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design has been adapted to the changing requirements dictated by the shift towards e-business applications that customers are becoming more and more dependent on. The z990, with its superscalar processor and flexible configuration options, is the next implementation to address this ever-changing environment.

2.2.1 Design highlights

The physical packaging is a deviation from previous packaging methods in that its modular book design creates the opportunity to address the ever-increasing costs related to building systems with ever-increasing capacities. The modular book design is flexible and expandable and may contain even larger capacities in the future.

The main objectives of the z990 system design, which are covered in this chapter and in the following ones, are:

￿To offer a flexible infrastructure to concurrently accommodate a wide range of operating systems and applications, from the traditional S/390 and zSeries systems to the new world of Linux and e-business.

￿To have state-of-the-art integration capability for server consolidation, offering virtualization techniques such as:

–Logical partitioning, which allows up to 30 logical servers

–z/VM, which can virtualize hundreds of servers as Virtual Machines

–HiperSockets™, which implements virtual LANs between logical and/or virtual servers within a z990 server

This allows logical and virtual server coexistence and maximizes system utilization by sharing hardware resources.

￿To have high performance to achieve the outstanding response times required by e-business applications, based on z990 superscalar processor technology, architecture, and high bandwidth channels, which offer high data rate connectivity.

￿To offer the high capacity and scalability required by the most demanding applications, both from single system and clustered systems points of view.

￿To have the capability of concurrent upgrades for processors, memory, and I/O connectivity, avoiding server outages even in such planned situations.

￿To implement a system with high availability and reliability, from the redundancy of critical elements and sparing components of a single system, to the clustering technology of the Parallel Sysplex environment.

￿To have a broad connectivity offering, supporting open standards such as Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) for Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

￿To provide the highest level of security, each CP has a CP Assist for Cryptographic Function (CPACF). Optional PCIX Cryptographic Coprocessors and PCI Cryptographic Accelerators for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) transactions of e-business applications can be added.

￿To be self-managing, adjusting itself on workload changes to achieve the best system throughput, through the Intelligent Resource Director and the Workload Manager functions.

￿To have a balanced system design, providing large data rate bandwidths for high performance connectivity along with processor and system capacity.

38IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Guide

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IBM 990 manual Design highlights
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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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