Mike MacIsaac - 2013-02-13

"Mz" ("Managing z") is a lightweight set of Linux bash scripts that provide both a command line and a Web interface for systems management of z/VM and Linux on the mainframe. These scripts work well between System z LPARs and CECs.

If you are expecting quality, well-tested bug-free code, then this package is not for you (you have been warned :)) If you're the experimental, "bleading-edge" type, you might want to try it out on a sandbox system.

Here is a "quick start" on how to try it out:
-) Have access to sufficient mainframe resources
-) Define a virtual machine with class BCDEG privileges and OPTION LNKNOPAS.
-) Install a recent RHEL or SLES Linux.
-) Install the cmsfs RPM on SLES (on RHEL it's part of s390-tools).
-) Have access to co-req'd RPMs - 'openssh', 'rsync' and 's390-tools' are easy, 'tree' is on another DVD on SLES (e.g. SLE-11-SP2-SDK).
-) Download the Mz rpm.
-) Install the pre-req RPMs
-) Install it (rpm -ivh mz-2-13.s390x.rpm)
-) Run 'mzmktree'
-) If that works, rum 'mzlstree -d'
-) look in the document /usr/local/share/mz/mz.pdf (also in the Files page) on how to set up Web access and much more

I'd expect most of the general discussion to occur on the linux-390 list server, but if there is more detailed discussion, it might be better here.

            -Mike MacIsaac