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Python on z/OS is now zIIP eligible

By OLUWAFEMI OSO posted Wed July 12, 2023 01:33 PM

  

IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python is a powerful tool for developers looking to take advantage of the mainframe's processing capabilities. And now, there's even more reason to use it: IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python on z/OS is now zIIP-eligible.

zIIP stands for "z Integrated Information Processor." It's a specialized processor that's designed to offload certain types of processing work from the main processor, freeing up CPU resources and reducing overall system costs. This means that Python workload that would normally be run on the main processor can instead be offloaded to the zIIP specialty processor. This can lead to cost savings, especially for organizations that have heavy Python workloads.

To take advantage of this new capability, all you need to do is ensure that you're running IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python 3.11 and install APAR PH52893 which includes the necessary updates to make it zIIP-eligible.

To learn more about zIIP, click here.

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https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/oluwafemi-oso/2023/03/27/blog-python-on-zos-is-now-ziip-eligible

Comments

Marna Walle
Mon November 27, 2023 09:27 AM

Scott, 

You might want to check out the zIIP Authorized Use Table information. In there, I see that we have this documented:

Python and Python applications defined as: 1) Programs written in the Python language and converted for execution in the IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python virtual machine, excluding execution transitions into external non-Python code, and excluding when invoked via API or when embedded in another application; 2) execution of the IBM-provided Python standard library components contained with IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Python; and 3) both Python and native components for packages listed at https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/python-zos/3.11?topic=SSCH7P_3.11.0/python-legal-pkgs.html that support AI and ML workloads. Such zIIP enablement for Python processing dispatched to a zIIP does not exceed seventy percent (70%) of the portions of such processing as designated by IBM technological or other measures that restrict, monitor or report on the use of BIC or MC to be so dispatched.

Scott Fagen
Wed August 09, 2023 06:10 PM

So, some questions about zIIP eligibility.

1) Python can be compiled or interpreted.  Are both execution environments zIIP eligible?

2) Is the Python code zIIP eligible because:

a) It's been modified to run in Enclave SRBs
b) It runs in the JVM
c) Some other internal trick between Python code and the operating system makes it zIIP eligible
d) Something else?

Thanks,
Scott Fagen