IBM Expands Z17 and LinuxONE 5 Mainframe Lineups with Single Frame and Rackmount

13 hours ago

IBM experienced its best year for mainframe sales in over two decades in 2025, driven by the new z17 series and Telum II processor.
In summer 2026, IBM is expanding the z17 and LinuxONE 5 lineups with single-frame and rack mount systems for customers needing less performance than multi-rack setups.
The LinuxONE Express, a standalone rack mount box, will serve as an entry point for new customers, featuring a fixed starting price of $165,000.
The z17 platform, based on the Telum II processor, includes an AI accelerator block and the Spyre accelerator for enhanced AI performance.
New smaller systems include the z17 ME2 (single-frame) and z17 MER (rack mount), offering up to 82 cores and 18TB of memory, with generational improvements in throughput and capacity.
IBM aims to leverage on-premise AI computing and security features to appeal to regulated industries, maintaining backward compatibility and high reliability.
The LinuxONE Express is designed to simplify onboarding into the LinuxONE ecosystem with a pre-priced, turnkey solution, potentially driving further revenue growth.
All new mainframe systems are set to go on sale with general availability starting August 12th.

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