At least for question 1, go find a manual called the "Principles of Operations". You can search the IBM website by that name and then download it to read.
The BCP is nothing more than the core MVS components. MVS is comprised of many subsystems, each doing a specialized function. The "Kernel" in your terms is the MVS Nucleus, which controls the activity between the many subsystems. There are many CPu's on a Z-series. Some have as few as one, some have as many as 54. The BCP runs on all of them at the same time. For answers to questions 2 and 3, you might try searching the IBM Journal, and the IBM Journal of Research and Developement. Machine architectures change every few years, so the answers depend on the type of machine you are interested in. On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:46:27 -0400, Kuredjian, Michael <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I'm currently in University on my Co-op term as a COBOL programmer for host systems (zOS). I have a few basic questions regarding the zArchitecture that I can't seem to elicit answers to from my co-workers. The questions are as follows: > >1. zOS has a kernel called the BCP, or Base Control Program. In Linux or Windows, it's established that the kernel runs on a general purpose CPU( PowerPC, x86, MIPS, etc...); however, I would like to know if such a central CPU exists in the mainframe, and if that central CPU is of some common architecture like, POWER. If not, are there any documents that I can look into that will describe the CPU architecture for me? > >2. ESCON and FICON are data busses used for external storage devices, but what does the mainframe use for internal data bus, InfiniBand, HyperTransport? > >3. Does the mainframe use common interconnects on the hardware level? I'm thinking of PCIe, PCI-X, MCA, or PCI. > >That's all for now, but I'm sure subsequent answers will generate follow-up questions on my part. Thanks for taking the time to read this! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
