For more details about z/Architecture, refer to the z/Architecture document z/Architecture Principles of
Operation at http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/epubs/pdf/dz9zr002.pdf.
USB (except keyboard and mouse), PCMCIA, and IEEE 1394 (Firewire) devices are not supported in the
evaluated configuration.
3.4 eServer 326
The IBM eServer 326 systems are AMD Opteron processor-based systems that provide high performance
computing in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments. The eServer 326 significantly improves on existing 32-bit
applications, and excels at 64-bit computing in performance, allowing for easy migration to 64-bit computing.
For more detailed information about eServer 326 hardware, refer to the eServer 326 hardware Web site at
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/opteron/.
3.4.1 eServer 326 hardware overview
The IBM eServer 326 systems offer support for up to two AMD Opteron processors, up to twelve GB of
memory, hot-swap SCSI or IDE disk drives, RAID-1 mirroring, and options for high-speed networking. The
IBM eServer 326 server is equipped with a real-time hardware clock. The clock is powered by a small battery
and continues to tick even when the system is switched off. The real-time clock maintains reliable time for
the system.
3.4.2 eServer 326 hardware architecture
The IBM eServer 326 systems are powered by AMD Opteron processors. For detailed specifications of the
Opteron processor, refer to the processor documentation at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_739_9003,00.html.
The Opteron is based on the AMD x86-64 architecture. The AMD x86-64 architecture is an extension of the
x86 architecture, extending full support for 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit applications running concurrently.
The x86-64 architecture adds a mode called the long mode. The long mode is activated by a global control bit
called Long Mode Active (LMA). When LMA is zero, the processor operates as a standard x86 processor
and is compatible with the existing 32-bit SLES operating system and applications. When LMA is one, 64-bit
15

Figure 3-1: z/VM as hypervisor