New IBM z9 Business Class Mainframe at CIT Offers Immediate Benefits to NIH

On November 19, 2006, CIT upgraded its z/OS mainframe system by replacing two of IBM’s older 9672-RB6 processors with a new state-of-the-art IBM z9 Business Class (BC) model 2096-M03 processor. This upgrade offers immediate benefits to existing applications as well as any new or changed applications for years to come.

What’s new?

CIT has consolidated its z/OS production and test systems onto a single powerful z9 processor complex to make more efficient use of our total system capacity, and at the same time give additional processing power and memory to individual workloads which may have been constrained by our previous two processor configuration.

The following is a list of some of the major enhancements that are provided by the z9 processor:

Capacity

•	64bit addressing
•	8GB of internal RAM, up from 2GB on each IBM 9672 Processor
•	Up to 30 Logical Partitions (if needed)
•	The ability to select between 53 different capacity levels and numbers of processors with only a non-disruptive microcode change provides a great deal of flexibility

Connectivity

•	In addition to our current 17 Megabytes/Sec ESCON channels, our new processor supports IBM’s latest FICON Express4 channels with a 4 Gigabyte/Sec data rate
•	Much greater flexibility in the number and type of I/O, coupling, and cryptographic connectivity

Networking

•	Hipersockets (Virtual LAN communication between z/OS images at memory speeds)
•	Gigabit Ethernet and the capability for up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet if needed
•	IPv6 Ready
•	Internal VLAN capabilities

Security

•	EAL5 Security Certified
•	Supports AES, PRNG, SHA-256 encryption protocols
•	Four dedicated Cryptographic processors/accelerators
•	Certified to the latest FIPS 140 levels

Environmental Factors

•	The z9 uses only half the power and produces only half the heat of previous processors
•	It takes up only one quarter the floor space
•	It has features that will eventually allow us to eliminate external timers, console controllers, and channel switches

Reliability/Scalability

•	Spare Processors, Channels, Memory, Power
•	Concurrent MicroCode updates, feature additions, and capacity increases

In addition to these new functions and capabilities, we also are positioned to take advantage of the latest features and capabilities introduced in z/OS now and in the future. For those users that are looking for a stable environment for running their existing applications, the new processor allows for uninterrupted operation without disruptive hardware upgrades for years to come. Whether you are looking for stability or innovation and performance, our new z9 will be a great benefit both now and into the future.

Need more information?

If you are interested in moving an application to the mainframe or would like more information, please contact the NIH Help Desk either by phone at 301-496-HELP (301-496-4357), 866-319-4357 (toll free), or 301-496-8294 (TTY) or by email at ITHelpDesk@nih.gov.