Z890 Family Models, Z890 Performance Comparison

z890 Family Models

The z890 offers a single model, the A04 and supports a wide performance range from sub uni models up to a 4- way multiprocessor. The z890 offers 7 general purpose CP sizes (1 full performance plus 6 sub uni's). Each engine size is available in 2-way, 3-way and 4-way multiproces- sors. Seven engine sizes across 4 engines gives outstand- ing capacity granularity over the 28 capacity settings.

The new model provides 1-4 conﬁ gurable processor units which can be characterized as either CPs, IFLs, ICFs, or zAAPs.

A new easy-to-enable ability to “turn off” capacity is avail- able on z890. The objective is to allow customers to pur- chase capacity for future use with virtually no impact on software billing. An MES feature will enable the capacity for use where the customer requires the increased capacity.

There are a wide range of upgrade options available which are indicated in the z890 Models chart. The introduction of the capacity setting allows capacity upgrades and down- grades between capacity settings independent of the CP quantity.

Unlike other zSeries server offerings, it is no longer pos- sible to tell by the hardware model A04, the number of PUs or the capacity of the server that is being used as CPs. The capacity setting is in the form xy0, where the X repre- sents the number of CPs and Y represents the sub-capacity, from 7 (most capacity) to 1 (least capacity). All IFL and ICF conﬁ gurations are software model 070. The capacity set- ting will be returned by the Store System Information (STSI) instruction for software billing purposes.

z890 Performance Comparison

Capacity	110 120 130	140 150 160 170	210 220 230	240 250 260 270	310 320 330 340	350 360	370 410	420 430 440 450	460 470
Settings*				Model A04
				Model A04
	Uni's	3-ways
	2-ways	4-ways (full capacity engines)

*Capacity Setting refers to number of installed CPs and capacity. Reported by STSI instruction. Note: For MSU values, refer to: ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/library/swpriceinfo/

IBM ^On/Off Capacity on Demand for z890

IBM ^On/Off Capacity on Demand (On/Off CoD) is offered with z890 processors to provide a temporary increase in capacity to help meet customers' peak work- load requirement.

On/Off CoD is designed to temporarily turn on Central Processors (CPs), Internal Coupling Facilities (ICFs), Inte- grated Facilities for Linux (IFLs), zSeries Application Assist Processors (zAAPs), previously unassigned Processor Units (not assigned as a CP, ICF, IFL, or zAAP), and, for z890, unassigned CPs and unassigned IFLs, that are avail- able within the current model conﬁ guration. Temporary use of CFs, memory and channels is not supported.

This is achieved by either increasing CP capacity through changing the Capacity Setting of the CPs to a new Model Capacity Indicator or by using unassigned/unowned PUs available for use as CPs, IFLs, ICFs, or zAAPs. With On/Off CoD, temporary capacity for CPs, cannot exceed more than double the permanent CP capacity of the z890. IFL and ICF capacity additions can only be done if an existing