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Information about Ibm System Z9

IBM mainframes
IBM 700/7000 series
IBM System/360
IBM System/370
IBM ESA/390
IBM zSeries
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IBM System z9 Enterprise Class
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System z9 Typ 2094
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System z9 Typ 2094, open front with one HMC
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System z9 Typ 2094, backside
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System z9 Typ 2094, open backside
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System z9 Logo
IBM System z9 is a line of IBM mainframes. It was announced on July 25, 2005 and the first models were available on September 16, 2005. The System z9 also marks the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention.

Background

System z9 is the latest mainframe to use z/Architecture, previously known as ESAME. z/Architecture is a 64-bit architecture which replaces the previous 31-bit-addressing/32-bit-data ESA/390 architecture while remaining completely compatible with it as well as the older 24-bit-addressing/32-bit-data System/360 architecture. The primary advantage of this arrangement is that intensive applications like DB2 are no longer bound by 31-bit memory restrictions while older applications can run without modifications.

Name Change

With the announcement of the System z9 Business Class server, IBM has renamed the System z9 109 as the System z9 Enterprise Class server. IBM documentation abbreviates them as the z9 BC and z9 EC, respectively.

Notable Differences

There are several functional enhancements in the System z9 compared to its zSeries predecessors. Some of the differences include:

HMC

The hardware management console (HMC) is the most direct and lowest level way to access a mainframe. It circumvents even the operating system running on the mainframe. All preceding zSeries mainframes used a modified version of OS/2 with custom software to provide the interface. System z9's HMC no longer uses OS/2, but instead uses a modified version of Linux with an OS/2 lookalike interface to ease transition as well as a new interface. Unlike the previous HMC application on OS/2, the new HMC is web based which means that even local access is done via a web browser. Remote HMC access is available, although only over an SSL encrypted HTTP connection. The web based nature means that there is no longer a difference between local console access and remote access, which means a remote user potentially has full control if authorized, allowing more flexibility for locating systems within data centers. IBM refers to the new HMC as a "closed platform" which does not allow the user to install software or access the command line interface to increase security and stability. The HMC is also firewalled by default with a minimal number of open ports for remote access.

Program Directed Re-IPL

Program Directed Re-IPL is a new feature for Linux on System z9. It allows Linux systems running in an LPAR to re-IPL (reboot) themselves without operator intervention. This is accomplished by the System z9 storing the device and load parameters used to initially IPL the system.

DB2 and VSAM Features

DB2, VSAM, and other data storage formats achieve greater I/O performance thanks to a new System z9 feature called a MIDAW. Also, the System z9 introduces the zIIP, a new type of processor that accelerates certain specific DB2 tasks.

Java Features

Java 1.4 and higher support both 32-bit and 64-bit operation on z9. The System z9 also supports the zAAP processor, which allows most of the Java workload to be offloaded from the normal instruction processors. Java workloads executed by the zAAP processor do not count towards the IBM-rated capacity of the z9. This reduces the z9's total cost of ownership compared with other platforms. The zAAP also enables integration of new Java based Web applications with core z/OS backend database environment for high performance, reliability, availability, and security.

Cryptography

The System z9 adds Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to the list of hardware-based cryptographic algorithms. Other hardware-boosted features include additional random number generation and SHA algorithms. This specialized encryption hardware means System z9 handily outperforms other platforms which must rely on encryption software across a broader range of cryptographic needs.

LPARs

The System z9 supports up to 60 LPARs, up from the previous maximum of 30.

Additional Memory Expansion

The System z9 supports twice its immediate predecessors' maximum memory configurations: now up to 512 GB for the z9 EC and up to 64 GB for the z9 BC.

Concurrent Book Replacement

The System z9 supports nondisruptive processor replacement. That means a technician can replace an entire processor book without ending any applications and without restarting any operating systems. In most configurations a System z9 can even manage this feat without any reduction in performance or capacity for the running applications.

4 Gb FICON and FCP

In May, 2006, IBM added 4 Gigabit FICON and FCP support to the System z9 for faster I/O to storage devices. IBM also added a lower cost 2-port 4 Gb FICON/FCP I/O adapter to the System z9 option list.

Smooth Subcapacity Increments

Also in May, 2006, IBM introduced subcapacity settings to its high end model. For the first time mainframe processors now allow small, smooth steps through the entire processor range. This feature allows IBM's customers to control their software costs precisely and to pay for only exactly as much capacity as they need without harsh price discontinuities at certain capacity increments.

Models

Enterprise Class

The System z9 Enterprise Class server, formerly known as the System z9 109, is the flagship of the System z9 series. The most powerful model, the 2094-S54, achieves approximately twice the transactional performance of its most powerful predecessor, the zSeries z990 (2084-332). A single 2094-S54 machine provides up to 54 main processors (plus scores of secondary processors), at least two spare main processors, and up to 512 GB of main memory. Minimum memory is 16 GB.

The System z9 EC is available in five hardware model configurations:
  • 2094-S08
  • 2094-S18
  • 2094-S28
  • 2094-S38
  • 2094-S54

Business Class

On April 27, 2006, IBM announced the System z9 Business Class, also known as the z9 BC, as the successor to the zSeries z890 mainframe. IBM is positioning the z9 BC as a midrange system with a low cost of acquisition with up to twice the performance of the z890. The first z9 BCs began shipping on May 26, 2006. The z9 BC supports up to seven main processors (plus a dozen or more secondary processors). While the z9 BC can provide general purpose central processors (CPs), IBM is actively marketing the use of low cost specialty processors such as IFLs, zAAPs, and the new zIIPs. (Every z9 BC can support at least three specialty engines even when maximally configured with CPs.) The z9 BC comes with a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and is expandable up to 64 GB. IBM offers kits that allow current z800 and z890 customers to upgrade to the z9 BC. A z9 BC customer can then upgrade to the z9 EC if extra capacity is required.

The System z9 BC is available in two hardware model configurations:
  • 2096-R07
  • 2096-S07
The seven System z9 hardware configurations support scores of software model configurations: 2094-401 through 2094-754 for the EC and 2096-A01 through 2096-Z04 for the BC (plus IFL-only models).

The acquisition price for the System z9 ranges from "about $100,000" (IBM reported U.S. 2006 price, 2096-A01 model) to millions of dollars for the 2094-S54. For comparison, when new the zSeries z890 had a starting price about twice that of the System z9 BC.

External links

IBM mainframes, though perceived as synonymous with mainframe computers in general due to their marketshare, are now technically and specifically IBM's line of business computers that can all trace their design evolution to the IBM System/360.
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IBM 700/7000 series was a series of large scale (mainframe) computer systems made by IBM through the 1950s and early 1960s. The series included several different, incompatible processor architectures.
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System/360 Model 65 operator's console, with register value lamps and toggle switches (middle of picture) and "emergency pull" switch (upper right).]] The IBM System/360 (S/360) is a mainframe computer system family announced by IBM on April 7, 1964.
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IBM System/370 (often: S/370) was a model range of IBM mainframes announced on June 30, 1970 as the successors to the System/360 family. The series maintained backward compatibility with the S/360, allowing an easy migration path for customers; this, plus improved
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IBM ESA/390 (Enterprise Systems Architecture/390) has been introduced in the September 1990[1] and is IBM's last 31-bit-address/32-bit-data mainframe computing design, copied by Amdahl, Hitachi, and Fujitsu among other competitors.
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IBM zSeries is a brand name of IBM which was designated to all IBM mainframes in 2000 with the e depicted in IBM's red trademarked symbol.

The IBM eServer zSeries line succeeded the IBM System/390 (S/390
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International Business Machines Corporation

Public (NYSE:  IBM )
Founded 1889, incorporated 1911
Headquarters Armonk, New York, USA

Key people Samuel J.
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Mainframes (often colloquially referred to as Big Iron) are computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications, typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, ERP, and financial transaction processing.
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eServer

eserver is a 'closed source' emule/edonkey server that provides a server for emule/edonkey clients that need a server to start sharing with clients.

It is a rare server because this is the only server for the ED2K network.
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IBM System z9 is a line of IBM mainframes. It was announced on July 25, 2005 and the first models were available on September 16, 2005. The System z9 also marks the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention.
..... Click the link for more information.
z/Architecture (formerly and briefly known as ESAME) refers to IBM's 64-bit computing architecture for its top-of-the-line enterprise servers. IBM introduced its first z/Architecture-based system, the zSeries Model 900, in late 2000.
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ESAME is an obsolete acronym meaning Enterprise Systems Architecture Modal Extensions. ESAME is now known as z/Architecture, IBM's 64-bit enterprise computing platform for its top-of-the-line servers.

IBM first implemented z/Architecture in the zSeries Model 900, introduced in 2000.
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In computer architecture, 64-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 64 bits (8 bytes) wide. Also, 64-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.
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In computer architecture, 31-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 31 bits (32 bits minus 1 unused/reserved bit) wide. Also, 31-bit
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In computer architecture, 32-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 32 bits (4 octets) wide. Also, 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.
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In computer architecture, 24-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 24 bits (3 octets) wide. Also, 24-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.
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In computer architecture, 32-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 32 bits (4 octets) wide. Also, 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.
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System/360 Model 65 operator's console, with register value lamps and toggle switches (middle of picture) and "emergency pull" switch (upper right).]] The IBM System/360 (S/360) is a mainframe computer system family announced by IBM on April 7, 1964.
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DB2 is one of IBM's lines of relational database management system (or, as IBM now calls it, data server) software products within IBM's broader Information Management Software line.
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OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as the preferred operating system for IBM's "Personal System/2 (PS/2)" line of
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Linux (pronunciation: IPA: /ˈlɪnʊks/, lin-uks) is a Unix-like computer operating system. Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free software and open source development; its underlying source code can be
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A web browser is a software application that enables a user to display and interact with text, images, videos, music and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network.
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Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communications on the Internet for such things as web browsing, e-mail, Internet faxing, instant messaging and other data transfers.
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Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a communications protocol used to transfer or convey information on the World Wide Web. Its original purpose was to provide a way to publish and retrieve HTML hypertext pages.
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command line interface or CLI is a method of interacting with an operating system or software using a command line interpreter. This command line interpreter may be a text terminal, terminal emulator, or remote shell client such as PuTTY.
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Linux on System z (or Linux on zSeries) is the preferred collective term for the Linux operating system compiled to run on IBM mainframes, especially zSeries and System z9 servers.
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In computing, a logical partition, commonly called an LPAR, is an subset of computer's hardware resources, virtualized as a separate computer. In effect, a physical machine can be partitioned into multiple LPARs, each housing a separate operating system.
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DB2 is one of IBM's lines of relational database management system (or, as IBM now calls it, data server) software products within IBM's broader Information Management Software line.
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Modified Indirect Data Address Words (MIDAWs) are a new channel programming capability of the IBM System z9 processor[1]. The MIDAW facility is an extension to the pre-existing Indirect Data Address Word (IDAW) channel programming capability, providing support for
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In IBM System z9 mainframes, z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) is a special purpose processor, the main purpose of which is to offload DB2 processing from the general mainframe central processors (CPs).
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