zVM

z/VM is IBM's virtualization platform for IBM System z mainframes. It acts as a hypervisor that enables the creation and management of multiple virtual machines on a single physical IBM Z processor complex, providing complete isolation, flexible resource allocation, and support for diverse operating environments.

History: The virtualization concept originated with CP (Control Program) for VM/370 in the early 1970s. Over the years it evolved through VM/ESA and was rebranded as z/VM in the 2000s. It has remained IBM's primary mainframe virtualization solution, continuously updated to support newer System z hardware, Linux on IBM Z, and other guest operating systems.

Architecture and capabilities: z/VM runs on IBM Z hardware and provides virtual machines that share processors, memory, I/O, and networking resources. It offers virtual storage and networking, and enforces strong isolation between guests. The platform accommodates multiple operating environments, such as Linux on IBM Z and other IBM mainframe operating systems, within separate VMs. Administrators can allocate resources dynamically and manage workloads using IBM's system management tooling.

Administration and usage: z/VM is managed through console and command-line interfaces, with automation support via scripting and IBM management products. It is employed for workload isolation, development and testing, mainframe consolidation, and cloud-like environments in enterprise data centers.