Stream: Hybrid Cloud & Networks
Time: 14:30 - 15:15
As enterprises hybrid cloud environments mature, the need for consistent, scalable, and automated infrastructure management has become paramount. Terraform has emerged as a foundational technology for managing infrastructure across public clouds, private data centers, and now, mainframe systems. With IBM’s acquisition of HashiCorp and the introduction of IBM Terraform for Z and LinuxONE, the scope and impact of Terraform have expanded significantly—bridging the gap between cloud-native agility and mainframe reliability. This session explores the evolution and strategic significance of Terraform in modern enterprise IT. We begin with a technical overview of Terraform’s declarative configuration model, which allows infrastructure to be defined in code, versioned, and deployed consistently across environments. Attendees will gain insight into Terraform’s core features and workflows and how it integrates with DevOps pipelines, version control systems, and policy-as-code frameworks to enforce governance and accelerate delivery. Building on this foundation, we delve into the extension of Terraform to IBM Z and LinuxONE platforms. Traditionally managed through specialized tools and skillsets, mainframe infrastructure can now be provisioned and managed using the same IaC principles that govern cloud environments. This unification simplifies operations, reduces configuration drift, and enables cross-functional teams to collaborate more effectively. The session will highlight how Terraform for Z and LinuxONE integrates with Ansible to provide a full-stack automation solution—from infrastructure provisioning to configuration management. We will also explore how this approach lowers the barrier to entry for mainframe operations by leveraging familiar tools and workflows, making it easier for organizations to modernize without sacrificing performance, security, or compliance. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of: - Terraform’s role in unifying infrastructure management across platforms. - Best practices for implementing Terraform in hybrid and Z environments. - The strategic value of extending IaC to Z systems. - How to future-proof infrastructure operations through automation and standardization. This session is ideal for DevOps engineers, cloud architects, mainframe specialists, and IT leaders seeking to modernize infrastructure management while preserving the strengths of their existing systems. Whether you're managing cloud-native applications or mission-critical workloads on IBM Z, this talk will provide actionable insights into the future of infrastructure as code.
There is currently no attachment for IBM Terraform for Z and LinuxONE 101
Email: christopher.byrnes@ibm.com
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