Transforming large scale computing with System/390* Parallel Servers

Enterprise server of today

Not long ago a "mainframe" was a huge computer complex that took up a lot of space, required plumbing and raised floors, and was generally associated exclusively with large businesses.

The System/390* has been transformed from the mainframe of yesterday to the enterprise server of today. It provides information rapidly and reliably.

With each product announcement, IBM is providing its System/390 customers with more of the elements most important to run their businesses:

fast and flexible deployment of new applications and the ability to easily update existing applications;
enterprise-wide client-server infrastructure;
the flexibility of open computing;
a proven platform for availability, security, manageability, flexibility, data integrity and unlimited scalability;
cost competitiveness through use of the newest hardware and software technologies.

Information technology infrastructure

System/390 is the information technology infrastructure that can manage networks, applications and data across a company. It easily handles sustained high-volume workloads without loss of service. Its scalability, security, integrity and reliability characteristics make it ideal for those application and data needs that are global, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The choice to buy or build the latest applications: Applications drive platform selection. Customers, requiring the security, availability and robustness of the System/390 for their bet-your-business applications are updating them using graphical tools, development languages and system services. Independent developers are writing the latest applications for System/390 servers.

Full participation in client-server: System/390 ensures a smooth transition to a client-server environment while protecting existing customer investments in hardware, software, and systems and applications skills. Workstation clients are provided rapid, transparent access to mainframe resources, such as disks and printers.

The flexibility of open computing: Applications can be ported from platform to platform. Heterogeneous hardware and software can work together. IBM has adopted industry standards for open computing. The latest release of OpenEdition* MVS/ESA* [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/oe/bpxa1whp.html ] and OpenEdition for VM/ESA* [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/oevm/oevmhp.html ] permit ported UNIX** applications to run on these System/390 operating systems. Different systems can be linked together through open interfaces.

Access to information from anywhere: Data from a Macintosh**, an RS/6000* running UNIX, or a personal computer running OS/2* can be accessed, with the flexibility to choose what best serves customer business needs. The Distributed Computing Environment has been adopted. Client-server functions have been embedded into System/390 operating systems. The security of data on networked systems is protected.

System/390 classic strengths: Traditional System/390 classic strengths continue to be enhanced through the architecture of the Parallel Sysplex [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/pso/psohp.html ] and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/broch/5207160.html ].

Availability: Availability and inherent reliability are due to automatic recovery capability, redundant components built-in, concurrent serviceability, and dynamic reconfiguration. Even scheduled outages are becoming extinct. CMOS technology provides high power and performance with unprecedented availability. The data sharing feature of Parallel Sysplex provides continuous availability. Every processor in the sysplex has access to all the data. Should one processor go down, the other processors can automatically take over through workload balancing.
Manageability: Multiple systems and global networks may be monitored [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/rmf/rmfhp.html ], controlled and maintained from a single point, using graphical interfaces. Enterprise-wide computing resources can be shared and utilized more effectively. Labor-intensive tasks like network and systems management can be automated. In addition, the Hardware Configuration Manager [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/hcm/hcmhp.html ] simplifies logical and physical hardware configuration planning and creates accurate documentation.
Scalability: With System/390, customers can move from a few users to hundreds, to thousands; from megabytes, to gigabytes, to terabytes of data. As business needs change, more processors can be added, in small or large increments a few at a time. Operations, applications or data can be scaled without disruption to a business.
Security [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/racf/racfhp.html ] and data integrity: Systems are protected from unauthorized access. Systems managed storage, automatic backup and flexible recovery procedures ensure data integrity.
Flexibility: System/390 can be tailored to the needs of businesses and their users. Resources may be allocated for small workloads, the largest workloads, and combinations in between. It can look like one big server, or several smaller servers.

Lower total cost of computing: Businesses can be more productive and more efficient with lower-cost IBM parallel CMOS servers, improved systems management capabilities and reduced software costs. Mainframe computing power is now available in affordable increments. Customers can be more competitive, even with a constrained budget.

Powerful and affordable

IBM's System/390 servers offer all the power of a mainframe in a small, energy-efficient, affordable computer. They fit the computing needs of small and mid-size companies as well as large enterprises.

The Parallel Enterprise Server [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/pes/peshp.html ] is a machine that can do just about anything today's small and mid-size businesses need to accomplish. A full range of models is available, from a sub-uniprocessor that is roughly equivalent to an ES/3090* Model 150J, to a ten-way processor that provides growth and capacity ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 times an ES/3090 Model 600J. It occupies 18 cubic feet (.76 cubic meter) and 10.4 square feet (1 square meter) floor space. These machines can also be cost-effective replacements for processors equivalent to IBM 308X, ES/4381*, ES/3090, select ES/9000* and plug-compatible systems.

The System/390 Enterprise Server offers technologically advanced availability features which reduce planned and unplanned down-time. These include automatic central processor checkpoint and restart, spare memory and concurrent channel upgrade. It offers a fully integrated Open Systems Adapter [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/osa2/osa2hp.html ] which provides a direct connection to local area networks.

These processors can participate in business computing as standalone systems, or they can be the building blocks for a Parallel Sysplex, an extension of System/390 architecture which allows customers to link existing ES/9000 machines with System/390 Parallel Servers. The Parallel Sysplex provides automated operations, simplified systems management, automatic dynamic workload balancing across systems, and high-performance read-write data sharing across the participating systems.

Open multi-vendor integration

IBM's response to customer requirements for open, client-server and distributed computing across heterogeneous platforms is the IBM Open Blueprint. This is an architecture that defines facilities for building, deploying and managing applications across a broad range of systems. It incorporates industry standards, and provides a framework for interoperability across IBM systems and those from other suppliers. System/390 supports many of the Open Blueprint standards today, and will fully support the Open Blueprint structure over time.

The VM/ESA [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/vmesa/vmesahp.html ] and VSE/ESA* operating systems as well as MVS/ESA* [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/mvs/mvshp.html ], long known as the dependable workhorse for larger customers, have been enhanced to feature client-server functions, interoperability and portability. Popular UNIX and client-server applications can be run without being rewritten. Applications run with the dependability that has always set IBM mainframes apart from the rest of the business. All three operating systems run on System/390 servers. Some of the features that distinguish these operating systems include:

VM: the flexibility of the "virtual machine" aspects of VM. OpenEdition for VM adds POSIX compliance and the Distributed Computing Environment so customers can run POSIX-compliant and client-server applications. VM supports all the System/390 processors, including the Parallel Servers, giving customers a wide range of performance choices.

VSE: designed for smaller systems. It is easy to manage with limited staff resources. It features CICS* as part of the base package, allowing customers to do transaction processing, batch processing, and essential business applications like inventory control, business applications, accounts receivable and order-entry.

VSE supports the parallel CMOS servers with n-way support and client-server capabilities, including functions like Local Area Network Resource Extension and Services (LANRES) in the VSE Version 2 base.

MVS: designed to handle larger environments, it includes a great deal of code written to protect the system. More than 40% of MVS code has been developed or enhanced in the past three years in support of open, client-server functions and the Parallel Sysplex.

OpenEdition: OpenEdition MVS Version 5 Release 2.2 and OpenEdition for VM Version 2 deliver enhanced multi-vendor open capability and client-server support, making it easy for customers to run ported UNIX and client-server applications. They offer the classic strengths that distinguish System/390: reliability, continuous availability, multi-level security, the capability to support large numbers of users with high performance, and the ability of MVS to support massive transaction volumes.

OpenEdition provides the flexibility to participate fully in a multivendor environment, including a full range of applications, transparent access to data and cross-platform application development while protecting investments in existing applications, hardware and skills.

More than 1,100 UNIX functions are provided by OpenEdition MVS, taking a major step toward full UNIX branding for MVS/ESA. The XPG4** Base Profile** and X/Open** Single UNIX Specification** support provided means that many of the most common UNIX applications can be easily ported to MVS, increasing both development choices and application choices. Standard UNIX utilities are included, enabling UNIX programmers' skills to be easily used in the MVS environment.

Integration of UNIX sockets support into MVS and VM permits applications to communicate across TCP/IP and SNA networks, reduces programming complexity and facilitates porting UNIX applications to MVS. C** run-time functions are provided at no additional charge.

With the incorporation of System/390 LAN Services software into MVS, personal computer and LAN servers can leverage a proven infrastructure for client-server computing. End-users can concentrate on business rather than information technology skills.

Fully integrated into MVS/ESA, and separately orderable as a no-charge feature of VM/ESA Version 2, LANRES provides a server environment for transparent access to mainframe resources, such as disks and printers, acting as an extension of a Novell Netware** server. It also helps manage clients on a LAN. LAN Server for MVS and Lan File Server/ESA for VM permit workstation clients rapid, transparent access to mainframe resources. The Open Systems Adapter allows direct attachment of LANs to the System/390 server. Some customers have found that with these services, some LAN applications which used to take hours can run in minutes.

Applications, applications

Beyond enhancing operating systems, IBM is providing customers with the applications they need to run their businesses. Eighty percent of the Fortune 500 companies and 96% of the top 100 use System/390 to support their business-critical applications.

In February 1995, the expansion of the System/390 Developers' Association [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/s390da/g3260545.html ] was announced. It supports developers who are writing applications for the System/390 platform. More than 100 developers have already signed up to make their applications available on the System/390 servers.

Object technology reduces the time required to develop applications by assembling and extending reusable software components. Once written, object programs capitalize on initial programmer effort.

With support for object technology and native C/C++** capabilities, plus LAN and workstation-based programmer productivity tools such as VisualAge* and VisualGen,* System/390 applications can be built faster, interoperate across heterogeneous environments and be full participants in leading edge applications.

OpenEditionMVS/ESA SP Version 5 Release 2.2 brings new object-oriented function to MVS with libraries which enable customers and developers to produce reusable code effectively and efficiently.

The SOMobjects* for MVS [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/som/som.html ] run-time library provides object-oriented execution capability based on industry standards. It supports the rapid development and integration of large-scale, mission-critical applications. SOMobjects for MVS provides functions for defining and managing objects and invoking methods to link the objects into meaningful applications. The library contains classes and frameworks that allow programmers to:

Use DB2* and IMS* DB as stores for persistent objects;
Group objects into units of work;
Create application menu, help and pop-up panels;
Create applications for use in multiple languages;
Build applications that exchange data with existing applications through a common neutral data format;
Automate business processes.

FlowMark* for MVS [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/products/flow/flowhp.html ] automates the flow of work within a business process. It provides for evolutionary and managed change across all aspects of business operations, including business rules, activities, people, programs, data and initiating events. Workflow offers improvements in business efficiency by decreasing the delays and errors associated with manual processes. This results in decreased cost and improved customer service. FlowMark can be used for host application integration in conjunction with FlowMark LAN servers and the Workflow Server Feature, which is a peer runtime server to the other FlowMark servers.

Customers around the world

More than one thousand System/390 Parallel Servers have been installed by customers [ http://www.s390.ibm.com/customer/index.shtml ] in a wide variety of industries since their introduction in 1994. They routinely process huge amounts of data, supporting very large numbers of users and running the world's businesses.

Banking and finance

In today's very competitive banking environment, mergers and consolidations are common. Open, client-server networks tie the different systems together.

Banco Nacional, one of the larger banks in Brazil, needed to expand its ability to store historical customer data and to process more customer transactions, more quickly. Nacional installed the 9021 9X2, IBM's largest ES/9000 system, and a new Parallel Enterprise Server. They will soon work together in the parallel sysplex environment.

With DB2 as its database, the bank will be able to process customer transactions in parallel, much more quickly. With parallel sysplex, the bank will also be able to automatically balance the workload between the branches that are very busy and other branches that are not as busy. With 980 branches feeding information to the System/390, the bank expects to achieve good response time and the data security so critical to the banking industry.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers are interested in keeping operating costs down. One cost effective application for manufacturing is the ability for designers to work together on various computing platforms.

At the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, 2300 designers work together, using graphics workstations connected to IBM's largest mainframes.

The design of new cars is complicated, both by the number of parts that must fit together and by safety considerations. The designers share all their designs, which they draw in three dimensions using the CATIA** computer modeling program, running on graphics workstations. The System/390 mainframe is the ideal server for this application because of the sheer volume of information it stores.

Carl Zeiss Company, the manufacturer of optics for cameras, microscopes, and telescopes, is moving toward full parallel sysplex support of its operations to gain higher availability at a lower cost.

Zeiss uses an ES/9000 mainframe and a System/390 Parallel Server, along with MVS, CICS, IMS and DB2. It uses the SAP R/2** suite of manufacturing applications for materials requirements planning, integrating its order-entry with the scheduling of its manufacturing resources.

With full parallel sysplex support, Zeiss will gain the constant availability of its data and its applications.

Retail and distribution

One of a retailer's most valuable assets is information about its customers. IBM large systems are particularly well suited for storing vast amounts of customer information. The revolutionary decision-support capabilities of IBM's machines allow customers to sift through that information and find the buying patterns.

Hyundai, the Korean car maker, is also interested in streamlining its operations. The US auto industry is very competitive, so the cost of computing is particularly important. Attention to cost control has left Hyundai well-positioned, and the company is having great success with its new car models.

Sales and service often go hand-in-hand, and Hyundai realizes it's not enough just to sell its cars, they have to be able to service them, as well. Hyundai's North American headquarters, located in Los Angeles, has installed a System/390 Parallel Server to ensure that the right parts are at the right dealer locations at the right time, so that when the customers want good service, they'll get good service. And the System/390 works well for this purpose because it is always available.

Government

Today, governments are facing the same challenges that companies face. They must accomplish an increasing variety of tasks with continually constrained resources. They must provide, among many other things, for the security, the shelter, the education and the well-being of their citizens, within a budget.

Addressing welfare reform, the government of North Dakota [ http://www.state.nd.us/www/ndsg.html ] is using a System/390 mainframe to provide citizens with better programs for job training and childcare. The mainframe is the server in a client-server network. It stores information about welfare recipients in a DB2 database. Welfare case workers determine an applicant's eligibility to receive public assistance, and track cases through a graphical interface running with OS/2 on personal computers on their desktops. The goal of the program is to help North Dakota welfare recipients become self-sufficient.

Education

Our System/390 servers are ideal for video-serving applications because they offer the vast storage needed to hold video images. A single hour's worth of digitized video requires a gigabyte (one billion bytes) of storage. But that poses no problem for IBM large systems.

The System/390 servers offer large bandwidth, insuring the proper data-transfer rates, resulting in high-quality pictures. Large bandwidth also allows thousands of users to tap into the system simultaneously.

System/390 servers are bringing lessons to life for school children in Lincoln, Nebraska [ http://www.unl.edu/ ], and for college students at several universities.

Cox Cable, a major provider of cable television services, is using a System/390 server in a pilot project to provide entertaining, as well as educational, video programming into people's homes on demand.

And System/390 servers are integral to several digital library applications where massive volumes of information are put on-line in easy-to-access applications.

Sports

Like any great team, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Put together, IBM's servers can cover the whole playing field, jump any hurdle, and solve just about any computing challenge.

Under an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, IBM will be the Worldwide Information Technology sponsor of the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 [ http://www.atlanta.olympic.org/ ], in Nagano in 1998 and in Sydney in the year 2000.

The 1996 Games, a gigantic team effort, will feature all IBM's servers working together to help meet the information needs as defined by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. To support ACOG's multi-platform, multi-tiered, client-server system and other information technology needs, IBM is furnishing System/390 servers, 80 AS/400* Advanced Servers, RS/6000* workstations and 6,000 IBM Personal Computers. The enterprise-wide system:

Simultaneously tabulates results for team, head-to-head, judged and timed sports, each of which has its own design and technology requirements. It gathers, calculates and tabulates information from timing, scoring and judging stations, then delivers the running time data in real time back to a timing station which feeds the data to the scoreboard and other appropriate systems at the venue.
Provides both real time and delayed results, event and transportation schedules, news flashes, weather reports, athlete biographies, historical Olympic facts and other information to the Olympic Family, which includes athletes, press and dignitaries.
Provides a timely, accurate process for registering, authenticating and badging more than 150,000 Olympic Family members and then using those badges to manage access to 42 Olympic venues and facilities.

System/390 is the central information "warehouse" and server for these applications. It runs MVS/ESA supported by DB2. As a primary server of results, venue and accreditation information, the System/390 supplies data to a distribution server AS/400, which feeds 70 subserver AS/400s, which in turn supply their own IBM Personal Computer clients.

Among the reasons for using System/390 for the Olympic Games were its high availability, extremely good performance and data integrity.

System/390: critical to today's business

As a result of revolutions in hardware and software, IBM offers powerful, scalable, affordable computing systems which provide easy access to vast amounts of accurate and dependable information, anytime, anywhere.

Where not so long ago the press had declared mainframes to be "dinosaurs", large creatures headed for extinction, the introduction of the System/390 Parallel Servers has turned opinion around.

Positive headlines like "The Mainframe Market: A Bolt From Big Blue" (Business Week) and "IBM Gets Down To Business With New High-End Servers" (Network World) are now common.

Consultants have reacted favorably to IBM's recent announcements. For example, Gartner Group concluded that the price of the new Parallel Enterprise server, plus its low maintenance, environmental and software costs "will have a dramatic impact on System/390 application development, which will fuel large systems growth." META Group, Inc. praised the System/390 Parallel Sysplex direction, "reaffirming confidence in mainframes." Securities analysts have noted that the huge install base of System/390 mainframes remains secure. IBM's customers feel large systems and mainframe-based applications are critical to running their businesses.

System/390 servers run new customer applications, do computer-aided design and concurrent engineering, find the patterns in retailing, and promote better health care. Customers understand that the new System/390 is built for the kind of open, scalable, client-server computing they do today and that their investment in existing hardware, software and skills is protected.

* Trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

** All other registered trademarks and trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.

** UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited.

System/390 Division
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