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

6947ch01.fm

ESCON

z-Frame

A-Frame

FICON/FCP

 

 

FICON™ Express

 

 

Networking

 

 

OSA-Express

3rd I/O

CEC

 

 

Gigabit Ethernet

 

 

 

 

1000BASE-T Ethernet

Cage

cage

 

 

 

 

Token Ring

 

 

 

 

 

 

HiperSockets

 

 

Coupling Links

 

 

ISC-3

 

 

ICB-2, ICB-3, ICB-4, IC

 

 

Crypto

2nd I/O

1st I/O

PCICA

PCIXCC

Cage

Cage

Not Supported

 

 

Parallel

 

 

OSA-E ATM and OSA-2

 

 

FICON (pre-FICON Express)

 

 

PCICC

 

 

 

 

 

Front View

 

Figure 1-4 I/O cage layout and supported cards and coupling links

Up to 1024 ESCON channels

The high density ESCON feature (FC 2323) has 16 ports, of which 15 can be activated for customer use. One port is always reserved as a spare, in the event of a failure of one of the other ports.

This is not an orderable feature. The configuration tool will select the quantity of features based upon the order quantity of ESCON FC2324 ports, distributing the ports across features for high availability. After the first pair, ESCON FC2323 are installed in increments of one.

ESCON channels are available on a port basis in increments of four. The port quantity is selected and LIC CC is shipped to activate the desired quantity of ports on the 16-port ESCON FC2323. Each port utilizes a light emitting diode (LED) as the optical transceiver, and supports use of a 62.5/125-micrometer multimode fiber optic cable terminated with a small form factor, industry standard MT-RJ connector.

Up to 120 FICON Express channels

An increased number of FICON Express features per z990 leads the way in distinguishing this server family, further setting it apart as enterprise class in terms of the number of simultaneous I/O connections available for FICON Express features. z990 supports 60 FICON Express features to be plugged, providing a total of 120 available channels. This is a 25% growth over what was available on z900. These channels are available in long wave (LX) and short wave (SX).

The FICON Express LX and SX channel cards have two ports. LX and SX ports are ordered in increments of two. The maximum number of FICON Express cards is 60, installed in the three I/O cages.

The same FICON Express channel card used for FICON channels is also used for FCP channels. FCP channels are enabled on these cards as a microcode load with an FCP mode of operation and CHPID type definition. As with FICON, FCP is available in long wavelength (LX) and short wavelength (SX) operation, though the LX and SX cannot be intermixed on a single card.

Chapter 1. IBM zSeries 990 overview 9

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IBM 990 manual Up to 1024 Escon channels, Up to 120 Ficon Express channels
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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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