SUSE® LINUX Enterprise Server
on Cross Architecture

Dieter Heussner

Technical Sales Manager

SUSE LINUX GmbH, Germany

SUSE® LINUX Enterprise Server 9 empowers businesses to leverage Linux and open source by delivering a scalable, high-performance foundation for secure enterprise computing. Built for reliability, it offers comprehensive functionality to power today’s networks and meet user demands.
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server also supports a broad range of hardware platforms and leading software applications.

Agenda

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server on Cross Architecture

What is Cross Architecture?

Hardware Types / Architectures

What is SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server?

Benefits for Customers

Quality Assurance

Maintenance Process

What is Cross Architecture?

Cross Architecture vs Cross Platform

Software product available on different Operating Systems platforms

Software product available on different H/W architectures

Cross Architecture means:

Cross Platforms means:

Challenges from different Architectures

von Neumann architecture

CISC vs RISC

EBCDIC vs ASCII

Machine word vs Byte

Little Endian vs Big Endian

the order in which a sequence of bytes is stored in RAM

Bit ordering within each byte can be Big or Little Endian

Some architecture use Big Endian for Bits and Little Endian
for Bytes, or vice versa.

Mainframes: Big Endian,

PCs: Little Endian

PowerPC: Bi-Endian

“Little/Big Endian“ derived from Lilliputians of Gulliver's Travels

Hardware Types/Architectures

Architecture Types

SLES available on:

IBM S/390 and IBM eServer zSeries (“Mainframes”)

IBM POWERTM

AMD64 and Intel® EM64T

Itanium Processor Family (IPF)

x86

Can SLES become available on other platforms?

SLES Product Names

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 for

IBM® zSeries® (64 bit)

IBM® S/390® (31 bit)

IBM® POWERTM

AMD64® & Intel® EM64T®

Itanium® Processor Family

x86

Virtualization of Hardware Resources
(Principle of Logical Partitions)

Master Code Stream

L1

L2

...

Ln

Number of Logical Partitions (LPAR) depends on hardware capabilities

Always SYSTEM partition

Each LPAR is a computer on its own

LPARs completely independent of each other

Usually different Operating Systems in different LPARs

System administrator assigns hardware resources to LPARs

LPARs differ by “sizes”

Example of assignments:

CPU:	1.2	0.7	2.3

Disk:	20GB	18GB	40GB

RAM:	4GB	3GB	5GB

SYS

IBM Mainframes

Testing

General overview

http://www.ibm.com/zseries

Different kinds of processors

CP, SAP, ICF, IFL, zAAP

Virtualization (LPAR, z/VM)

SLES on whole hardware (academic)

SLES on LPARs

SLES under z/VM

High-speed interconnections between processor caches

High-speed buses (HiperSockets)

SLES on IBM eServer zSeries

L1

L2

SLES

z/VM

SLES

Hundreds of different OS under z/VM in LPAR

SLES

SLES

oOS

oOS

oOS

Mainframe models S/390 and zSeries

S/390 models

32-bit hardware

31-bit address space

zSeries models

64-bit hardware

64-bit address space

Able to run S/390 code (IBM compatibility mode)
SLES for S/390 runs on zSeries hardware

Application for SLES for S/390 also runs on zSeries
due to SUSE compatibility libraries

S/390 sometimes also referred to as “zSeries”

Detailed information

http://www.tech.news.com/publib/

Mainframe models S/390 and zSeries

9021, 9121, 9221 Series: not able to run Linux

9672 Series:

G1 – not able to run Linux at all

G2, G3, G4, Multiprise 2000 – might run Linux;
no support due to lack of hardware floating point unit

G5, Multiprise 3000 – certified for Linux 31-bit

G6 – certified for Linux 31-bit

z900, z800 – certified for Linux 31-bit and 64-bit

z990, z890 – certified for Linux 31-bit and 64-bit

SLES Offerings for IBM Mainframe

Prices for SLES Upgrade Protection

depend on Novell contract level – VLA, CLA, MLA

depend on Mainframe model and number of physical processors in use under Linux

SLES Support Offerings

regular Novell Premium Support offerings are applicable

special Linux Support Offerings do not apply to SLES on zSeries

Implementation of IBM Mainframes on Linux (“Emulation”)

Hercules

http://www.conmicro.cx/hercules

free (Q Public License)

easy to set up

runs 31-bit & 64-bit Operating Systems (z/OS, z/VM, Linux)

not supported by IBM

FLEX-ES

Commercial emulator by Fundamental Software
http://www.funsoft.com

runs 31-bit & 64-bit Operating Systems (z/OS, z/VM, Linux)

supported by IBM

SLES on POWERTM (1)

Hardware Concept

Similar to IBM eServer zSeries®
(LPAR)

IBM POWERTM is brand name

pSeries

SLES on POWERTM (2)

IBM eServer for POWERTM

Combining open standards with POWERTM technology for maximum performance and reliability.

IBM eServer OpenPower

IBM eServer pSeries®

IBM eServer iSeriesTM

IBM eServer BladeCenterTM JS20

OpenPower

Related links:

www.linux.org

www.penguinppc.org

www.linuxppc64.org

iSeries

SLES on 64-bit hardware
(AMD, IPF, EM64T)

AMD64

Opteron

EM64T

(see next slide)

Itanium Processor Family(IPF)

IHVs (excerpt): SGI, HP

SLES and EM64T

EM64T

Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology

Natural addition to IA32 server / workstation platform

allows platforms to access larger amounts of memory

Processors with Intel® EM64T support 64-bit extended
Operating Systems

supported by SLES

Reference name “Nacona”

SLES on x86-type machines (1)

x86

Intel® 32 bit

AMD 32 bit (e.g. “K6”)

Major IHV for x86 (non-exhaustive list)

Fujitsu Siemens Computers (e.g. “Primergy”)

Dell (e.g. “PowerEdge”)

HP (e.g. “Proliant”)

IBM (e.g. “xSeries”)

SLES on x86-type machines (2)

IBM eServer xSeriesTM

powered by Intel® XeonTM processors
supporting Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)

Intel Itanium® 2 Processor

Intel Pentium® 4 Processor

Tower

IBM eServer xSeriesTM models:

2xx / 3xx / 4xx

Some are Intel® based (e.g. IBM xSeries 235, 440),
some are AMD-based (e.g. IBM eServer 326)

What is
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server?

Things to remember for SLES

Testing

1.	Unmatched manageability
lowers the cost of ownership

2.	Strongest security capabilities
ensures data privacy

3.	Industry leading scalability and reliability enables mission-critical deployments

4.	Backed by Novell
empowers businesses to deploy Linux with confidence

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server

Business Features

Download: http://download.novell.com

Type of license: EULA

Latest version SLES9

Derived from SL Professional 9.1

Deployment in Business IT

Why SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server?

Cross Architecture versus Cross Platform

SLES Highlights

A secure, reliable platform for open-source computing in the enterprise

Industry leading performance and scalability

Unbeatable system management and administration

High availability, clustering and fail-over

Comprehensive applications support

Backed by the largest support ecosystem dedicated to Linux and open source

Features (1)

Availability, Scalability

Kernel 2.6

Multinode failover

CGL 2.0 – Priority 1 features

Redundant scalable paths to storage

HD mirroring

Cluster file system

Cluster volume manager

Improved performance of large machines
SMP, RAM, I/O, NPTL

Up to 128 CPUs per system

More efficient large RAM and NUMA system support

Hotplug and persistent device names (sysfs, udev)

Features (2)

Security

Common Criteria EAL4+ certification

Certificate Authority (CA)

Full Kerberos integration (Heimdahl)

Easy Virtual Private Network (VPN) setup

Smart trust amongst SUSE product family

Many new GUI front-ends for administrators

Apache, Samba, Mail, DNS, DHCP, CA/PKI, LDAP, TFTP, VPN

Simple backup, simple LDAP, NIS, User/Group (incl. LDAP)

Auto- / Self-config

Clients automatically find servers and vice versa via OpenSLP

Supports Apple's Rendez-Vous

Miscellaneous

Native POSIX Thread Library (NPTL)

Binary backward compatibility

Misc

Linux Manageability

Testing

Business Challenge: How do I ensure that Linux servers are easy to deploy, manage, secure and update?
Solution: SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 offers the industry's most comprehensive installation, updating, and monitoring services

Features

YaST
(Yet another Setup Tool)

AutoYaST

YOU (YaST Online Update)

SLP

LDAP support

CIM support

ZENworks Linux Management

Linux Adoption in the Enterprise (1)

Testing

Oracle DB

J2EE
Server

Mainframe Application Hosting

File and Print Services

Database Cluster

Network Services

Firewall, Proxy

VPN

Web Server

Custer

Admin Tools

DNS, DHCP

FTP

Network Storage

Windows, Mac and Linux users

ERP System or

Server Consolidation

Administration

Linux Adoption in the Enterprise (2)

Testing

Simple Web Infrastructure

Network
Storage

DBMS

Application Hosting

Linux Server

Integrated network services

Centralized management

Identity-driven security

Seamless interoperability with UNIX, NetWare® and Windows

Virtualization

Advanced clustering

Windows Server

Mainframe

Linux Server

Linux Server

Linux Desktop

Testing

Open Source
Community

Common Code Base

AutoBuild

Quality Assurance
and Testing

3,000+ Packages

millions of
lines of code

~6,000+ Patches

thousands
lines of code

x86

IPF

AMD 64 & EM64T

POWER

S/390

zSeries

Automated system identifies incompatibilities

Automated
Regression

Manual
Regression

Feature Test

Novell
SuperLab

Fixes

Fixes

Supported Software

SUSE LINUX
Enterprise Server

SUSE LINUX SDK

Novell Linux Desktop

SUSE LINUX Development Process

Single Code Base
explained for SLES8

Freeze

8.0

8.1

Security fixes

SLES 8 x86

SLES 8 PPC

SLES 8 s390

SLES 8 IPF

SLES 8 AMD64

SLOX

SLD

Master Code Stream

EoL

02/2002

08/2002

10/2002

01/2003

03/2003

05/2003

08/2003

12/2003

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Release Model

9.0

Open Source / Community Packages

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server

8

9

10

11

SUSE LINUX Pro

9.1

9.2

8.1

Long term support

Predictable road map

Uniform ISV/OEM
certification process

10.0

10.1

10.2

Extensive beta testing

Extensive testing by early adopters and community members

anticipated

Benefits for Customers

SLES is based on Industry Standards

Supporting Industry Standards

Linux Standard Base (LSB)

Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)

Li18nux GB 18030 enablement

Carrier Grade Linux 2.0 (priority 1 features)

SE Linux

Achieving Security Certifications

DoD Common Operating Environment (DiiCOE)

Common Criteria EAL4+

Benefits (1)

It is important to you because ...

it streamlines operations

it reduces production errors

it maximizes your effectiveness

It is important to CIOs because ...

it makes everyone in IT smarter

it makes IT more agile in response to business needs

it reduces costs

SUSE's vision of a universal operating system:

“One operating system for all common platforms”

Benefits (2)

SLES functionality

same on all supported architectures

SLES support of APIs

same on all supported architectures

development efforts for ISV only once

costs savings for developers

SLES administration

same on all supported architectures

reduced costs for administration

it maximizes your effectiveness

SLES training and education

needs to be done only once for all supported architecture

reduced costs for training and education

Benefits (3)

SLES supports different hardware architectures

SLES available on different hardware architectures

Customers not tied into hardware vendor lock-in

Customers are safe in planning their IT

SLES Roadmap

SLES available on different hardware architectures

Reliable IT planning

SLES Maintenance Program

Patches available for registered customers

New version of SLES accessible

Quality Assurance

AutoBuild
Common Code Base

Exactly the same source code for everything

Only patches for architecture-specifics

Starting point is “Official Open Source” Code

All APIs are standard-compliant and upwards compatible (e.g. ACLs)

Programming APIs cross-platforms

Differences only in binary form

Common platform for add-on products

Synergies in QA and certification

Benefits from Common Code Base

Testing

AutoBuild

Intel x86 Pentium, Xeon (32 bit)

Intel Itanium Processor Family (Itanium 2 - 64 bit)

AMD x86 (32 bit)

AMD64 (32/64 bit)

IBM POWER (32/64 bit)

IBM zSeries and IBM S/390

Server

Mainframe

Desktop

Feature Submission

Call for features (main release – 15 months)

Central feature database

Feature review, functional grouping and prioritization

Must have (mandatory)

Should to have (recommended)

Nice to have (optional)

Later (spooled for next version)

Rejected

Roadmap with code drop deadline

Final list of features at code freeze deadline

Coding Guidelines

Start with latest snapshot or tar-ball

Enable (or better implement) for multi-platform

Big Endian & Little Endian

Create patches with “diff”-only

Split patch into functional components

Provide incremental patches

Read SUSE packaging HOWTO

Read guidelines under /usr/src/linux/Documentation

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Testing

Internet

Source

AutoBuild

Build

Test

Confi-

guration

Internal Dev.

Partner

this process is mandatory for every single line of code

SUSE LINUX Build Process

Testing

SUSE LINUX AutoBuild

Manual

Effort

Automated

Effort

*.tgz

Software packages from Open Source Community, IT Industry, SUSE...

*.srpm

Source code form of SUSE package

*.rpm

automatically compiled SUSE package binary

Patch for download ISO Image, Tape,...

SUSE Distribution Install Image “BOX”, “SLES”, ...

ISO Image, Tape ...

SUSE Distribution Installed Image, “LIVE”

...

...

...

AutoBuild
Automated, consistent package building

Testing

Automatic rebuilding of packages in self-hosting environment

source

repository

dependencies

resolving host

build client

rpm

repository

rpm

package

AutoBuild
Automated multi-lib system building

Testing

dependencies

resolving hosts

rpms

Build clients 32bit

Build clients 64bit

RPM

RPM

RPM

RPM

RPM

RPM

Testing

Develop, compile, test, execute on local workstation

Recompile, test and execute on target architecture

AutoBuild
Porting Applications Now Easy

RPM

PC Workstation

RPM

RPM

test, execute on local workstation

PC Server

x86

ppc

AMD64

ipSeries

Opteron

Automated checkpoint for license flag

AutoBuild
Integration of License Checks

source

repository

dependencies

resolving host

rpm

repository

rpm

package

build client

End-product:

Linux Distribution for customer use

Each rpm-package has attributes:

e.g. “license-type”, “distributable”, “OEM”. “internal”

Two-stage process for all legal attributes

All packages default to “safe setting”: internal-only

AutoBuild prohibits products with non-manually selected flags

Maintenance Process

Testing

QA

Re-

certification

Maintenance-

Server

Maintenance Fix

Alarm

Patch

AutoBuild

FTP-Server

Maintenance-

Server

Hotfix

Documentation

SUSE LINUX

SLES

RPM

RPM

Maintenance Process

Development Cycle

Development Cycle

Phase zero

(GA version)

Level 3 support Incident

(Level 1 & 2 support identifies customer problem as level 3 incident)

Phase one: SUSE develops temporary fix, (PTF)

(SUSE level 3 support provides PTF to customer, customer can continue operation)

Phase two: SUSE develops product conformant patch from PTF

(SUSE works on to be certified patch, QA)

Phase three: SUSE certified patch becomes part of product

(SUSE provides new patch level to customers)

Phase four: customer deploys new patchlevel

(customer continues operation)

Maintenance

Support

SLES on Cross Architecture --What is cross architecture? Why is it important for customers? Benefits?

Cross architecture IBM e-Server AMD SLES

SLES on Cross Architecture / Brainshare 2005 in Salt Lake CIty
Session Abstract:
What is cross architecture?
Why is it important for customers / enterprise?
What are the customer benefits?
What different hardware types / architectures are involved and available on the market?

2004-01-28T12:03:58