1. IBM’s Hot New Processor
2. New Processor Ratings – The Next Generation
3. zPCR Announcement
4. RedAlert Issued for HFS Users
5. August SHARE in Boston
6. Request to VSAM RLS Users
1. IBM’s Hot New Processor
On July 26, IBM announced its newest and largest processor, the System z9-109. This new machine is referred to variously as the System z9, the z9-109, or the 2094. Please note that this is *not* part of the zSeries machines, but is the first of IBM’s next generation of processors. The z9-109 can have up to 54 CPs. There are five models that can be ordered, based on “books” (set of processor units): S08 (1 book), S18 (2 books), S28, S38 and S54. The number indicates the maximum number of PUs (processor units) available on each model. A PU can be configured as a CP (Central Processor), an ICF (Internal Coupling Facility), an IFL (Integrated Facility for Linux) or a zAAP (Application Assist Processor). You’ll also see configurations of the z9 in the form of ‘2094-7xx’, with ‘xx’ being the number of CPs (from 01 to 54). Thus, a 2094-701 has one CP and a 2094-754 has 54 CPs. MSUs are listed for each ‘7xx’ configuration and are used to determine software pricing and machine costs.
IBM says that the speed of the z9 uni-processor (701) is 35% faster than the largest zSeries 990. That puts it at about 580 MIPS using the new rating system (see the next item). The largest z9 (the S54) is supposed to have 95% more capacity than the largest z990, which would make it about 17,800 MIPS. Wow! The first models will be available September 16, 2005, with the S54 becoming available November 16, 2005.
Of course the System z9 provides more than just speed and capacity – it also provides higher availability (such as the option to replace an entire book without any down time) and much higher I/O bandwidths. We’ll cover these features and more in a future TUNING Letter.
The announcement, #105-241, can be found among the July 27 announcements at http://www.ibm.com/news/us (select ‘Announcements’ at the left).
By the way, the official announcement (#205-167) for z/OS 1.7 is included in the same set of announcements. Our last TUNING Letter, 2005 No. 3, provided an extensive review of this release (coming September 2005).
2. New Processor Ratings – The Next Generation
We think that one of the most important parts of the new announcement is the inclusion of a new set of LSPRs (Large System Performance Ratios). IBM is now publishing two sets of LSPRs for the zSeries and z9 processors – one for single image mode (as done in the past) and the new one for LPAR (multi-image) mode. The new LPAR mode ratios are based on workload and LPAR mixes as determined from profiling performed by IBM’s Large Systems group. The profiles produced a set of the most common LPAR configurations with a variety of logical to physical CP ratios. Although IBM hasn’t published all the details of these profiles, they certainly appear to match what we’ve seen in the field.
We’re very excited about these new ratios and see them as the next generation in machine capacity and sizing.
One thing that makes analysis of these new ratios a little difficult is that the workload mixes have changed. For example, the CB-S (Commercial Batch – Short) workload has been dropped. It was based on the older CB84 (yes, that means 1984!) workload, so it’s really time to retire it. CB-S has been replaced a new workload, CB-J, that contains Java-based applications. So the ‘Mixed’ workload that IBM mentions in the z9 announcement has changed. The ‘Low I/O’ workload that applies to almost every installation today, has not changed. This makes life much easier for us all.
We’ll have lots more in upcoming TUNING Letters regarding how to interpret and use these new ratios. Of course, we’ll also be coming out with our new CPU Chart and updates to BoxScore (our software product that shows you what type of speed and capacity you actually received, http://www.watsonwalker.com/boxscore.html).
The new LSPRs can be found at http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/lspr.
3. zPCR Announcement
Flash10399 (published today) announces the availability of IBM’s zPCR (System z9 and zSeries Performance Capacity Reference) tool. The tool has been free and available for several years through your IBM representative, but will become available for on-site use in 4Q2005. zPCR helps you size the capacity of a new machine and allows you to experiment with possible configurations prior to actually ordering the upgrades. It helps with questions such as whether it makes more sense to upgrade to a new model or simply add more CPs to your current model.
We think zPCR is very important. No one should upgrade a machine without first reviewing the results from zPCR.
Many kudos to IBM for providing further access to this valuable tool. We’ll have more on zPCR when it becomes available later this year.
Flashes are available at http://www.ibm.com/support/techdocs/atsmastr.nsf/Web/Techdocs.
4. RedAlert Issued for HFS Users
The following RedAlert was issued on 26 July. (RedAlerts point you to especially important APARs and are kept to a minimum – the last one was in February.) You can sign up for RedAlert emails at https://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/redAlerts.
Users of Hierarchical File System (HFS) on z/OS 1.4 through 1.7
“Users of Hierarchical File System (HFS) on z/OS 1.4 through 1.7 may experience a hang with HFS holding the MOUNT latch and/or a VFS latch after a Cancel of a HFS Directory Search operation. Please see OA11041for details. The only possible recovery action is to IPL. Please install the applicable PTF for DFSMS releases 1G0, 1H0, or 1J0 to prevent the problem.”
5. August SHARE in Boston
The next SHARE meeting is August 21st-26th in Boston, and it also celebrates the 50th anniversary of SHARE. It’s not too early to think about registering. Please visit the SHARE Web site at http://www.share.org to reserve a hotel room or to register for the convention. We’re already looking forward to it, and hope to see many of you there. Here are the sessions that we’ll be presenting:
2913 – Tue – 9:30 – Finding Gold with the z/OS UNIX APIs, Clark Kidd
2549 – Tue – 6:00 – WLM Best Practices – Meet the Panel of Experts, Cheryl Watson
2509 – Fri – 9:30 – Cheryl’s Hot Flashes #14, Cheryl Watson
6. Request to VSAM RLS Users
A reader has just asked us for any references to sites that have tried using VSAM RLS in a heavy transaction environment (either successfully or unsuccessfully). If you’d be willing to communicate with him, please send your email address to technical@watsonwalker.com and we’ll forward it on. Thanks so much!
Stay tuned!