Manufacturer | International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) |
---|---|
Type | mainframe (S/360-compatible) |
Release date | September 5, 1990 |
Discontinued | December 31, 2004 [1] |
Operating system | MVS/ESA, OS/390, VSE/ESA and VM/ESA |
Memory | ES/9000: up to 2 GB main + 8 GB expanded 9672: up to 32 GB main (2 GB flat) |
Predecessor | IBM 3090, 4300 and 9370 |
Successor | IBM Z |
Website | Official website IBM Archives "System/390 Announcement". IBM Archives. IBM. 23 January 2003. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved 2017-01-29. |
The IBM System/390 is a discontinued mainframe product family implementing ESA/390, the fifth generation of the System/360 instruction set architecture. The first computers to use the ESA/390 were the Enterprise System/9000 (ES/9000) family, which were introduced in 1990. These were followed by the 9672, Multiprise, and Integrated Server families of System/390 in 1994–1999, using CMOS microprocessors. The ESA/390 succeeded ESA/370, used in the Enhanced 3090 and 4381 "E" models, and the System/370 architecture last used in the IBM 9370 low-end mainframe. ESA/390 was succeeded by the 64-bit z/Architecture in 2000.
On September 5, 1990, IBM published a group of hardware and software announcements, two [2] [3] of which included overviews of three announcements:
Despite the fact that IBM mentioned the 9000 family first in some of the day's announcements, it was clear "by the end of the day" that it was "for System/390," [5] although it was a shortened name, S/390, that was placed on some of the actual "boxes" later shipped. [9] [lower-alpha 1]
The ES/9000 include rack-mounted models, free standing air cooled models and water cooled models. The low end models were substantially less expensive than the 3090 or 4381 previously needed to run MVS/ESA, and could also run VM/ESA and VSE/ESA, which IBM announced at the same time.
IBM periodically added named features to ESA/390 in conjunction with new processors; the ESA/390 Principles of Operation manual identifies them only by name, not by the processors supporting them.
Machines supporting the architecture were sold under the brand System/390 (S/390) from September 1990. The 9672 implementations of System/390 were the first high-end IBM mainframe architecture implemented first with CMOS CPU electronics rather than the traditional bipolar logic.
The IBM z13 was the last z Systems server to support running an operating system in ESA/390 architecture mode. [10] However, all 24-bit and 31-bit problem-state application programs originally written to run on the ESA/390 architecture readily run unaffected by this change.
Eighteen models [lower-alpha 2] were announced [11] September 5, 1990 for the ES/9000 in three form factors; the water-cooled 9021 to succeed the IBM 3090, and the air-cooled standalone 9121 and rack-mounted 9221 to succeed the IBM 4381 and 9370 respectively. The largest announced model had a 100-fold performance over the smallest model, and the clock frequency ranged from 67-111 MHz (15-9 ns) in the 9021 and 67 MHz in the 9121 to 26-33 MHz (38-30 ns) in the 9221. The 9221 models 120, 130 and 150 were initially available only with the "System/370 Base Option"; the "ESA Option" shipped in July 1991. The 9221 processors were made of VLSI CMOS chips designed in Böblingen, Germany, whence the 9672 line later originated.
The lower 6 of the 8 water-cooled models (codenamed H0) were immediately available, but used the same processor as the 3090-J, still at the 69 MHz (14.5 ns) maximum frequency and thus with unchanged performance. Those models' main difference from the 3090-J was the optional addition of ESCON, Sysplex and Integrated Cryptographic Feature. Only the models 900 and 820 had an all-new design (codenamed H2), [lower-alpha 3] featuring private split I+D 128+128 KB L1 caches and a shared 4 MB L2 cache (2 MB per side) with 11-cycle latency, more direct interconnects between the processors, multi-level TLBs, branch target buffer and 111 MHz (9 ns) clock frequency. These were the first models with out-of-order execution since the System/370-195 of 1973. However unlike the old S/360-91-derived systems, the models 900 and 820 had full out-of-order execution for both integer and floating-point units, with precise exception handling, and a fully superscalar pipeline. Models 820 and 900 shipped to customers in September 1991, a year later than the models with older technology. Later these new technologies were used in models 520, 640, 660, 740 and 860. [14] [15] [16] [13] [17]
All three lines got additions and upgrades until 1993–1994. In February 1993 an 8-processor 141 MHz (7.1 ns) model 982 became available, with models 972, 962, 952, 942, 941, 831, 822, 821 and 711 following in March. These models, codenamed H5, had double the L2 cache and 30% higher per-processor performance than the H2 line, and added a hardware data compression. [18] [19] The compression was also included in the new, 50% faster models of the 9121. [20] In April 1994, alongside the CMOS-based new 9672 series and improved 9221 models (with 40% faster cycle time and data compression), [21] IBM announced also their ultimate bipolar model, the 10-processor model 9X2 rated at 468 MIPS, [lower-alpha 4] to become available in October. [37] [38] [39]
Model | CPUs | Sides | Max storage (main + expanded) | Max channels (Max ESCON) | Shipping from | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H0 (340-based models) [40] [41] | |||||||
720 | 6 | 2 | 0.5+4 GB | 128 (64) | September 1990 | ||
620 | 4 | ||||||
580 | 3 | 1 | 0.25+2 GB | 64 (32) | |||
500 | 2 | ||||||
340 | 1 | 128+1024 MB | |||||
330 | 1 | 128+512 MB | "available by upgrade only" | ||||
H2 (520-based models) [15] | |||||||
900 | 6 | 2 | 1+8 GB | 256 (256) | September 1991 | ||
860 | 5 | February 1992 [42] | |||||
820 | 4 | September 1991 | |||||
740 | 3 | 1 | 0.5+4 GB | 128 (128) | February 1992 [42] | ||
660 | 2 | 2 | |||||
640 | 1 | ||||||
520 | 1 | 0.25+2 GB | 64 (64) | ||||
H5 (711-based models) [18] | |||||||
9X2 | 10 | 2 | 2+8 GB | 256 (256) | October 1994 | ||
982 | 8 | February 1993 | |||||
972 | 7 | March 1993 | |||||
962 | 6 | ||||||
952 | 5 | ||||||
942 | 4 | ||||||
941 | 4 | 1 | 1+4 GB | 128 (128) | |||
832 | 3 | 2 | August 1993 [43] | ||||
831 | 3 | 1 | March 1993 | ||||
822 | 2 | 2 | |||||
821 | 2 | 1 | |||||
711 | 1 | 0.5+2 GB | 64 (64) |
Model | CPUs | Sides | Max storage (main + expanded) | Max channels (Max ESCON) | Shipping from | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
320-based models [16] [45] | |||||||
610 | 4 | 2 | 512+1536 MB | 96 (88) | March 1992 | ||
570 | 3 | ||||||
490 | 2 | ||||||
480 | 1 | 256+768 MB | 48 (44) [lower-alpha 5] | March 1991 | |||
440 | |||||||
320 | 1 | September 1990 | |||||
260 | |||||||
210 | January 1991 | ||||||
190 | 128+384 MB | 32 (28) [lower-alpha 6] | March 1991 | ||||
180 | [lower-alpha 7] | 32 (28) | April 1992 [46] | ||||
511-based models [47] | |||||||
742 | 4 | 2 | 1+1 GB [lower-alpha 8] | 128 | May 1993 | ||
732 | 3 | ||||||
622 | 2 | ||||||
621 | 1 | 0.5+0.5 GB [lower-alpha 9] | 64 | February 1993 | |||
522 | 2 | 1+1 GB [lower-alpha 8] | November 1993 [48] | ||||
521 | 1 | 0.5+0.5 GB [lower-alpha 9] | May 1993 | ||||
511 | 1 | February 1993 | |||||
411 | May 1993 | ||||||
311 |
Model | CPUs | Max storage (main + expanded) | Max channels (Max ESCON) | Shipping from | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
170-based models [16] | |||||||
200 | 2 | 256 MB main | 24 (24) | Q3 1992 [46] | |||
170 | 1 | Q4 1991 | |||||
150 | 12 (12) | December 1990 [lower-alpha 10] | |||||
130 | |||||||
120 | |||||||
211-based models [21] | |||||||
421 | 2 | 512 MB [49] [50] | 24 (24) | April 1994 | |||
221 | |||||||
211 | 1 | ||||||
201 | |||||||
191 |
Previously available only on IBM 3090, Logical Partitions (LPARs) are a standard feature of the ES/9000 processors whereby IBM's Processor Resource/Systems Manager (PR/SM) hypervisor allows different operating systems to run concurrently in separate logical partitions (LPARs), with a high degree of isolation. Initially 7 partitions per a disconnected side were supported. [6] [52] In December 1992 the LPAR capacity of the H2 (520-based) models was increased to 10 per a disconnected side. For example, a two-processor model 660 could now support up to 20 partitions instead of 14, if the two sides (each with one processor) are electrically isolated. [53]
This was introduced as part of IBM's moving towards "lights-out" operation and increased control of multiple system configurations.
Launched in 1994 first as the "Parallel Transaction Server" (alongside the 9673 "Parallel Query Server"), [54] subsumed by the "Parallel Enterprise Server" launched later in the year, [55] the six generations of the IBM 9672 machines transitioned IBM's mainframes fully to CMOS microprocessors, as by a strategic decision no more ES/9000 (bipolar-based except the 9221) models would be released after 1994. The initial generations of 9672 were slower than the largest ES/9000 sold in parallel, but the fifth and sixth generations were the most powerful and capable ESA/390 machines built by IBM. [56]
Model | Year Introduced | Number of CPUs | Performance (MIPS) [lower-alpha 11] | Memory (GB) |
---|---|---|---|---|
G1 – 9672-Rn1, 9672-Enn, 9672-Pnn [57] | 1994 | 1–6 | 15–66 | 0.125–2 |
G2 – 9672-Rn2, 9672-Rn3 | 1995 | 1–10 | 15–171 | 0.125–4 |
G3 – 9672-Rn4 | 1996 | 1–10 | 33–374 | 0.5–8 |
G4 – 9672-Rn5 | 1997 | 1–10 | 49–447 | 0.5–16 |
G5 – 9672-nn6 | 1998 | 1–10 | 88–1069 | 1–24 |
G6 – 9672-nn7 | 1999 | 1–12 | 178–1644 | 5–32 |
In the course of the generations, CPUs added more instructions and increased performance. The first three generations (G1 to G3) focused on low cost. [58] The 4th generation was aimed at matching the performance of the last bipolar model, the 9021-9X2. It was decided to be accomplished by pursuing high clock frequencies. The G4 could reach 70% higher frequency than the G3 at silicon process parity, but it suffered a 23% IPC reduction from the G3. [58] The initial G4-based models became available in June 1997, [59] but it wasn't until the 370 MHz model RY5 (with a "Modular Cooling Unit") became available at the end of the year that a 9672 would almost match the 141 MHz model 9X2's performance. [62] At 370 MHz it was the second-highest clocked microprocessor at the time, after the Alpha 21164 of DEC. The execution units in each G4 processor are duplicated for the purpose of error detection and correction. [63] Arriving in late September 1998, [64] the G5 more than doubled the performance over any previous IBM mainframe, [60] [61] and restored IBM's performance lead that had been lost to Hitachi's Skyline mainframes in 1995. [65] [66] The G5 operated at up to 500 MHz, again second only to the DEC Alphas into early 1999. The G5 also added support for the IEEE 754 floating-point formats. [67] [68] The thousandth G5 system shipped less than 100 days after the manufacturing began; the greatest ramping of production in S/390's history. [69] In late May 1999 the G6 arrived featuring copper interconnects, raising the frequency to 637 MHz, higher than the fastest DEC machines at the time.
In September 1996 IBM launched the S/390 Multiprise 2000, positioned below the 9672. [70] [71] [72] It used the same technology as the 9672 G3, but it fit half as many processors (up to five) and its off-chip caches were smaller. The 9672 G3 and the Multiprise 2000 were the last versions to support pre-XA System/370 mode. In October 1997 models of Multiprise 2000 with an 11% higher performance were launched. [73] The Multiprise 3000, based on the 9672 G5, became available in September 1999, featuring PCI buses. [74] [75]
The S/390 Integrated Server, an even lower-end S/390 system than Multiprise, shipped by the end of 1998. It emerged from a line of S/390-compatibility/coprocessor cards for PCs, but is a true S/390 system capable of server duties, having relegated the Pentium II to the role of an I/O coprocessor. It was the first S/390 server to support PCI. It had the same performance and 256 MB maximum memory capacity as the 7 years older low-end 9221 model 170. [76] [77]
From 1997 IBM also offered a "S/390 Application StarterPak", intended as a software development kit for developing and testing mainframe software. [78]
AIX is a series of proprietary Unix operating systems developed and sold by IBM for several of its computer platforms.
IBM mainframes are large computer systems produced by IBM since 1952. During the 1960s and 1970s, IBM dominated the computer market with the 7000 series and the later System/360, followed by the System/370. Current mainframe computers in IBM's line of business computers are developments of the basic design of the System/360.
Multiple Virtual Storage, more commonly called MVS, is the most commonly used operating system on the System/370, System/390 and IBM Z IBM mainframe computers. IBM developed MVS, along with OS/VS1 and SVS, as a successor to OS/360. It is unrelated to IBM's other mainframe operating system lines, e.g., VSE, VM, TPF.
Hercules is a computer emulator allowing software written for IBM mainframe computers and for plug compatible mainframes to run on other types of computer hardware, notably on low-cost personal computers. Development started in 1999 by Roger Bowler, a mainframe systems programmer.
The IBM System/370 (S/370) is a range of IBM mainframe computers announced as the successors to the System/360 family on June 30, 1970. The series mostly maintains backward compatibility with the S/360, allowing an easy migration path for customers; this, plus improved performance, were the dominant themes of the product announcement.
VM is a family of IBM virtual machine operating systems used on IBM mainframes System/370, System/390, zSeries, System z and compatible systems, including the Hercules emulator for personal computers.
Amdahl Corporation was an information technology company which specialized in IBM mainframe-compatible computer products, some of which were regarded as supercomputers competing with those from Cray Research. Founded in 1970 by Gene Amdahl, a former IBM computer engineer best known as chief architect of System/360, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu since 1997. The company was located in Sunnyvale, California.
FICON is the IBM proprietary name for the ANSI FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fibre Channel (FC) protocol. It is a FC layer 4 protocol used to map both IBM's antecedent channel-to-control-unit cabling infrastructure and protocol onto standard FC services and infrastructure. The topology is fabric utilizing FC switches or directors. Valid rates include 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 Gigabit per second data rates at distances up to 100 km.
z/Architecture, initially and briefly called ESA Modal Extensions (ESAME), is IBM's 64-bit complex instruction set computer (CISC) instruction set architecture, implemented by its mainframe computers. IBM introduced its first z/Architecture-based system, the z900, in late 2000. Later z/Architecture systems include the IBM z800, z990, z890, System z9, System z10, zEnterprise 196, zEnterprise 114, zEC12, zBC12, z13, z14, z15 and z16.
In computing, a Parallel Sysplex is a cluster of IBM mainframes acting together as a single system image with z/OS. Used for disaster recovery, Parallel Sysplex combines data sharing and parallel computing to allow a cluster of up to 32 systems to share a workload for high performance and high availability.
IBM S/390 Multiprise was a short-lived series of small, compact, entry-level mainframes.
Since the rise of the personal computer in the 1980s, IBM and other vendors have created PC-based IBM mainframe-compatible systems which are compatible with the larger IBM mainframe computers. For a period of time PC-based mainframe-compatible systems had a lower price and did not require as much electricity or floor space. However, they sacrificed performance and were not as dependable as mainframe-class hardware. These products have been popular with mainframe developers, in education and training settings, for very small companies with non-critical processing, and in certain disaster relief roles.
IBM Z is a family name used by IBM for all of its z/Architecture mainframe computers. In July 2017, with another generation of products, the official family was changed to IBM Z from IBM z Systems; the IBM Z family now includes the newest model, the IBM z16, as well as the z15, the z14, and the z13, the IBM zEnterprise models, the IBM System z10 models, the IBM System z9 models and IBM eServer zSeries models.
UTS is a discontinued implementation of the UNIX operating system for IBM mainframe computers. Amdahl created the first versions of UTS, and released it in May 1981, with UTS Global acquiring rights to the product in 2002. UTS Global has since gone out of business.
The Input/Output Configuration Program is a program on IBM mainframes.
The IBM 9370 systems are "baby mainframe" midrange computers, released 1986 at the very low end of, and compatible with System/370. The media of the day, referring to the VAX systems manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), carried IBM's alleged "VAX Killer" phrase, albeit often skeptically.
The IBM 3090 family is a family of mainframe computers that was a high-end successor to the IBM System/370 series, and thus indirectly the successor to the IBM System/360 launched 25 years earlier.
The IBM 308X is a line of mainframe computers, of which the first model, the Model 3081 Processor Complex, was introduced November 12, 1980. It consisted of a 3081 Processor Unit with supporting units.
IBM Enterprise Systems Architecture is an instruction set architecture introduced by IBM as ESA/370 in 1988. It is based on the IBM System/370-XA architecture.
The high-end Models 820, 860 and 900 use new generation, or Summit, technology and will be generally available this week, said [IBM senior vice president Carl] Conti.
The ES/9000 family's 18 models - successors to the proven IBM Enterprise System families ES/9370, ES/4381 , and ES/3090 - provide a solid foundation for increased computing performance and function. The family's performance range spans a 100-fold growth from the compact, rack-mounted Model 120 to the powerful Model 900.
There are many published sources of processor capacity data available in the industry today. Most of these sources provide data in the form of MIPS tables. MIPS tables available from consultants and industry watchers are not based on independent measurements. Rather, they typically are developed using manufacturer's announced performance claims. Over time, some of these MIPS tables may include a subjective analysis of feedback from various customers of these systems.
"This is the first time for a long time that IBM has recaptured the performance lead — and I don't see that Hitachi will catch them."
The S/390 Integrated Server is for customers who do not require the I/O bandwidth and performance of the S/390 Multiprise.
[...] S/390 Integrated Server, which turned the PC-based P/390 into a full-fledged member of the S/390 family. This machine, which was supposed to ship in volume in early November, started shipping in late December [...]