IBM says the z/OS 3.1 operating system will further integrate AI, embrace cloud stores, and improve performance of Linux workloads. Credit: IDG IBM said this week it will soon roll out an AI-infused, hybrid-cloud oriented version of its z/OS mainframe operating system. Expected in the third quarter, z/OS 3.1 will support technologies intended to enable deployment of AI workloads co-located with z/OS applications, IBM said in a customer preview letter. The new OS will work best with the newest version of the Big Iron, the z16, but it will support z14 models and above, IBM says. The z16 includes an AI accelerator built onto its core Telum processor that can do 300 billion deep-learning inferences per day with one millisecond latency and includes what IBM calls a quantum-safe system to protect organizations from anticipated quantum-based security threats. When it was introduced IBM said the z16 would open a whole new set of AI possibilities that couldn’t be considered before. Now it promises the new version of z/OS will further deliver on that plan by: Supporting a new AI Framework for system operations intended to augment z/OS with intelligence that optimizes IT processes, simplifies management, improves performance, and reduces skill requirements. Extending the AI ecosystem by enabling AI co-located with z/OS applications, designed for low-latency response times. Controlling the system with AI-powered workload management that intelligently predicts upcoming workloads and react by allocating an appropriate number of batch runs, thus eliminating manual fine-tuning and trial-and-error approaches. Supporting AI applications is a core component of the z16 strategy, but the upcoming operating system also features cloud capabilities, IBM says. “z/OS 3.1 intends to embrace aspects of cloud-native management of z/OS based on industry standards and access to consistent and modern browser-based interfaces, enabling users to efficiently update and configure z/OS and related software,” IBM stated. “With enhanced management infrastructure and self-service access to tasks, z/OS 3.1 plans to continue simplifying and automating the management of the operating system to help guide the next generation of system programmers,” IBM stated. With that in mind, IBM said z/OS 3.1 will include: A new z/OS callable service, Cloud Data Access, to enable access to data in cloud object stores and to incorporate cloud object data into z/OS workloads. A set of modern APIs with a C-based interface, designed to simplify the application effort needed to access NoSQL VSAMDB data sets on z/OS. IBM z/OS Container Extensions (zCX) to improve performance and security while running containerized Linux workloads and to support NFS, HTTPS, and IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition. Dedicated real memory pools to improve the behavior of applications that have a high memory requirement. An extension of the z/OS Authorized Code Scanner to provide greater coverage of potential vulnerabilities. Enhanced COBOL-Java support that will let 31-bit COBOL call 64-bit Java programs using the IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS. Related content news Nvidia unveils new Blackwell systems, accelerates release of Spectrum-X networking The systems, announced at Computex in Taipei, will power what the company calls ‘AI factories’. By Lynn Greiner Jun 02, 2024 4 mins Generative AI GPUs news Singapore government pushes energy-efficient data center plan The city state is looking at greener energy sources and wants to make every aspect of data center energy consumption, from cooling to coding, more efficient. By John Leyden May 31, 2024 4 mins Energy Efficiency Data Center Design Data Center Management news Everyone but Nvidia joins forces for new AI interconnect Hyperscalers and chip makers, including AMD, Broadcom, Cisco, Google, HPE, Intel and Microsoft, are partnering to develop a high-speed chip interconnect to rival Nvidia’s NVLink technology. By Andy Patrizio May 30, 2024 4 mins CPUs and Processors Data Center news AT&T taps Cisco fixed 5G wireless gateways for WAN service Cisco Meraki devices are also part of fixed 5G wireless services from T-Mobile and Verizon. By Michael Cooney May 30, 2024 3 mins 5G Wireless Security WAN PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe