6947ch08.fm

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

8.1 Concurrent upgrades

The z990 servers have the capability of concurrent upgrades, providing additional capacity with no server outage. In most cases, with prior planning and operating system support, a

concurrent upgrade can also be nondisruptive, meaning with no system outage (Power-on Resets (PORs), logical partition deactivations, and IPLs do not have to take place).

Given today's business environment, benefits of the concurrent capacity growth capabilities provided by z990 servers are plentiful, and include:

￿Enabling exploitation of new business opportunities

￿Supporting the growth of e-business environments

￿Managing the risk of volatile, high growth, high volume applications

￿Supporting 24x365 application availability

￿Enabling capacity growth during “lock down” periods

This capability is based on the flexibility of the z990 system design and structure, which allows configuration control by the Licensed Internal Code (LIC) and concurrent hardware installation.

Licensed Internal Code (LIC)-based upgrades

The LIC - Configuration Control (LIC-CC) provides for server upgrade with no hardware changes by enabling the activation of additional previously installed capacity. Concurrent upgrades via LIC-CC can be done for:

￿Processors (CPs, IFLs, ICFs, and zAAPs) Requires available spare PUs on installed book(s).

￿Memory

Requires available capacity on installed memory cards.

￿I/O cards ports (ESCON channels and ISC-3 links) Requires available ports on installed I/O cards.

Concurrent hardware installation upgrades

Configuration upgrades can also be concurrent by installing additional:

￿Books (which contain processors, memory and STIs) Requires available book slot(s) in the installed CEC cage.

￿I/O cards

Requires available slots on installed I/O cage(s). I/O cages cannot be installed concurrently

The concurrent upgrade capability can be better exploited when a future target configuration is considered in the initial configuration. Using this Plan Ahead concept, the required number of I/O cages for concurrent upgrades, up to the target configuration, can be included in the z990 server’s initial configuration.

Concurrent PU conversions

z990 servers support concurrent conversion between different PU types, providing flexibility to meet changing business environments.

186IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Guide

Page 199 Page 201
Page 200
Image 200
IBM 990 manual Concurrent upgrades, Concurrent PU conversions, Licensed Internal Code LIC-based upgrades
Page 199 Page 201

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.
Top Page Image Contents