Linux on System z offers many advantages to customers who rely on the IBM® mainframe systems to run their businesses. Linux on System z makes use of the qualities of service in the System z® hardware and in z/VM®, making it a robust industrial strength Linux. This provides an excellent platform for hosting Oracle solutions that run in your enterprise.

This IBM Redbooks® publication is divided into several sections to share the following experiences that are gained while Oracle Database 11gR2 is installed and tested:

It also includes many general hints and tips for running Oracle products on IBM System z with Linux and z/VM.

Interested readers include database consultants, installers, administrators, and system programmers. This book is not meant to replace Oracle documentation but to supplement it with our experiences while Oracle products are installed and used.

This book was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, Poughkeepsie Center.

Sam Amsavelu is a Certified Consulting IT Architect in the IBM Advanced Technical Support Organization, supporting Oracle on System z Linux and Siebel on System z customers. He has more than 25 years of IT experience in IBM products.

Kathryn Arrell is an Oracle Specialist at the IBM/Oracle International Competency Center at IBM San Mateo. Previously, she worked as an ERP specialist at the ITSO in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Gaylan Braselton is Sales Specialist for System z Oracle Solutions and responsible for System z Sales with Oracle for North America. He has worked with Oracle Solutions on System z since 2000.

Armelle Cheve is a System z Client Technical Specialist in the Advanced Technical Support (ATS) IBM Oracle Center (IOC), in Montpellier, France. She has 19 years of IT experience, including development in C/C++, SQL, and performance benchmark tests for European customer accounts. She provides presales support to new customers workloads since 2001 for IBM, and then Oracle Solutions on Linux System z. This support includes technical support, consolidation sizings, architecture, and performance studies.

Ivan Dobos is a Project Leader at International Technical Support Organization. He has 15 years of experience with IBM System z. He joined IBM in 2003 and worked in different sales and technical roles supporting mainframe clients as Technical Leader for Linux on System z projects in the System z Benchmark Center, IT Optimization Consultant in the System z New Technology Center and Mainframe Technical Sales Manager in Central and Eastern Europe. During the past 10 years, he worked with many clients and supported new workloads on System z projects.

Damian Gallagher is a Global Technical Lead with Oracle Global Support, working with Oracle solutions on IBM System z. He has worked with databases and specialized in performance for over 25 years.

Hélène Grosch is an IT Architect who has works since 2010 in the IBM Oracle Center in Montpellier, France. She is dedicated to Oracle solutions on Linux on System z projects. Her previous focus was on consolidation projects on Linux on System z solutions in the New Technology Center, Montpellier. She has 15 years of experience in IT. Before joining IBM in 2007, she was a software developer for business applications on mainframes in a consultant and system integration company, mainly for the public sector.

Michael MacIsaac has worked for IBM for 25 years. He is now a z/VM and Linux consultant working in the field with customers on infrastructure and workloads, such as Oracle. He has written technical documentation and presents at conferences and user’s group meetings.

Romain Pochard is a System z IT Specialist in the IBM Client Center in Montpellier, France. As part of the Advanced Technical Support organization, he provides technical presales support on Linux on System z and z/VM. His areas of expertise include consolidation, virtualization, and Cloud Computing solutions on IBM zEntreprise.

David Simpson is a System z Oracle Specialist working for Advanced Technical Support in the Americas Sales and Distribution team. David previously worked for IBM Global Business Services® to host Oracle systems for consulting engagements.

Richard Smrcina is a Senior System Engineer with Velocity Software. He has been in the industry over 25 years, primarily as a z/VM and z/VSE® Systems Programmer. He has installed and supported z/VM and z/VSE his entire career. He was involved with the original IBM Linux for S/390® proof of concept and was instrumental in implementing Linux as one of the first customers to use it in production. With Velocity Software, he provides customer support and is involved in presales, education, customer product installation, and development.

Thanks to the following people for their contributions to this project:

ADP

IBM Dallas

IBM France, Montpellier

International Technical Support Organization, Poughkeepsie Center

IBM STG WW Mainframe Benchmark Center

Oracle

IBM USA

IBM Germany

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