IBM Z supports 5 unique operating systems:

1. z/OS - flagship operating system used for this contest
2. Linux - if you know Linux, you know Linux that runs on IBM Z
3. z/VM - hypervisor operating system
4. z/TPF - Transaction Processing Facility
5. z/VSE - similar to z/OS with less features and functions

If you want to read more about these operating systems:
IBM Z Operating Systems

IBM Z supports 2 types of hypervisors:

1. LPAR - Logical Partition, a type 1 hypervisor
2. z/VM - z/Virtual Machine, a type 2 hypervisor

If you want to read more about hypervisors:
Types of Hypervisors

• LPAR hardware hypervisor is assigned CPU's, Memory, and Peripheral Devices such as disk, network, tape, etc, from the total available resource pool.
• Any of the 5 operating systems can run in an LPAR.
• A single IBM Z is capable or running up to 85 LPARs.
• z/VM is a software hypervisor.
• Any of the 5 operating systems can be a guest virtual machine within the z/VM environment.
• It is common to use z/VM hypervisor to run 100's and even 1000's of Linux operating systems.
• Communication between the operating systems in the IBM Z frame eliminates the requirement for extra cables and the response time between operating systems is near zero.
• Running 8,000+ operating systems within a single IBM Z frame with network delay between the operating systems near zero is industrial strength architecture.

While previous years' contests exposed contestants to other IBM Z operating systems, 2018 contest is all z/OS. However, the contest z/OS is running as virtual machine under z/VM where the z/VM is running in one of several LPARs on the contest IBM Z hardwere - contest system is using a very small fraction of the IBM Z frame.

As a result of the contest z/OS running as a virtual machine under z/VM, it is possible to 'query' z/VM from z/OS.

If you want free access to Linux running on IBM Z:
Start your trial now

From ISPF/TSO =6 panel (ISPF Command Shell), enter the following z/VM Query commands:

• q cplevel
    z/VM Operating System Level hosting the contest z/OS virtual machine
• q n
    Number of virtual machines currently active as guests of z/VM
• q nic
    Network Interface Controller
    Observe the NIC Adapter device number (400) and the NIC Adapter Name
      Write down the NIC Adapter Name - you will need it to complete challenge
  The NIC adapter device number is the first of three z/VM device addresses used to
  communicate with z/OS virtual machine
• q 400-402
    z/VM defined NIC Adapter Devices 400 to 402

The following information is available from the z/VM query commands:

• z/VM NIC adapter device addresses 400-402 are used to communicate with z/OS
• z/VM NIC adapter name is known - you were asked to write it down previously

dslist 'vendor.tcpparms'

1. View 'v' vendor.tcpparms partitioned data set
2. Select 's' member name S0W1
     The data is the z/OS TCPIP definitions which includes the z/OS HOME IP address and NIC adapter name
     No worries - any attempt to save changes will fail due to read-only authority
3. Delete all lines except the 3 lines with the NIC adapter name
4. After 'a' the third and last line, enter ISPF edit primary command
   copy 'lvl0.vtamlst(osatrl)'
     You are looking at additional z/OS definitions used to establish connection with z/VM
5. Type ISPF line command c99 over top of the first line number and enter ISPF primary command
   rep p3.output(#12) to copy all lines to p3.output(#12)
6. Enter ISPF edit primary command cancel to exit view session.

If done correctly, p3.output(#12) has 7 lines consisting of z/OS definitions used to connect to z/VM.