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==Description== | |||
An '''IBM mainframe''' is an ]-made ], i.e., a traditionally "large" high-performance computer (in terms of price tag, physical size, ] and ] performance), although usually not as expensive and highly performing as a ]. | An '''IBM mainframe''' is an ]-made ], i.e., a traditionally "large" high-performance computer (in terms of price tag, physical size, ] and ] performance), although usually not as expensive and highly performing as a ]. | ||
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] (the "360 degree", i.e., "all-around" computer system) incorporated into a single architecture features which had previously been present on only the commercial (decimal arithmetic, for example, or byte addressing) or the technical (floating point arithmetic) lines of machines.¹ The ] was also the first computer architecture in wide use to include dedicated hardware provisions for the use of ]s. Among these were the notion of supervisor and application mode programs and instructions, as well as built-in memory protection facilities.² | ] (the "360 degree", i.e., "all-around" computer system) incorporated into a single architecture features which had previously been present on only the commercial (decimal arithmetic, for example, or byte addressing) or the technical (floating point arithmetic) lines of machines.¹ The ] was also the first computer architecture in wide use to include dedicated hardware provisions for the use of ]s. Among these were the notion of supervisor and application mode programs and instructions, as well as built-in memory protection facilities.² | ||
The primary operating systems in use on today's IBM mainframes include ] (later called ] or ]), ] (later called z/VM), ], ], and, most recently, ]. (A few systems also remain that run ].) Previous operating systems for the ] family and its successors have included ] (with PCP, MFT, and MVT), BOS, TOS, ], and SVS. The ], ] and ] hardware can be emulated using the freely available ] which runs under ] and ]. The original ] have also been released for free use, as have earlier versions of ] and ]. | The primary operating systems in use on today's IBM mainframes include ] (later called ] or ]), ] (later called z/VM), ], ], and, most recently, ]. (A few systems also remain that run ].) Previous operating systems for the ] family and its successors have included ] (with PCP, MFT, and MVT), BOS, TOS, ], and SVS. The ], ] and ] hardware can be emulated using the freely available ] which runs under ] and ]. The original ] have also been released for free use, as have earlier versions of ] and ]. | ||
Notable pre-System/360 IBM mainframes include: | Notable pre-System/360 IBM mainframes include: |
Revision as of 12:19, 9 February 2005
Description
An IBM mainframe is an International Business Machines (IBM)-made mainframe computer, i.e., a traditionally "large" high-performance computer (in terms of price tag, physical size, transaction processing and I/O performance), although usually not as expensive and highly performing as a supercomputer.
In the early years (1950-1965) IBM made many models of mainframes, most of which were incompatible with each other. It had two main lines of models: one for commercial or data processing use, and another one for engineering and scientific use. The two lines were largely incompatible. This all changed with the introduction of the System/360 (S/360) in April of 1964. The System/360 was a single series of compatible models, for both commercial and scientific use. The System/360 later evolved into the System/370, the System/390, and most recently the zSeries.
System/360 (the "360 degree", i.e., "all-around" computer system) incorporated into a single architecture features which had previously been present on only the commercial (decimal arithmetic, for example, or byte addressing) or the technical (floating point arithmetic) lines of machines.¹ The System/360 was also the first computer architecture in wide use to include dedicated hardware provisions for the use of operating systems. Among these were the notion of supervisor and application mode programs and instructions, as well as built-in memory protection facilities.²
The primary operating systems in use on today's IBM mainframes include MVS (later called OS/390 or z/OS), VM/CMS (later called z/VM), VSE, TPF, and, most recently, GNU/Linux. (A few systems also remain that run MUSIC/SP.) Previous operating systems for the System/360 family and its successors have included OS/360 (with PCP, MFT, and MVT), BOS, TOS, DOS, and SVS. The System/370, System/390 and zSeries hardware can be emulated using the freely available Hercules emulator which runs under GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows. The original OS/360 have also been released for free use, as have earlier versions of MVS and VM/CMS.
Notable pre-System/360 IBM mainframes include:
See also: List of IBM products, Amdahl Corporation, IBM minicomputer
Notes
- Some of these features were optional on some models of System/360.
- Memory protection was provided to protect the operating system from the user programs (tasks), and the user tasks from each other.
References
- Prasad, Nallur (1994). IBM Mainframes: Architecture and Design. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Osborne Media. ISBN 0070506914.