Terminal Talk

When you think of DevOps, your mind probably fills with visions of mobile apps, some middleware applications, maybe a backend service or two, but probably not machine firmware and millicode. Brenton is here to change that thinking, telling us all about how implementing DevOps at all levels can help teams get more done with greater efficiency. 

The processor powering the next generation of IBM Z and LinuxONE machines has some seriously impressive tech inside. From caching structures that keep response times down, to even more speciality engines built around AI, to even more security enhancements, Telum has much to offer. The research and collaboration that went into bringing all of this to life deserves some airtime as well, and we've got Dr. Christian Jacobi, Distinguished Engineer, IBM Z Hardware Development Systems to tell us why Telum is grabbing the industry's attention, how it all came together behind the scenes, and how its technology will benefit Z and LinuxONE users around the world.

Read more here: https://www.ibm.com/blogs/systems/ibm-telum-processor-the-next-gen-microprocessor-for-ibm-z-and-ibm-linuxone/

Anandtech Article: https://www.anandtech.com/show/16924/did-ibm-just-preview-the-future-of-caches

For testers, there's just never enough time, and being thorough without pushing back release dates is a constant struggle. With some very clever test architecture, and just heaps of pure genius, PJ Catalano and team have been able to get a jump on testing some big features in new hardware without sacrificing quality. Get a peek into the world of Enterprise System Test in this episode. 

You've gotta stay on top of your installed software, and the right approach can make all the difference. World renowned software install/management/upgrade expert Marna Wanna (and co-host of the other mainframe podcast, Mainframe, Performance, Topics) joins us to shed some light on what it takes to keep current without adding drama to an already-busy workload. 

What happens when you try and mix core Z tasks with modern automation frameworks? Turns out you get a robust system for getting those basic tasks done quicker, and in a way that enables much greater integration into other tooling. 

In this episode, we talk with The Michaels from Ensono, and hear how they leverage Ansible with z/OS to make things run smoother, just by aligning workloads, and in a single-digit matter of months. Truly inspiring. 

Learn more at https://www.ensono.com

and https://www.ansible.com/integrations/infrastructure/ibm-zos

In this "Back to School" episode, we learn all about Messaging, as in the process of sending/requesting logic and/or data on a computer platform, NOT passing notes in the back of class, and more specifically MQ, the specific middleware supported just about anywhere, but most importantly on Z. Professors Matt Sunley and Matt Leming walk us through the business and technical side of this powerful side of enterprise applications. 

Learn more at: https://www.ibm.com/products/mq

Sound Effects provided by ProSoundEffects / Pond5

Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Alongside the dizzying array of processors, I/O adapters, power management and networking hardware, nestled up in a far corner of the z15 sits a pair of servers with perhaps the most important job in the world; starting everything up. The Support Element (SE) and Hardware Management Console (HMC) give you all the controls needed to manage your Z resources, including LPARS, power management, and loading microcode. 

In our first ever "Back to School" episode, Fred Bader introduces us to this all-important part of the IBM Z data center. 

Back to School episodes are made with absolute beginners in mind. We will keep making regular episodes, where we dive deep into technologies, but we wanted something that newbies could jump onto without feeling overwhelmed. Seasons pros just may learn a thing or two as well! 

So don't worry, we didn't fire Old Man Charlie or anything :)

Sound Effects provided by ProSoundEffects / Pond5

Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Rich and Randy are avid advocates of Z, but also know that the real magic happens when people can benefit from it without needing to know a whole lot about the tech underneath. That's the case with the most recent pivot towards serverless computing, and what this episode is all about. This episode is a good peek into what it takes to blend cutting edge tech with the expected levels of capacity and availability. Make sure to stay tuned towards the end for some extremely solid career advice from the guys. 

For many, Python is just _the way things get done_, and having it available on z/OS alongside so many other great languages, subsystems and features helps make the platform more accessible than ever. Hear straight from Chad McIntyre, IBM Open Enterprise Python for z/OS Dev Lead, on just how important this effort is, why now, and how you can be best positioned to meet the needs of today's Python developers. 

Knowledge Center - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSCH7P_3.9.0

Marketplace - https://www.ibm.com/products/open-enterprise-python-zos

MRS (external pax download) - https://www-01.ibm.com/marketing/iwm/platform/mrs/assets?source=swg-ibmoep

Before software goes into production, it needs to be tested, and "It looks good to me" just isn't good enough. To ensure maximum coverage is attained, testing tools and frameworks are the way to go, and in this episode, we hear from Will Yates and Michael Baylis about how the Galasa Project helps them ensure solutions pass all the right tests. 

https://galasa.dev