IBM System z9

IBM System z9 is a line of IBM mainframes. It was announced on July 25, 2005 and the first models were available on September 16, 2005. The System z9 also marks the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention.

Background

System z9 is a mainframe using the z/Architecture, previously known as ESAME. z/Architecture is a 64-bit architecture which replaces the previous 31-bit-addressing/32-bit-data ESA/390 architecture while remaining completely compatible with it as well as the older 24-bit-addressing/32-bit-data System/360 architecture. The primary advantage of this arrangement is that intensive applications like DB2 are no longer bounded by 31-bit memory restrictions while older applications can run without modifications.

Name change

With the announcement of the System z9 Business Class server, IBM has renamed the System z9 109 as the System z9 Enterprise Class server. IBM documentation abbreviates them as the z9 BC and z9 EC, respectively.

Notable differences

There are several functional enhancements in the System z9 compared to its zSeries predecessors. Some of the differences include:

HMC

The hardware management console (HMC) is the most direct and lowest level way to access a mainframe. It circumvents even the operating system running on the mainframe. All preceding zSeries mainframes used a modified version of OS/2 with custom software to provide the interface. System z9's HMC no longer uses OS/2, but instead uses a modified version of Linux with an OS/2 lookalike interface to ease transition as well as a new interface. Unlike the previous HMC application on OS/2, the new HMC is web based which means that even local access is done via a web browser. Remote HMC access is available, although only over an SSL encrypted HTTP connection. The web based nature means that there is no longer a difference between local console access and remote access, which means a remote user potentially has full control if authorized, allowing more flexibility for locating systems within data centers. IBM refers to the new HMC as a "closed platform" which does not allow the user to install software or access the command line interface to increase security and stability. The HMC is also firewalled by default with a minimal number of open ports for remote access.

Program Directed Re-IPL

Program Directed Re-IPL is a new feature for Linux on System z9. It allows Linux systems running in an LPAR to re-IPL (reboot) themselves without operator intervention. This is accomplished by the System z9 storing the device and load parameters used to initially IPL the system.

DB2 and VSAM features

DB2, VSAM, and other data storage formats achieve greater I/O performance thanks to a new System z9 feature called a MIDAW. Also, the System z9 introduces the zIIP, a new type of processor that accelerates certain specific DB2 tasks.

Java features

Java 1.4 and higher support both 32-bit and 64-bit operation on z9. The System z9 also supports the zAAP processor, which allows most of the Java workload to be offloaded from the normal instruction processors. Java workloads executed by the zAAP processor do not count towards the IBM-rated capacity of the z9. This reduces the z9's total cost of ownership compared with other platforms. The zAAP also enables integration of new Java based Web applications with core z/OS backend database environment for high performance, reliability, availability, and security.

Cryptography

The System z9 adds 128-Bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to the list of hardware-based cryptographic algorithms. Other hardware-boosted features include additional random number generation and SHA algorithms. This specialized encryption hardware means System z9 handily outperforms other platforms which must rely on encryption software across a broader range of cryptographic needs.

LPARs

The System z9 supports up to 60 LPARs, up from the previous maximum of 30.

Additional memory expansion

The System z9 supports twice its immediate predecessors' maximum memory configurations: now up to 512 GB for the z9 EC and up to 64 GB for the z9 BC.

Concurrent book replacement

The System z9 supports nondisruptive processor replacement. That means a technician can replace an entire processor book without ending any applications and without restarting any operating systems. In most configurations a System z9 can even manage this feat without any reduction in performance or capacity for the running applications.

4 Gb FICON and FCP

In May, 2006, IBM added 4 Gigabit FICON and FCP support to the System z9 for faster I/O to storage devices. IBM also added a lower cost 2-port 4 Gb FICON/FCP I/O adapter to the System z9 option list.

Smooth subcapacity increments

Also in May, 2006, IBM introduced subcapacity settings to its high end model. For the first time mainframe processors now allow small, smooth steps through the entire processor range. This feature allows IBM's customers to control their software costs precisely and to pay for only exactly as much capacity as they need without harsh price discontinuities at certain capacity increments. (IBM started offering variable subcapacity software pricing in 2000, and some other software vendors now offer similar terms, so hardware subcapacity settings are of primary interest when running so-called full capacity software products.)

Group capacity limits

Available with z/OS Release 8, Group Capacity Limits allows a z9 or z10 installation to define a group of LPARs whose capacity usage can be limited to a specific number of MSUs. Usage is based on the rolling 4 hour average CPU consumption, also in MSUs. A group need not necessarily be the same as an LPAR Cluster. LPARs can be in and outside a sysplex.

Separate Processor Pools

While previous mainframe generations (including the predecessor zSeries z990) supported specialty processors, such as zAAPs and ICFs, these were all managed by PR/SM out of the same processor pool (Pool 2). The IBM System z9 EC introduced the concept of separate pools for different types of specialty processor. This greatly eases the tasking of managing and measuring the performance of the different processor types. With z9 (and IBM System z10) the following pools are defined:
*1 General Purpose Processors
*3 IFLs
*4 zAAPs
*5 ICFs
*6 zIIPsPool 2 is no longer used.

Models

Enterprise Class

The System z9 Enterprise Class server, formerly known as the System z9 109, was the flagship of the System z9 series until the announcement of the IBM System z10. The most powerful model, the 2094-S54, achieves approximately twice the transactional performance of its most powerful predecessor, the zSeries z990 (2084-332). A single 2094-S54 machine provides up to 54 main processors (plus scores of secondary processors), at least two spare main processors, and up to 512 GB of main memory. Minimum memory is 16 GB.

The System z9 EC is available in five hardware model configurations:

* 2094-S08
* 2094-S18
* 2094-S28
* 2094-S38
* 2094-S54

Business Class

On April 27, 2006, IBM announced the System z9 Business Class, also known as the z9 BC, as the successor to the zSeries z890 mainframe. IBM is positioning the z9 BC as a midrange system with a low cost of acquisition with up to twice the performance of the z890. The first z9 BCs began shipping on May 26, 2006. The z9 BC supports up to seven main processors (plus a dozen or more secondary processors). While the z9 BC can provide general purpose central processors (CPs), IBM is actively marketing the use of low cost specialty processors such as IFLs, zAAPs, and the new zIIPs. (Every z9 BC can support at least three specialty engines even when maximally configured with CPs.) The z9 BC comes with a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and is expandable up to 64 GB. IBM offers kits that allow current z800 and z890 customers to upgrade to the z9 BC. A z9 BC customer can then upgrade to the z9 EC if extra capacity is required.

The System z9 BC is available in two hardware model configurations:

* 2096-R07
* 2096-S07

The seven System z9 hardware configurations support scores of software model configurations: 2094-401 through 2094-754 for the EC and 2096-A01 through 2096-Z04 for the BC (plus IFL-only models).

Pricing

The acquisition price for the System z9 ranges from "about $100,000" (IBM reported U.S. 2006 price, 2096-A01 model) to millions of dollars for the 2094-S54. (These prices are for new installations. Generally there are lower prices when upgrading from the immediate predecessor model, more like many software products and quite unlike most other hardware products.) For comparison, when new, the zSeries z890 had a starting price about twice that of the System z9 BC.

Future machine

In February, 2008, the IBM System z10 was announced. The z10 features quad-core technology, for up to 64 processors. The z10 has a number of power-saving, space-saving and throughput improvements compared to the z9. [cite web|url = http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/technology/article/ibm-launches-z10-mainframe_493919_12.html | title = IBM Launches "System z10" Mainframe | accessdate = 2008-02-26]

References

External links

* [http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?&uid=isg2db1adac03a0bd8e98525701300541fc4 IBM.com: Hardware Management Console Operations Guide - Version 2.9.0]
* [http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/OIX.wss?DocURL=http://d03xhttpcl001g.boulder.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_sm/1/897/ENUS2094-_h01/index.html&InfoType=DD&InfoSubType=SM&InfoDesc=HW+%26+SW+Desc+%28Sales+Manual%2C+RPQ%29&panelurl=&paneltext= IBM.com: System z9 109 Sales Manual]
* [http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=isg2ec7d035a3ff2962b85257021006d4631 IBM.com: System z9 109 System Overview]
* [http://www.ibm.com/systems/z/ IBM.com: System z ( IBM Mainframe ) Homepage]
* [http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/portals/systemz IBM Redbooks for System z]