics: What is zCX?
IBM® z/OS® Container Extensions (zCX) provides the ability to run Linux on Z software directly in z/OS, without modifications. Clients can deploy Linux on Z applications as Docker containers in a z/OS system to directly support z/OS workloads. Software available includes open source, client-written, IBM product, and third-party-vendor software, and the integration is done without provisioning a separate Linux server which maintains operational control within z/OS.
What are the benefits of zCX?
z/OS Container Extensions expands and modernizes the z/OS software ecosystem to include Linux on Z applications. Most applications (including Systems Management components and development tools) that are currently only available to run on Linux will be able to run on z/OS as Docker containers. zCX runs Linux on Z applications on z/OS, using existing z/OS operations staff and reusing the existing z/OS environment. zCX maintains operational control within z/OS and z/OS Qualities of Service (scalability, availability, integrated disaster recovery, backup, WLM, and integration with z/OS security).
What are some common zCX use cases?
Some common use cases include, but not limited to, IBM Service Management Unite, IBM MQ Client Concentrator, IBM App Connect Enterprise, IBM Aspera FASP.io Gateway and IBM Z Workload Scheduler. Check out the IBM Z and LinuxONE Container Registry to explore open source container images that can be deployed in zCX today!
Is zCX right for you?
z/OS Container Extensions (zCX) enables significant opportunities to bring new software capabilities to the z/OS platform. It’s important to remember that z/OS doesn't exist independently -- It's part of your total IT infrastructure. If you have Linux servers that access z/OS, those servers are great candidates for running or moving Linux workloads into z/OS, closer to the data and z/OS services. At the same time, it is not meant to be a general-purpose operating environment nor replace native z/OS software that exploits z/OS services or other Linux on IBM Z environments.
What about orchestration?
zCX is a Docker appliance that provides Docker Swarm as support for Docker cluster management. For Kubernetes orchestration, it was announced that zCX is providing an additional offering as outlined in this Statement of Direction. For added client choice, IBM intends to make Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform support available on zCX.
Stay tuned for more innovations to come in this space. In the meantime…
Register for the upcoming webinar!
Learn more about the next steps for IBM zCX: Container ‘Orchestration’
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