User:ThisIsNotABetter/IBM zEnterprise System



IBM zEnterprise System is an IBM mainframe generation, released in 2010 to replace the IBM System z10 line and succeed by IBM Z mainframe line in 2015.

This line designed to offer both mainframe and distributed server technologies in an integrated system. The zEnterprise System consists of three components:


 * A zEnterprise server – a choice of the enterprise class mainframes.
 * The optional IBM zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension (zBX) –  the infrastructure designed to provide logical integration and host IBM WebSphere DataPower Integrated Appliance XI50 for zEnterprise (DataPower XI50z) or general purpose x86 or Power ISA blades.
 * And the software management layer, IBM zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager (zManager), which provides a single management view of zEnterprise resources.

IBM zEnterprise 196 (z196) that was introduced July 2010, the smaller business class server the IBM zEnterprise 114 (z114) announced July 2011, the full-size zEnterprise zEC12 that was announced August 28, 2012, and In July 2013, IBM introduced an updated version of the z114 called the zBC12, and a special version of it designed to be a Linux virtualization server, the zBC12 Enterprise Linux Server running only Linux hosts on the underlying z/VM hypervisor.

In January 2015, IBM replaced the zEnterprise line with z13 mainframe and in February 2016, the z13s was introduced. It is the last z Systems server to support running an operating system in ESA/390 architecture mode.

Enterprise Class
Enterprise Class was a full-size, dual-rack solution line.

The zEC12 is available in five hardware models: H20, H43, H66, H89 and HA1. The model number is based on the number of cores available for customer workloads. Additional cores are reserved as spares, SAPs and IFPs.

The z196 is available in five hardware models: M15, M32, M49, M66 and M80. The model number is based on the number of cores available for customer workloads. Additional cores are reserved as spares and as SAPs.

Business Class
Enterprise Class was a compact and affordable single-rack solution line.

The zBC12 was introduced in July 2013 and is available in two hardware models, the H06 and the H13. It's designed to serve the mid-range business segment and can be configured to be a Linux virtualization server, in a version called the Enterprise Linux Server. The H13 has 18 processor cores, with up to 13 configurable. The H06 has nine, with up to six configurable.

The z114 is available in two hardware models: M05 and M10. Introduced in July, 2011, this system is designed to extend the benefits of the zEnterprise System to the mid-range business segment. Like the z196, the z114 is fully compatible with the zBX and the URM and also features the mission-critical server design elements. The z114 features up to 14 cores (up to 10 configurable) with a clock speed of 3.8 GHz. The z114 is physically approximately half the size of the z196.

Second generation
The second generation microprocessor is the zEC12 chip, a 5.5 GHz hexa-core out-of-order CISC-based zArchitecture processor.

The zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) can have a maximum of 120 cores, 101 of which are customer configurable to run operating systems and applications. The maximum number of cores available in a particular model of the zEC12 is denoted by the model name. For example, the H20 has up to 20 cores orderable for direct customer use, plus spare and a special I/O processor core type, the System Assist Processor. Each core can be characterized as a Central Processor (CP), Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) processor, z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), z10 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP), Internal Coupling Facility (ICF) processor, or additional System Assist Processor (SAP). The zEnterprise EC12 allows up to 3 TB (usable) of redundant array of independent memory (RAIM).

The zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12) is based on an upscaled z114, running 18 zEC12 processors at 4.2 GHz and up to 489 GB RAM. It's available in two models, the H06 and the H13 with one and two processing drawers respectively. The zBC12 can connect to the zBX expansion system. IBM is offering a special version of the zBC12 called the Enterprise Linux Server running only Linux hosts on top of its z/VM hypervisor targeting large migrations from x86 based Linux installations.

First generation
The first generation microprocessor is the z196 chip, a 5.2 GHz quad-core out-of-order CISC-based z/Architecture processor.

The zEnterprise 196 (z196) can have a maximum of 24 processors giving a total of 96 cores, 80 of which are directly available to run operating systems and applications. The number of cores available in a particular model of the z196 is denoted by the model name. For example, the M15 has 15 cores available for direct customer use, plus spare and service processor cores. Each core can be characterized as a Central Processor (CP), Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) processor, z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), z10 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP), Internal Coupling Facility (ICF) processor, or additional System Assist Processor (SAP). The zEnterprise also supports x86 or Power ISA blades attached via the zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension (zBX). The zEnterprise 196 allows up to 3 TB (usable) of redundant array of independent memory (RAIM).

The zEnterprise 114 (z114) is powered by up to 14 z196 at reduced speed (3.8 GHz) and with single-chip package. The z114 offers 130 capacity settings across two models and is designed to offer the hybrid capabilities of the zEnterprise System with a lower capacity, an lower energy usage, and lower price. Each core can be characterized as a Central Processor (CP), Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) processor, z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), z10 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP), Internal Coupling Facility (ICF) processor, or additional System Assist Processor (SAP). The z114 supports up to 248 GB (usable) of redundant array of independent memory (RAIM).

PU characterization
Each purchased PU (processor unit) is characterized as one of a variety of types:
 * CP: Central processor; The standard processors. For use with any supported operating system and user applications.
 * IFL: Integrated Facility for Linux; Exploited by Linux and for z/VM processing in support of Linux. It is not possible to IPL operating systems other than z/VM or Linux on an IFL.
 * zAAP: Application Assist Processor; Exploited under z/OS for designated workloads, which include the IBM JVM and XML System Services functions.
 * zIIP: Integrated Information Processor; Exploited under z/OS for designated workloads, which include various XML System Services, IPSec offload, certain parts of IBM DB2 DRDA, star schema, IBM HiperSockets for large messages, and the IBM GBS Scalable Architecture for Financial Reporting.
 * ICF: Internal Coupling Facility; Used for z/OS clustering, running exclusively the Coupling Facility Control Code (CFCC).
 * SAP: System Assist Processor; Offloads and manages I/O operations.
 * IFP: Integrated Firmware Processor; reserved for managing new generation of PCIe adapters in zEC12 and zBC12.
 * Spares: exclusively reserved to provide failover in the event of a processor (CP, IFL, zAAP, zIIP, ICF, SAP or IFP) failure.

Also it's possible to run a zAAP-eligible workload on zIIPs if no zAAPs are enabled. IBM does not impose any software charges on work that is dispatched on zAAP and zIIP processors.

The addition of IFLs, zAAPs, zIIPs, ICFs, SAPs or IFPs does not change the system capacity setting or its MSU rating, only CPs do.

Operating systems
The zEC12, zBC12, z114 and z196 support the IBM operating systems: z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE, and z/TPF. Other operating systems available include Linux on IBM Z, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11. In November, 2011, IBM introduced Microsoft Windows Server 2008 support via x86 processor-based blades that plug into IBM's zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension (zBX). The zBX also supports the IBM WebSphere DataPower Integrated Appliance XI50 for zEnterprise (DataPower XI50z).

The zBX supports up to 112 blade modules. There is a redundant, secure 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection between the zBX and the server providing a private data network. There is also a 1 Gigabit Ethernet connection for management.

BladeCenter Extension (zBX)
The zEnterprise System supports an optional zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension (zBX). This add-on infrastructure supports redundant top-of-Rack switches, redundant power supplies, extra blowers, and IBM BladeCenter chassis. This add-on chassis allows POWER7 and x86 blade servers to be integrated with and managed from the mainframe. The Gameframe installation at Hoplon Infotainment is an example of a hybrid mainframe.

The zBX supports up to 112 blade modules. The zBX and the System Z server are connected by a redundant, secure 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection, providing a private data network. There is also a 1 Gigabit Ethernet connection for management.

Unified Resource Manager
The zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager (zManager) allows the supported zBX platforms to be virtualized into a single system for management. It also allows for the prioritization of certain workloads in the system. The Resource Manager can monitor the various platforms for signs of bottlenecks or faults and modify the overall system to recover, maintaining a specified quality of service level.

Liquid cooling
The zEC12 and z196 support external liquid cooling. Customers have the option of purchasing their mainframe with a water-cooled heat exchanger.