zISX

The architecture of zISX is designed to provide a robust and efficient virtualization environment for z/OS. The core components include the zISX Executive, which manages the overall operation of the virtualized environment; the Virtual Machine Manager, responsible for allocating and managing resources for each virtual machine; the Device Emulation Layer, which provides the necessary hardware emulation for virtual machines; the I/O Subsystem, which handles input/output operations; and the System Console, which provides a console interface for each virtual machine. Communication between these components is primarily through z/OS system calls and internal interfaces.

The zISX Executive coordinates the activities of the other components. The Virtual Machine Manager interacts with the z/OS kernel to allocate memory and other resources. The Device Emulation Layer intercepts and emulates hardware instructions.

The I/O Subsystem handles device access requests. The System Console provides a means for interacting with each virtual machine. zISX does not use a separate database or storage mechanism for its core operations; it leverages the z/OS file system and memory management for storing configuration data and managing virtual machine states.

Configuration data is stored in text-based configuration files. Network requirements include connectivity to the z/OS network, allowing virtual machines to communicate with each other and external systems. Ports used are dependent on the network configuration within the virtual z/OS instances.

The security model is based on the z/OS security features, including RACF for authentication and RBAC for access control. All actions performed within zISX are logged, providing a comprehensive audit trail.