This IBM Redbooks publication describes the Linux distributions available for the mainframe. It will help you to install, customize and maintain the following distributions:

-) SuSE Linux Enterprise Server for S/390

-) Turbolinux server for zSeries and S/390

-) Red Hat Linux for S/390

-) Marist File System

-) Caiman Linux

-) Think Blue Linux

We address installation and usage of Linux images on a logical partition (LPAR), under z/VM, and under the Virtual Image Facility (VIF). The following topics are also discussed:

-) Managing DASD and file systems

-) Logical Volume Manager (LVM)

-) High Availability

-) Debugging

-) Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

-) Systems management

-) Security

-) Backup and restore

-) DB2

-) WebSphere Application Server

Part 1. Linux overview

Ch 1. Overview

Ch 2. Planning for Linux

Ch.3. Preparation

Part 2. Strategic Linux distributions

Ch 4. Overview of SuSE Linux

Ch 5. Installing SuSE Linux

Ch 6. Customizing and using SuSE Linux

Ch 7. Overview of Turbolinux

Ch 8. Installing Turbolinux

Ch 9. Customizing and using Turbolinux

Ch 10. Overview of Red Hat Linux

Ch 11. Installing Red Hat Linux

Ch 12. Customizing and using Red Hat Linux

Part 3. Other distributions

Ch 13. The Marist File System

Ch 14. Caiman Linux for zSeries

Ch 15. Think Blue 64 Linux for zSeries

Part 4. Other topics

Ch 16. VIF

Ch 17. Logical Volume Manager

Ch 18. High Availability using clusters

Ch 19. Debugging and problem diagnosis

Ch 20. LDAP

Ch 21. System management tools

Ch 22. Security

Ch 23. Backup and restore

Ch 24. DB2

Ch 25. WebSphere Application Server

Ch 26. Conclusion

App A. Commands and other references

App B. Parameter file values

App C. Customizing Linux checklist

App D. 64-bit Linux

App E.ICKDSF bootstrap job