---
title: Mainframes Aren't Dead, They're Just Running Kubernetes Now
date: 2025-01-01
abstract: Mainframes have been declared dead more times than JavaScript frameworks have been invented—but here they are, still running the backbone of global finance, government, and enterprise computing. And now? They’re running Kubernetes too. This talk covers the why and how of running Kubernetes on mainframes, from containerization on z/OS to networking, workload orchestration, and real-world use cases. We’ll break down the challenges, the benefits, and whether this is a clever hack or a genuinely viable approach for modern infrastructure. If you think mainframes are relics, think again—because they’re running microservices now.
pinned: true
related_post: https://developers.redhat.com/learn/openshift/implement-multi-architecture-openshift-cluster-s390x-lpar
conferences:
  - name: The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit North America
    location: Denver
    date: 2025-06-24
    cancelled: true
  - name: Kubernetes Community Day Budapest
    location: Budapest
    date: 2025-04-24
    slides: /talks/slides/kcd-bud-mainframe.pdf
    recording: https://youtu.be/MRLQL0BNVPk
  - name: Kubernetes Community Days Bratislava
    location: Bratislava
    date: 2025-06-06
    slides: /talks/slides/kcd-bra-mainframe.pdf
    recording: https://youtu.be/dG9woWoW4m0
  - name: The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit Europe
    location: Amsterdam
    date: 2025-08-25
    slides: /talks/slides/oss-ams-mainframe.pdf
    recording: https://youtu.be/l2391SqiI-8
  - name: Container Days 
    location: Hamburg
    date: 2025-09-10
    slides: /talks/slides/cd-ham-mainframe.pdf
---