Draft Document for Review April 7, 2004 6:15 pm

6947ch01.fm

1.1 Introduction

The z990 further extends and integrates key platform characteristics. Dynamic and flexible partitioning, resource management in mixed and unpredictable workload environments, availability, scalability, clustering, and systems management with emerging e-business on demand application technologies (for example, WebSphere®, Java, Linux).

The zSeries 990 family provides a significant increase in performance over the previous zSeries servers. The z990 introduces a different design from its predecessor, the zSeries

900.One noteworthy change is to the CEC cage, capable of housing up to four books. This multi-book design provides enough processor units to improve total system capacity by nearly three times over that provided by z900.

Figure 1-2 Introducing the z990 - internal and external view

The z990 introduced the superscalar microprocessor architecture. This design, and the exploitation of the CMOS 9SG-SOI technology, improves the uniprocessor performance by 54% to 61%, compared to z900 Model 2C1. However, the true capacity increase of the system is driven by the increased number of processor units per system: from 20 in z900 to 48 processor units in z990. The 48 processor units are packaged in 4 MCMs with 12 processor units each, plus up to 64 GB of memory and 12 STI links per book. All books are connected via a super-fast redundant ring structure and can be individually upgraded.

The I/O infrastructure has been redesigned to handle the large increase in system performance. The multiple Logical Channel Subsystems (LCSS) architecture on the z990 allows up to four LCSS, each with 256 channels. Channel types supported on the z990 are:

￿FICON Express

￿Coupling Links

￿OSA-Express

￿ESCON

The following channel types, or channel cards, are not supported on the z990:

￿Parallel channels

Chapter 1. IBM zSeries 990 overview 3

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IBM 990 manual Introduction, Escon
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990 specifications

The IBM 990 series, often referred to in the context of IBM's pioneering efforts in the realm of mainframe computing, represents a unique chapter in the history of information technology. Introduced in the late 1960s, the IBM 990 series was designed as a powerful tool for enterprise-level data processing and scientific calculations, showcasing the company's commitment to advancing computing capabilities.

One of the main features of the IBM 990 was its architecture, which was built to support a wide range of applications, from business processing to complex scientific computations. The system employed a 32-bit word length, which was advanced for its time, allowing for more flexible and efficient data handling. CPUs in the IBM 990 series supported multiple instructions per cycle, which contributed significantly to the overall efficiency and processing power of the machines.

The technology behind the IBM 990 was also notable for its use of solid-state technology. This provided a shift away from vacuum tube systems that were prevalent in earlier computing systems, enhancing the reliability and longevity of the hardware. The IBM 990 series utilized core memory, which was faster and more reliable than the magnetic drum memory systems that had been standard up to that point.

Another defining characteristic of the IBM 990 was its extensibility. Organizations could configure the machine to suit their specific needs by adding memory, storage, and peripheral devices as required. This modular approach facilitated the growth of systems alongside the technological and operational demands of the business environments they served.

In terms of software, the IBM 990 series was compatible with a variety of operating systems and programming environments, including FORTRAN and COBOL, enabling users to access a broader array of applications. This versatility was a significant advantage, making the IBM 990 an appealing choice for educational institutions, research facilities, and enterprises alike.

Moreover, the IBM 990 was engineered to support multiprocessing, which allowed multiple processes to run simultaneously, further increasing its effectiveness in tackling complex computing tasks.

In summary, the IBM 990 series represents a significant advancement in computing technology during the late 20th century. With a robust architecture, versatile configuration options, and a focus on solid-state technology, the IBM 990 facilitated substantial improvements in data processing capabilities, making it a cornerstone for many businesses and academic institutions of its time. Its impact can still be seen today in the continued evolution of mainframe computing.
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