IBM has taken a strategic step to democratize access to mainframe power, unveiling new versions of its IBM Z and LinuxONE systems in single-chassis and rack-mount formats. With this expansion, the company aims to bring high-performance computing, security, and reliability to edge environments, hybrid clouds, and smaller enterprises without sacrificing the power that characterizes these platforms.

New Models for New Scenarios

The IBM z17 family expands with two innovative configurations: the z17 single frame, a complete system integrated into an IBM rack with intelligent power distribution units, ready for deployment in peripheral or strategic locations; and the z17 rack mount, which allows Z components to be installed directly in standard industry racks, offering flexibility to coexist with other technologies. Meanwhile, the LinuxONE Rockhopper 5 range includes single-chassis models, rack versions, and an Express rack option, designed for new customers or those with reduced workloads, providing a cost-effective and scalable entry point.

According to Tina Tarquinio, Director of Product for IBM Z & LinuxONE, the goal is to “bring mainframe strengths to a broader range of deployment models while maintaining the security, resilience, and performance that enterprises need.”

More Power and Memory for AI

The new configurations support up to 82 cores and 18 TB of memory across two processor modules, representing a 20% increase in cores and 12% increase in memory capacity over previous generations. The 5.5 GHz IBM Telum II processor, along with an integrated AI accelerator, can execute over 450 billion inference operations per day with millisecond response times. The 32-core Spyre accelerator complements this capability to handle diverse AI workloads.

Tarquinio highlights that even the smallest member of the z17 family offers “the performance, efficiency, and scalability that organizations need to balance growth with real resource constraints.”

LinuxONE Rockhopper 5: Consolidation and Efficiency

Marcel Mitran, IBM Fellow and CTO of IBM LinuxONE, explains that Rockhopper 5 is aimed at organizations looking to consolidate x86 infrastructure, reducing physical footprint and adopting a licensing model based on actual workload limits rather than server count. The Express version, preconfigured with a predictable upfront cost, allows smaller companies to evaluate LinuxONE without committing to a full-size deployment.

“It is designed for organizations that want to consolidate a modest set of x86 servers, evaluate LinuxONE for the first time, or deploy a specific workload such as digital assets, transactional processing with AI, or confidential computing,” Mitran notes.

Enhanced Security and Simplified Management

IBM has integrated post-quantum cryptography as standard in the new systems, protecting critical data long-term and reducing the complexity of future migrations. Additionally, the Crypto Discovery & Inventory tool allows security teams to identify encrypted data across the organization. The Infrastructure Management for Z and LinuxONE package centralizes administration, monitoring, automation, and provisioning, reducing operational burden.

These capabilities align with current trends in security and best practices in enterprise environments, where automation and advanced cryptography are fundamental pillars.

Mainframes in the AI Era

An IBM Institute study reveals that 75% of executives expect mainframe-based applications to remain central to digital transformation, and 60% consider them essential for AI innovation. Mainframes are becoming “intelligent execution systems,” where AI acts directly within transactions. Gartner, in its report The State of the IBM Mainframe in 2026, confirms that IBM is investing significantly to modernize the mainframe, preparing it for the next decade.

This approach is relevant for companies seeking reliable AI benchmarks and looking to integrate artificial intelligence into critical processes such as fraud detection or claims management.

Availability and Outlook

The new models will be available from August 12, 2026, while the management package will arrive on August 14. With these launches, IBM reaffirms its commitment to offering mainframes adaptable to hybrid and AI environments, maintaining the security and performance that enterprises demand.

For organizations looking to optimize their infrastructure, consolidation with LinuxONE can be an efficient alternative, similar to how Costa Rica modernized its tax management with elastic and secure cloud architectures.

Original source: ComputerWorld. Analysis and adaptation by ForgeNEX.