IBM launches Linux-only mainframes for enterprises

IBM is making a serious bid for a slice of the enterprise Linux market with the launch of a new range of mainframe servers called LinuxONE.

At the top end of the market is LinuxONE Emperor, a machine based on the IBM z13 and which can scale up to support 8,000 virtual machines or thousands of containers. It also delivers the security and advanced encryption features needed by large enterprises.

For the entry level market there's also LinuxONE Rockhopper. This is aimed at customers who need the speed, security and availability benefits of a mainframe but in a smaller package.

Big blue says that the LinuxOne system will work with open source software including Apache Spark, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and Chef. It's also announced a partnership with UK-based Canonical to distribute its Ubuntu open source OS software on LinuxONE and z systems.

All of this is backed up by a LinuxONE Developer Cloud which provides a virtual research and development engine for creating and testing new applications, and generating links to mobile apps, hybrid cloud apps and more.

More information about LinuxONE is available on the IBM website.