Success with Linux on System z at Nationwide - Lessons Learned

You've heard by now that Linux runs on the mainframe and is effectively the same Linux as anywhere else - from Intel to System z servers. The challenge is that there can be a lot of politics around choosing to run Linux on the mainframe, deciding on a distribution and methodology for installing and maintaining Linux and even who will be responsible for the virtual Linux environments.

Many decisions and discussions need to be made around processes, tools and solutions to decide if they are 'right' for a virtual Linux farm. This session will give you a candid insight on how Nationwide dealt with those topics along with:

• A key to opening the door for building a Linux environment - how Nationwide got Linux on the mainframe
• What it may take to motivate server, mainframe and even management to work with virtual servers
• Why Linux? What did we expect it to do for our business?
• What we planned to do with and to the environment, what we did, and what we learned along the way

The discussion will cover building a Linux Virtualization environment with z/VM on System z at Nationwide Insurance, where it is today and some key benefits and issues.

Tracks: Architecture, Enterprise Virtualization & Cloud Computing, IT Management, Linux Systems Management and z/VM Systems Programming