This IBM® Redbooks® publication introduces the latest IBM z® platform, the IBM z14. It includes information about the Z environment and how it helps integrate data and transactions more securely, and can infuse insight for faster and more accurate business decisions.

The z14 is a state-of-the-art data and transaction system that delivers advanced capabilities, which are vital to the digital era and the trust economy. This system includes the following functionality:

This book explains how this system uses both new innovations and traditional Z strengths to satisfy growing demand for cloud, analytics, and mobile applications. With the z14 as the base, applications can run in a trusted, reliable, and secure environment that both improves operations and lessens business risk.

This book was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, Poughkeepsie Center.

Bill White is an IBM Redbooks Project Leader and Senior Networking and Connectivity Specialist at IBM Redbooks, Poughkeepsie Center.

Hervey Kamga is an IBM z Systems® Product Engineer with the EMEA I/O Connectivity Team in Montpellier, France. Prior to that, he was a Support Engineer and Engineer On Site for 13 years with Sun MicroSystems and Oracle in EMEA. Hervey’s areas of expertise include: Oracle Solaris (operating system and hardware products), Virtualization (VMware and virtualBox), Linux (Ubuntu), and z Systems I/O features and protocols (IBM FICON® and OSA).

Michal Kordyzon is a z Systems Client Technical Specialist at IBM Poland with 12 years of experience with the z Systems platform. He also has expertise in LinuxONE. His areas of expertise include mainframe architecture, Linux systems, Hyperledger fabric, Node.js, and Machine Learning algorithms.

Octavian Lascu is an IBM Redbooks Project Leader and a Senior IT Consultant for IBM Romania with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in designing, implementing, and supporting complex IT infrastructure environments (systems, storage, and networking), including high availability and disaster recovery solutions and high-performance computing deployments. He has developed materials for and taught over 50 workshops for technical audiences around the world. He has written several IBM publications.

Frank Packheiser is a Senior zIT Specialist at the Field Technical Sales Support office in Germany. He has 26 years of experience in IBM z Systems. Frank has worked for 10 years in the IBM Education Center in Germany, developing and providing professional training. He also provides professional services to z Systems and mainframe clients. In 2008 and 2009, Frank supported clients in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) as a zIT Architect. In addition to co-authoring several IBM Redbooks publications since 1999, he has been an official ITSO presenter at ITSO workshops for the last four years.

John Troy is a z Systems and Storage hardware National Top Gun in the northeast area of the United States. He has 36 years of experience in the service field. His areas of expertise include technical and customer support for z Systems server and high-end storage systems. John has been a z Systems hardware technical support course designer, developer, and instructor for the last seven generations of IBM high-end servers.

Esra Ufacik is a z Systems Lead Architect in IBM Systems covering Asia Pacific. Throughout her career, she has held various roles in different companies with Z products, such as IBM z/OS® and IBM Parallel Sysplex®. These roles include implementation, migration, SAN, storage, software problem support, solution designing, Linux on z Systems, IT Optimization, TCO assessments, technical authoring, and guest lecturing. In March 2016, she was assigned as IOT lead for Blockchain in IBM Systems division.

Bo Xu is a Senior System Service Representative in China. He has more than 20 years of experience with z Systems products maintenance support. He has been working in the GTS department to provide z Systems support to clients as a local Top Gun, and provide second-level support for IBM DS8000® as one of his country’s Top Gun & Skill Owners. His areas of expertise include z Systems hardware, channel connectivity, and IBM DS8000.

Thanks to the following people for their contributions to this project:

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