IBM LinuxONE 5 and Ubuntu Server, a great combination from day one

Today, IBM announced the launch of their latest server: the new IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5. This fifth generation redefines IBM’s LinuxONE system as their most secure and high-performing Linux computing platform for data, applications and trusted AI. 

Canonical supports LinuxONE Emperor 5 with Ubuntu Server. Ubuntu is cost-efficient and easy to install and manage on the servers – all whilst enabling the most up-to-date LinuxONE hardware features. Ubuntu Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE is ready for deployment from day one. 

This blog provides an overview of the IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5’s key features, and will demonstrate why Ubuntu Server is the right choice of software to install.

The new system was developed towards three main aspects and goals:

1. Industry-leading cyber security and privacy

IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5 lets users deploy confidential containers, and use quantum-safe encryption which can be scaled and unified across an enterprise. 

Ubuntu Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE is also designed with security in mind, making the perfect fit for the security features of the IBM LinuxONE 5 generation hardware. 

Canonical uses high security cryptography algorithms and disables weak cryptography algorithms by default. Ubuntu Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE is one of the very first Linux distributions that introduced Secure Execution support (since 20.04), and provides support for pervasive encryption in all dimensions, be it data at-rest, in-flight, or in-use. Ubuntu Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE supports quantum-safe cryptography, requiring only two commands to do so, and making use of the IBM LinuxONE 5 generation’s quantum-safe encryption becomes a transparent and easy process. 

Canonical’s Kernel Livepatch service (Pro) delivers kernel patches for high or critical vulnerabilities that can be applied to a running kernel, without needing immediate downtime, so the system can continue running.

Ubuntu is built for compliance, and has various security certifications including FIPS. 

These are only the beginning – you can learn more about the wealth of inherent Ubuntu Security Features in our wiki.

2. Optimized IT for energy and cost savings

IBM’s enterprise class of LinuxONE systems is renowned for its large-scale workload consolidation which can result in significant savings on energy, space, and operational costs.

These strengths improve with each new hardware generation, as overall resources and performance increase whilst maintaining the system’s maximum energy consumption at a steady level. IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5 includes up to 208 customer cores, up to 64TB of memory, and introduces a simplified system IO architecture. 

By choosing Ubuntu Pro to run on the IBM servers, you can get Expanded Security Maintenance for open source at a transparent rate with our unique drawer-based pricing. Learn more about the benefits of an Ubuntu Pro subscription here.

3. Built-in AI, engineered for better outcomes

On the IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5, you can develop AI models in a hybrid cloud and run inference alongside data and applications within a trusted execution environment (TEE), enhancing prediction accuracy using a multiple model AI approach with the integration AI accelerator in Telum II, and scale AI while maximizing energy efficiency. In addition, the previously announced Spyre is expected to become available in 2025, and will enable Generative AI applications to be developed and run.

Ubuntu is a popular choice for most AI and machine learning researchers. Ubuntu balances ease of use, compatibility with the larger AI stacks and popular frameworks, and support from the open-source community or commercial support through Ubuntu Pro.

Canonical is working hard  to ensure Telum II (of LinuxONE 5) and the upcoming Spyre Accelerator card are supported on Ubuntu Server, allowing users to deploy a multiple AI model approach in the future and as well as hardware-assisted generative AI.

After 9 years of LinuxONE and IBM Z (s390x) platform support, Canonical is proud that Ubuntu Server plays a central role in open source workloads, helping to make LinuxONE 5 generation easier to use, more secure, more reliable, and available to all at scale.

Download Ubuntu Server for IBM Z and LinuxONE

For more information about IBM LinuxONE Emperor 5, visit www.ibm.com/products/linuxone-5

Or if you have any questions, you can contact us directly:

Valerie Noto, Alliance Business Director – valerie.noto@canonical.com

Frank Heimes, Staff Engineer – frank.heimes@canonical.com