QEMU v5.2 released

QEMU v5.2 is out. A highlight from a KVM on Z perspective:

• PCI passthrough support now includes any PCI devices other than RoCE Express cards, including ISM devices as needed for SMC-D.
  

For further details, see the Release Notes.

New Publications

 

The following videos and publications are now available on the IBM Knowledge Center:

• IBM Secure Execution for Linux
  
• Video: Securing your Workload in the Cloud An Introduction
  Explains the risk factors against which IBM Secure Execution for Linux helps to protect for your workload.
• Video: Securing your Workload in the Cloud
  Shows how IBM Secure Execution for Linux protects your workload in the cloud.
• These videos are also reachable in the IBM Knowledge Center.
• Publication: Introducing IBM Secure Execution for Linux
  The new version of the guide includes new troubleshooting information and additional image hardening tips.
  Also available as PDF.
• Publication: KVM Virtual Server Management
  New information includes configuring KVM virtual servers for IBM Secure Execution for Linux, backing virtual block devices with PCIe-attached NVMe devices, and descriptions of new tools.
  Also available as PDF.

For more updates, check this blog entry.

RHEL 8.3 Released

RHEL 8.3 is out, see the official announcement.
The unquestionable highlight from a KVM on Z perspective is certainly the addition of the Secure Execution functionality. Also, ECKD DASD can be transparently passed through to KVM guests, allowing full exploitation of all DASD features, including raw track access and IPL

For further details on the changes, see the release notes, and the respective blog entry in the Linux on Z blog here.

Webcast: IBM Secure Execution for Linux Introduction and Demo

IBM Secure Execution for Linux allows to build a Trusted Execution Environment for IBM Z and LinuxONE that helps protect data in use.
This webcast gives an overview of the value and the key concepts of the technology, followed by a hands-on demo, outlining the steps needed to secure Linux workloads.

Audience: Clients, Business Partners, IT Architects, Systems Admins

Speaker: Viktor Mihajlovski, Linux on IBM Z Development, Product Owner for KVM on IBM Z

Date: November 18, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM EST

Registration: Register here, and check system requirements here.

2020 Linux on IBM Z and LinuxONE Client Workshop, November 9-14

Get the latest news about the Linux exploitation and advantages of the IBM Z and LinuxONE platform in this technical 5 day workshop. Focusing also on new solutions and capabilities, such as Hybrid Cloud, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Security, Performance, Networking and Virtualization presented by our development experts. We will start with introduction sessions on the first day, continue with 3 days of technical deep dive topics, and resume with the latest client experiences, and a panel discussion on the last day. You will also get a chance to interact directly with IBM developers and solution experts during the workshop.

Agenda highlights:

• Introduction day
• Linux on IBM Z and LinuxONE introduction and client stories
• Virtualization options with Linux on IBM Z and LinuxONERed Hat OpenShift Container Platform in the Hybrid Cloud Strategy for IBM Z & LinuxONE
• Cloud Paks for IBM Z overview
• Deep dive sessions
• What's new Linux on IBM Z and LinuxONE
• z/VM Platform update
• IBM Secure Execution for Linux - Introduction and Overview
• Hyper Protect Virtual Server onPrem - Differences to Cloud
• Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Z - Performance Experiences, Hints and Tips & Networking
• Securing the Workloads on Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Z
• IBM z15 Hardware Compression
• Preparing for Multifactor Authentication for z/VM
• Best Practices of Installing Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Z
• Competitive application performance on Red Hat OpenShift
• Cloud Paks for Data on IBM Z and LinuxONE
• KVM Network Performance - Best Practices and Tuning Recommendations
• Experiences and open discussion
• Client experiences and lessons learned
• Panel discussion for all
  

Date: November 9 - 13, 2020
Time schedule: 8:30 AM- 12:00 PM EDT / 2:30 - 6:00 PM CEST daily

Registration is open here till November 5.

Ubuntu 20.10 released

Ubuntu Server 20.10 is out!
It ships

• Linux kernel 5.8
• QEMU v5.0
• libvirt v6.6

See the release notes here, and the blog entry at canonical with Z-specific highlights here.

IBM Cloud Infrastructure Center adds Support for Red Hat KVM

The latest release of IBM Cloud Infrastructure Center 1.1.2 adds support for Red Hat KVM on IBM Z and LinuxONE.

IBM Cloud Infrastructure Center is an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) management solution that provides on-premise cloud deployments of Linux virtual machines on IBM Z and LinuxONE.
As a component of the Z Hybrid Cloud solution stack, Cloud Infrastructure Center delivers simplified IaaS management across compute, network, and storage resources, making virtual infrastructure ready to be consumed by PaaS layer solutions.
Among others, version 1.1.2 provides new capabilities, including cloud deployments for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Kernel-based Virtual Machines (KVM).

See here for the official announcement, and here for a blog entry with further details.