System z Linux Proof Of
Concept Project Management
Best Practices
September 8, 2009
Marianne Eggett
System z Linux Practice Manager
Marianne.eggett@mainline.com
Agenda
• Mainline’s System z Linux Life
Cycle
• Planning for the POC
• Project Methodology Overview
• Do’s and Don’ts
Through Out the Life Cycle
Mainline is there
Proving
Planning
•System z Linux POC Projects
•Systems Assurance
•Architecting Solutions
•Installation Services
•IBM Specialty Engine Loaner
Program
•Business Cases
•Sizing Servers for IFLs
•Value of Z Linux Presentations
•Account Planning
•Proposal Development
•Scoping POC
•Linux LOTS
•zVM & Linux Healthcheck
Production
Years of Experience
 11+ years with Linux
 6+ years implementing Linux
on System z
 6+ years server
consolidation sizings for
The Team
System z Linux
• Planning: New Workload Sales Team
 6+ years assisting with
business case development
 Marianne Eggett – Central, West
 Certifications Novell CLE, CLP,
 Andy Greco – NE, Mid Atlantic, SE
CNS and Red Hat RHCE
Linux Team
• Proving: Installation Team
 Project Managers
 zVM and Linux Technical Consultants
 WebSphere, DB2 UDB, other expertise
• Production: 24x7 SuSE LOTS Support Line
 Supporting zVM & SuSE Linux
 Supporting IBM and many non-IBM
middleware Software products
Best Fit For Server Consolidations
•DB2 Connect – Ideal 1st Application
•Oracle – Generates excellent TCOs
•WebSphere AS, MQSeries & Portal
•WebSphere HATS & HOD
•CICS Gateways, IMS Connect
•Lotus Domino eMail and Applications
•Tivoli TSM Server
•DB2 UDB
•Communication Controller for Linux (3745 replacement)
•Network Infrastructure; FTP, NFS, DNS, etc.
•ISV products; WebFocus, Attachmate
MIS Customer References
•State of Idaho
•Emigrant Savings
•University of Maryland
•Thomas Jefferson Un. Hospital
•Indianapolis Power & Light
•Boston University
•John Hopkins University
•Brocade
Domino, Apache appl
WebSphere
Oracle
TSM
WebSphere Hats
DB2 UDB, Oracle
WebSphere
Development Environment
Linux Partners
• Novell Business Partnership
 Mainline is Novell’s largest remarketer of System z
SuSE Linux
• Red Hat Business Partnership
• IBM
 zVM and PPA Software
 IBM Software Excel & Support Line
• Velocity Software for zVM & Linux performance tuning
Managing the Linux Proof of
Concept
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of
System z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case
Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Installation &
Set Up
Testing
Closing
Value Proposition
IBM
•Scorpion Study
•Environmental Studies
•Application Assessments
•zRace
Planning
Proving
Mainline
•IFL Capacity sizings
•Business Case
•zRace with IBM Techline
Production
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
Installation
•Software
Set Up
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•Statement of Work Consulting Services
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
•POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
&
Testing
Closing
Project Definition
• Choosing Scope is Critical
– Significant enough
– Not overwhelming
• Resource Commitment
• Senior Management Commitment
– Success Criteria
• System assurances are valuable
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
•Software
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•SOW Consulting Svc
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
• POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
Installation &
Set Up
•IBM loaner Eq.
•zVM & Linux install
•Other SW install
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•DB loads
•Application set up
•Other Distributed Servers
•Weekly Status Meeting
•Status Report
Testing
Closing
Installation and Set up
• Week day vs. Weekend changes
– IBM CE
– Real Memory
– Networks
• Consultants on site for skills transfer
– Back up environment
– Clones
• Weekly status meeting
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
•Software
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•SOW Consulting Svc
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
• POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
Installation &
Set Up
•IBM loaner Eq.
•zVM & Linux install
•Other SW install
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•DB loads
•Application set up
•Other Distributed Servers
•Weekly Status Meeting
•Status Report
Testing
•Test Plan
Unit
Volume/Performance
•Weekly Status Mtg
•Status Report
•Issues Management
•Escalation Process
•Resource Management
•In house
•Mainline
•IBM
•Linux vendor
•ISVs
Closing
Testing
• Test Plan
– Outline tests
– Document performance targets when compared to current
production system
– Keep track of each run’s changes
– Keep track of each run’s results
• Learning curve
– Ask for help early
• Problems
– Ask for help early
– IBM and BP resources
– Open problems with software vendors too, i.e. Oracle
• Weekly Status meetings
– Schedule meeting out 12 weeks
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
•Software
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•SOW Consulting Svc
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
• POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
Installation &
Set Up
•IBM loaner Eq.
•zVM & Linux install
•Other SW install
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•DB loads
•Application set up
•Other Distributed Servers
•Weekly Status Meeting
•Status Report
Testing
•Test Plan
Unit
Volume/Performance
•Weekly Status Mtg
•Status Report
•Issues Management
•Escalation Process
•Resource Management
•In house
•Mainline
•IBM
•Linux vendor
•ISVs
Closing
•Success Criteria
Acceptance
•Loaner Purchase or
removed
•Production Implementation Planning
•Purchasing
•Technical Services
•Vendor 24x7 Support
Closing
• Document results against Success
Criteria
• Review results with project team
to gain everyone’s concurrence
• Identified lesson’s learned
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
3-5 weeks
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
•Software
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•SOW Consulting Svc
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
• POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
1-3 weeks
Installation &
Set Up
•IBM loaner Eq.
•zVM & Linux install
•Other SW install
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•DB loads
•Application set up
•Other Distributed Servers
•Weekly Status Meeting
•Status Report
2-20+ weeks
Testing
•Test Plan
Unit
Volume/Performance
•Weekly Status Mtg
•Status Report
•Issues Management
•Escalation Process
•Resource Management
•In house
•Mainline
•IBM
•Linux vendor
•ISVs
1-3 weeks
Closing
•Customer Final Report
•Success Criteria
Acceptance
•IFL Purchased or
removed
•Production Implementation Planning
•Purchasing
•Technical Services
•Vendor 24x7 Support
Managing the Linux POC
Hardware Solution Coordination
zVM and Linux POC Project Management Deliverables
 These are PMO standard templates to manage Linux
POCs





POC
POC
POC
POC
POC
Scope Document
Success Criteria
Project Plan
Team Roster
Status Report
Final Comments
Beware of the Benchmark POC
Stay away from performance benchmark tests
that drive the IFL to 100% to determine
maximum transactions compared to
Intel/Power platforms.
System z Linux “sweet spot” is as a multi-tasker.
Ideal POC Scope
Focus the POC scope on
• Learning the environment
• Functional test or Production
comparative test
• Follow up on the Business Case
Planning
Proving – Managing the Linux POC
Project Initiation
Value Proposition
•Learning the value of System
z Linux
•Server Consolidation
Sizings
•Business Case Development
POC Initiative
•Scoping POC
•POC IFL Sizings
•Real memory sizing
•Scope Document
Project Definition
Infrastructure Planning
•Hardware
•Software
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•Backup & Recovery
Project Planning
•Scope Document
•Project Plan
•Team Roster
•Systems Assurance
•SOW Consulting Svc
•Status Report
•Phone Support
IBM Loaner Program
• POR date
•Success Criteria
•Configs
•Sizings
•IBM Contracts
•Linux Trial
•Software Trial
Installation &
Set Up
•IBM loaner Eq.
•zVM & Linux install
•Other SW install
•Network
•Security
•Disk
•DB loads
•Application set up
•Other Distributed Servers
•Weekly Status Meeting
•Status Report
Testing
•Test Plan
Unit
Closing
Volume/Performance
•Weekly Status Mtg
•Status Report
•POC Final Report
•Issues Management
•Success Criteria
•Escalation Process
Acceptance
•Resource Management
•IFL Purchased or
•In house
removed
•Mainline
•IBM
•Linux vendor
•ISVs
•Production Implementation Planning
•Purchasing
•Technical Services
•Vendor 24x7 Support