“It’s a pure Linux programming and development model,” says Boas
Betzler, technical specialist for IBM’s Linux Technology Center.
Betzler has been instrumental in the development of the Open Source
code for the S/390, and is part of the IBM team interacting closely
with the Open Source community. “It feels like Linux, smells like
Linux, tastes like Linux; it is Linux.”
“Mission-critical applications that require the traditional
strengths of the platform, including reliability, security and
scalability, can continue to operate on OS/390, Betzler says.
New applications can run on Linux for S/390, at the same time and
on the same server, Betzler says. For example, new DB2 Connect
middleware will allow applications running on Linux to access and
use data in DB2 Universal Database running on OS/390.”
“Linux for S/390 is all about openness,” explains Rich Lechner,
vice president of e-business, IBM’s Enterprise Systems Group.
“Linux opens the S/390 to new e-business applications and a new
generation of programming talent. Customers told us that they want
the application flexibility of Linux and I think the speed of our
response will thrill them.”