IBM Introduces LinuxONE 5: A Sophisticated Approach to Security, Efficiency, and AI Integration for Modern Enterprises
On May 6, 2025, at its annual THINK conference, IBM rolled out the IBM® LinuxONE 5, an advanced computing platform designed with the complexities of today’s business environments in mind. Powered by the new IBM Telum™ II processor, LinuxONE 5 brings a more secure, cost-efficient, and AI-enabled infrastructure to the table, giving organizations the flexibility they need to scale and adapt in an increasingly digital world.
A New Standard in Security
LinuxONE 5 continues IBM’s long-standing focus on cybersecurity, incorporating a robust set of features aimed at securing both current and emerging workloads. At the heart of its security strategy is zero trust architecture, which simplifies compliance while strengthening defenses against an evolving range of cyber threats. Notable features include:
- Confidential Computing: Protects sensitive data during processing, ensuring privacy even under the most demanding workloads.
- Post-Quantum Cryptography: Uses NIST-standard algorithms to safeguard data against the potential risks posed by future quantum computing developments.
- Hardware Security Modules: These modules add an extra layer of protection for data and workloads, even in hybrid environments.
- Confidential Containers: By leveraging Red Hat® OpenShift® Container Platform, LinuxONE 5 ensures the security of AI models and sensitive data, enhancing the integrity of containerized applications.
Together, these features offer a comprehensive security framework designed to future-proof businesses, particularly those with complex data protection requirements.
Efficiency without Compromise
LinuxONE 5 is built to streamline operations and reduce costs without sacrificing performance. By consolidating workloads onto a single high-capacity system, it reduces the need for extensive hardware and offers notable energy savings. Key advantages include:
- Workload Consolidation: By running multiple workloads on one platform, organizations can reduce hardware demands, freeing up space and resources.
- Energy Efficiency: Maintaining high performance while reducing energy consumption, LinuxONE 5 helps companies lower their environmental impact.
- Cost Reduction: For businesses migrating cloud-native, containerized workloads from x86 systems, IBM internal performance tests found that LinuxONE 5 can provide up to 44% savings in total cost of ownership over five years.
- High Availability: The platform supports up to 99.999999% uptime, ensuring that critical systems remain operational without disruption.
AI Capabilities for the Next Generation
At the core of LinuxONE 5 is the IBM Telum II processor, which includes a second-generation AI accelerator specifically designed to handle both real-time transactions and AI workloads. Some of the key features include:
- Generative AI Expansion: In the latter part of 2025, IBM will introduce the IBM Spyre™ Accelerator, a PCIe card designed to enhance generative AI applications, providing further opportunities for businesses to innovate.
- Predictive AI Scaling: Improves precision and accuracy in handling high-volume transaction processing, making it ideal for industries with large data flows.
- Multiple Model AI Support: LinuxONE 5 strengthens AI applications such as fraud detection, image processing, and retail automation by enhancing predictive capabilities.
- AI Toolkit for Developers: Optimized for the Telum II processor, this toolkit accelerates AI deployment and simplifies model management for faster iteration.
With this announcement, IBM is introducing a technology preview of Red Hat® OpenShift® AI and OpenShift® Virtualization on IBM LinuxONE 5. Clients can now test managing VMs and containers in one interface and deploy models in standard mode using available vLLM templates.
An Ecosystem Built for Innovation
LinuxONE 5’s capabilities are further enhanced by an expansive ecosystem of partners, from independent software vendors (ISVs) to open-source communities, ensuring businesses can deploy tailored solutions with ease.
With LinuxONE 5, IBM is offering a platform that blends security, efficiency, and AI innovation to help organizations navigate the complexities of modern IT. Whether it’s building intelligent applications, consolidating infrastructure, or preparing for a future defined by digital transformation, LinuxONE 5 stands as a powerful yet adaptable solution.
IBM has not announced a firm release date for LinuxONE 5, but general availability updates are expected in the coming months.
Learn more: ibm.com/linuxone-5
PopUp Mainframe Ltd. Unveils Insights from Mainframe Survey, Highlighting 2025 Trends and Challenges for IBM Mainframe Users
PopUp Mainframe Ltd. has unveiled the findings of its Mainframe Survey, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of IBM mainframe technology and the strategic priorities for enterprises heading into 2025.
The survey underscores the ongoing reliance, investment, and perceived value of mainframe environments in the sector. An impressive 98% of respondents confirmed their dependence on IBM mainframes to operate their organizations. Additionally, 94% indicated the potential to leverage extra workload capacity on specialist or Linux environments on Z, while 97% expressed plans to increase their usage of specialized mainframe processors.
The survey also highlights significant strategic challenges faced by industry leaders, with around 80% of respondents identifying issues such as delivery speed, cost management, flexibility, risk management, and meeting sustainability goals as key concerns in need of improvement. Operationally, nearly two-thirds of participants cited difficulties in accessing mainframe environments as a barrier to fulfilling delivery requirements, while most respondents also highlighted challenges with technical skills and adequate tooling.
“As we see the attitudes around mainframe modernization continue to evolve, the platform’s ability to help deliver change rapidly, without risk, and with the right levels of flexibility, remains critical,” said CEO Gary Thornhill.
“With 60 years of success and a brand-new model now available, it is no wonder so many organizations see the enduring value of the IBM mainframe. What our survey shows is a reminder that, in an ever-evolving digital world, overcoming important strategic and operational challenges continues to be an imperative for many organizations, and that there remain a variety of difficulties to overcome. The responses suggest to us that how the mainframe is used must evolve to meet these challenges. Essential is the requirement for organizations to innovate through both tooling and process, with emphasis on cultural change,” he added.
The survey, conducted in partnership with global research firm Vanson Bourne, polled senior IT executives and professionals from the UK and North America. It explored the strategic significance of IBM mainframes to their businesses, current challenges, future needs, as well as their development toolchains and resources.
Source: PopUp Mainframe
Sonja Soderlund is an Oregon-based B2B freelance writer. Whether writing about mainframe computers, educational technology, or sustainable retail, she strives to bring clarity to complex issues. Connect with her at sonjasoderlund.com or LinkedIn.