|
Channel-to-channel Adapter
In IBM mainframe technology, a channel-to-channel adapter (CTCA) is a device that connects two input/output channels on (usually) two separate computer systems. The adapter allows one computer system to be treated as an input/output device by another. It is used "to link the processing units in a loosely coupled multiprocessing system. Virtual channel-to-channel adapters (VCTCA) are often used to communicate between two virtual machines in the z/VM operating system. The Virtual Machine Communication Facility (VMCF), and later Inter User Communication Vehicle (IUCV) are now often used in place of VCTCAs because they provide a simpler interface and improved performance. On IBM z processors, the functionality of a CTCA is implemented by connecting two ESCON channels or two FICON FICON (Fibre Connection) 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
IBM Mainframe
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. First and second generation From 1952 into the late 1960s, IBM manufactured and marketed several large computer models, known as the IBM 700/7000 series. The first-generation 700s were based on vacuum tubes, while the later, second-generation 7000s used transistors. These machines established IBM's dominance in electronic data processing ("EDP"). IBM had two model categories: one (701, 704, 709, 7030, 7090, 7094, 7040, 7044) for engineering and scientific use, and one (702, 705, 705-II, 705-III, 7080, 7070, 7072, 7074, 7010) for commercial or data processing use. The two categories, scientific and commercial, generally used common peripherals but had co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Input/output
In computing, input/output (I/O, i/o, or informally io or IO) is the communication between an information processing system, such as a computer, and the outside world, such as another computer system, peripherals, or a human operator. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system and outputs are the signals or data sent from it. The term can also be used as part of an action; to "perform I/O" is to perform an input or output operation. are the pieces of hardware used by a human (or other system) to communicate with a computer. For instance, a keyboard or computer mouse is an input device for a computer, while monitors and printers are output devices. Devices for communication between computers, such as modems and network cards, typically perform both input and output operations. Any interaction with the system by an interactor is an input and the reaction the system responds is called the output. The designation of a device as either input or output depend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Channel I/O
In computing, channel I/O is a high-performance input/output (I/O) architecture that is implemented in various forms on a number of computer architectures, especially on mainframe computers. In the past, channels were generally implemented with custom devices, variously named channel, I/O processor, I/O controller, I/O synchronizer, or '' DMA controller''. Overview Many I/O tasks can be complex and require logic to be applied to the data to convert formats and other similar duties. In these situations, the simplest solution is to ask the CPU to handle the logic, but because I/O devices are relatively slow, a CPU could waste time waiting for the data from the device. This situation is called 'I/O bound'. Channel architecture avoids this problem by processing some or all of the I/O task without the aid of the CPU by offloading the work to dedicated logic. Channels are logically self-contained, with sufficient logic and working storage to handle I/O tasks. Some are powerful or fle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Multiprocessing
Multiprocessing (MP) is the use of two or more central processing units (CPUs) within a single computer system. The term also refers to the ability of a system to support more than one processor or the ability to allocate tasks between them. There are many variations on this basic theme, and the definition of multiprocessing can vary with context, mostly as a function of how CPUs are defined ( multiple cores on one die, multiple dies in one package, multiple packages in one system unit, etc.). A multiprocessor is a computer system having two or more processing units (multiple processors) each sharing main memory and peripherals, in order to simultaneously process programs. A 2009 textbook defined multiprocessor system similarly, but noted that the processors may share "some or all of the system’s memory and I/O facilities"; it also gave tightly coupled system as a synonymous term. At the operating system level, ''multiprocessing'' is sometimes used to refer to the executi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virtual Machine
In computing, a virtual machine (VM) is the virtualization or emulator, emulation of a computer system. Virtual machines are based on computer architectures and provide the functionality of a physical computer. Their implementations may involve specialized hardware, software, or a combination of the two. Virtual machines differ and are organized by their function, shown here: * ''System virtual machines'' (also called full virtualization VMs, or SysVMs) provide a substitute for a real machine. They provide the functionality needed to execute entire operating systems. A hypervisor uses native code, native execution to share and manage hardware, allowing for multiple environments that are isolated from one another yet exist on the same physical machine. Modern hypervisors use hardware-assisted virtualization, with virtualization-specific hardware features on the host CPUs providing assistance to hypervisors. * ''Process virtual machines'' are designed to execute computer programs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Z/VM
z/VM is the current version in IBM's VM family of virtual machine operating systems. First released in October 2000, z/VM remains in active use and development . It is directly based on technology and concepts dating back to the 1960s, particularly IBM's CP/CMS on the IBM System/360-67 (see article History of CP/CMS for historical details). z/VM runs on IBM's IBM Z family of computers and can support large numbers (thousands) of Linux virtual machines. (See Linux on IBM Z.) On 16 September 2022, IBM released z/VM Version 7.3 which requires z/Architecture, implemented in IBM's EC12, BC12 and later models. See also * OpenSolaris for System z * PR/SM * Time-sharing system evolution * z/OS * z/TPF * z/VSE References Citations ; Primary CP/CMS sources: * R. J. Creasy,The origin of the VM/370 time-sharing system, ''IBM Journal of Research & Development'', Vol. 25, No. 5 (September 1981), ''pp.'' 483–90, PDF― perspective on CP/CMS and VM history by the CP-40 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virtual Machine Communication Facility
The IBM Virtual Machine Communication Facility (VMCF) is a feature of the VM/370 operating system introduced in Release 3 in 1976. It "provides a method of communication and data transfer between virtual machines operating under the same VM/370 system." VMCF uses paravirtualization through the ''diagnose'' instruction VMCF SEND function to send data, in blocks of up to 2048 bytes, from one virtual machine to another. The receiving virtual machine accesses the data thru the diagnose RECEIVE function. It provides a simpler interface and greater performance than the prior use of virtual channel-to-channel adapters for the same purpose. VMCF was superseded by the Inter User Communication Vehicle (IUCV), introduced in 1980 with VM/SP VM (often: VM/CMS) 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. Design The heart of th .... ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inter User Communication Vehicle
Inter User Communication Vehicle (IUCV) is a data transfer mechanism in IBM VM line of operating systems. It was introduced with VM/SP Release 1 in 1980. It allows establishment of point to point communication channels, either between two virtual machines or between a virtual machine and hypervisor services. In effect, IUCV provides a form of message-based interaction between virtual machines that anticipated the client/server interaction between network connected physical machines that emerged later on distributed systems. IUCV is implemented by CP (the VM hypervisor) and controls all aspects of session establishments, message passing and flow control. IUCV basics Initializing IUCV Before a virtual machine can use the IUCV service, it must first indicate the address of an area within its address space where CP will be able to store information regarding pending information or status. Therefore, the DECLARE BUFFER method must be invoked first. The IUCV Path In IUCV terminology, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
IBM Z
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 will soon include the newest model, the IBM z17, as well as the z16, z15, z14, and z13 (released under the IBM z Systems/IBM System z names), the IBM zEnterprise models (in common use the zEC12 and z196), the IBM System z10 models (in common use the z10 EC), the IBM System z9 models (in common use the z9EC) and ''IBM eServer zSeries'' models (in common use refers only to the z900 and z990 generations of mainframe). Architecture The ''zSeries,'' ''zEnterprise,'' ''System z'' and ''IBM Z'' families were named for their availability – ''z'' stands for zero downtime. The systems are built with spare components capable of hot failovers to ensure continuous operations. The IBM Z family maintains full backward compatibility. In effect, current systems are the direc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ESCON
ESCON (Enterprise Systems Connection) is a data connection created by IBM, and is commonly used to connect their mainframe computer A mainframe computer, informally called a mainframe or big iron, is a computer used primarily by large organizations for critical applications like bulk data processing for tasks such as censuses, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise ...s to peripheral devices such as disk storage, tape drives and IBM 3270 display controllers. ESCON is an optical fiber, half-duplex, Serial communications, serial interface. It originally operated at a rate of 10MB/s, which was later increased to 17MB/s. The current maximum distance is 43 kilometers. IBM introduced ESCON in September 1990 as part of its System/390 announcement. It replaced the older, slower (4.5MB/s), copper-based, parallel, IBM System/360 Bus and Tag channels technology of 1960-1990 era mainframes. Optical fiber is smaller in diameter and weight, and hence could save installatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
FICON
FICON (Fibre Connection) 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 (either ESCON or parallel Bus and Tag) 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. FICON was introduced in 1998 as part of System/390 G5 IBM mainframe. In July 2013, FICON replaced ESCON in new zEnterprise BC12/EC12, and later models, because of FICON's technical superiority (especially its higher performance) and lower cost. Protocol internals Each FICON channel port is capable of multiple concurrent data exchanges (a maximum of 32) in full duplex mode. Information for active exchanges is transferred in Fibre Channel sequences ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
