integrated facility for linux

The Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) is an IBM mainframe processor dedicated to running the Linux operating system, with or without z/VM. IFLs are one of two types of mainframe processors expressly designed to reduce software costs. (The other type is zAAP.) Microcode restricts IFLs to Linux workload. IBM introduced IFLs on September 29, 2000. At the same time, IBM introduced a special Linux-only VM-like product, called the S/390 Virtual Image Facility for Linux, to cater to IT staff previously unfamiliar with IBM mainframes. IBM soon discovered that z/VM was not too difficult for new IT staff to learn (and worked better), so IBM discontinued S/390 Virtual Image Facility for Linux in April, 2002. IFLs are available for all IBM mainframes as far back as the G5 series.

Integrated Facility For Linux

See also