REAL WORLD L390 APPLICATIONS?
Hi all: Background: My client has developed an application that runs under MVS/USS. It issues a FORK instruction which causes MVS to create a new address space for the new task. Considering the new application is going to be running approximately 5,000 tasks simultaneously, this presents a significant amount of overhead. I'm told a similar application running on an HP-UX environment (or other pure Unix environment I guess) wouldn't have the new address space overhead to contend with and the application would perform reasonably well. Yes, I know, this is clearly an application that should be running under CICS, but hey, I didn't design it. I was called in after the fact. At least it isn't in production... yet. Naturally, everyone is ready to trash the mainframe and go with a Unix solution on a Unix platform, but my client would prefer the application reside on the mainframe (too many reasons to explain herein). Enter L390: I suggested we take a look at L390. You can imagine the death stares I received. It went over like a lead balloon. The primary resistance stems from a common belief that NOBODY's RUNNING LINUX TO DO REAL WORK on the mainframe. My Questions: 1. Is anybody out there using L390 for production application workloads? 2. If so, are you willing to share some of your experiences and provide real world examples? Oh, one last thing: There seems to be a belief that L390 is a port of meta code instead of natively compiled code. My guess is that its heavily tweaked code compiled to run on z/Series hardware. In fact, the more that I think about it, the more I know it has to be rather unique considering the I/O subsystem. TIA. Ed Handschuh Enterprise Operating Systems Architect Independent Consultant SoftExcell, Inc. (215) 783-2208 - cell
Re: Perpetuating Myths about the zSeries
John: Touché'. I somehow missed that one. I do remember the acoustic coupler, but I wasn't quick enough to pick up on the tone dial and put two and two together. Its all part of the Hollywood fantasy. As one great actor said: Movies is magic. ETH ---SNIP--- autodialling with a ACOUSTIC coupled modem. I distinctly remember seeing the handset of the phone in the acoustic modem. Oh, and the phone was PULSE dialled, not TONE dialed, to boot.
Re: Perpetuating Myths about the zSeries
Adam: I like where you're going with this idea... People's perception of a computer are completely out of line with reality. I know this is a bit off track, but it does remind me of the movie War Games. I distinctly remember a chubby guy (computer geek) sticking his head in a 3420 tape drive (vacuum door opened) and saying I've checked the computer and I can't find the bug anywhere. Well, maybe if you got your head out of the tape drive and logged on to the machine you might stand a chance! Clearly someone in Hollywood thought the 3420 looked more like a computer than the actual machine (not that the WOPR really looked like one either). Come to think of it, didn't the WOPR have a lot of blinking lights and possibly bubble tubes? ETH PS: Chubby did have a pocket protector with pencils/pens in it... clearly another stereotype of us computer geeks! ---SNIP--- front; all *real* high-powered computers have glowing bubble columns.
Re: caution on phone calls requesting you to press #90 !!!! From Ken Dreger
Kenneth: Unfortunately your email is nothing more than BS. Check this out: http://netsquirrel.com/combatkit/phone.html Take care, Edwin Handschuh Enterprise Operating Systems Consultant Independent Consultant SoftExcell, Inc. (215) 783-2208 - cell (888) 445-0659 - pager [EMAIL PROTECTED] Online resume': www.EdwinHandschuh.com/eth.doc Beautiful vacation properties: www.BeachVaca.com -Original Message- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Ken Dreger Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 5:46 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: caution on phone calls requesting you to press #90 From Ken Dreger I just got this from my friend the PI, P.I.C.A. Vice President C.A.L.I., Member in Good Standing - Original Message - FYI #90 on the telephone...
Re: 2074 and the HMC
Alan: Actually, the z800 can connect to parallel channels via the IBM 9034 Escon to parallel converter box. Used, they are about $2,000 each (I think). You can also use them to connect your 37x5 devices as well, but if you're running PEP you'll want to check the serial number on the 9034. The first x number of them did not support byte channel devices. Check IBM Link for the minimum serial number for such devices. Hope this helps. Edwin Handschuh Enterprise Systems Architect z/OS, OS/390 SYSPLEX, DB2 Data Sharing, CICS Systems Programmer Independent Consultant SoftExcell, Inc. (215) 783-2208 - cell (215) 641-9775 - home (888) 445-0659 - pager [EMAIL PROTECTED] Online resume': www.EdwinHandschuh.com/eth.doc Beautiful vacation properties: www.BeachVaca.com -Original Message- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Joe Poole Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 10:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: 2074 and the HMC If I remember correctly, the z800 has no parallel channels. That rules out native parallel 3274 or 3174 connection. However, the used equipment market has 3174s with internal Escon, although pricey in the $4,500 range. Parallel to escon converters are available, which makes a regular 3174L parallel equipped usable for much less money ($500). Used equipment dealers could set you up quickly. Try a google search with 'used 3174 controller'. The 2074, if your budget allows, is the best bet since a single unit can handle all the LPARs you may define, with a console in each. We use an old 3274 parallel attached controller to our z900. On Wednesday 15 January 2003 09:48, you wrote: On Wednesday, 01/15/2003 at 03:55 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Can anyone help me with this issue? I am responsible for getting a z/800 up and running with z/VM and Linux. I am still caught up on the hardware stage though. I was told by people that I absolutely NEED a 2074 (or a 3174 and a console) controller to install VM. I've heard several places that the HMC and SE will not allow me to interact with the z/VM installation program. Now, as we are getting closer to bringing our z/800 to life, I am hearing from someone that we CAN use the HMC to interact with the z/VM installation program and we DO NOT need a 2074 (or 3174) at all. Can anyone shed some light on this mystery? And if possible, can you point me in the direction of the appropriate Redbook and/or official IBM documentation? Thanks. A 3270 is required for the installation and configuration of z/VM. Once the system is installed and configured (including VM TCP/IP), then the system console on the HMC is sufficient to OPERATE the system. Telnet can be used to access the system so that you can perform additional system configuration. The requirement to have a 3270 for TCP/IP configuration is listed in the General Information Manual (TCP/IP for z/VM Hardware Requirements, p. 15 in z/VM 4.2 version). The addition of an ifconfig command in z/VM 4.3 can reduce the need for a 3270 even more, but permanent changes to your CP or TCP/IP configuration will require a 3270 so that you can edit files (unless you are big on line-mode editing or are a CMS Pipeline expert). If you are using DirMaint, it is much easier with the menus, requiring a 3270 (also mentioned in the General Information Manual). On a personal note, I have never understood the aversion to having 3270 access for all LPARs on all CECs. Given the value you receive, the IBM 2074, or similar non-IBM products, are worth the relatively small expense. In an emergency, local 3270 access will be your best friend. I would not want to try to wade through a TCP/IP console log looking at traces using the HMC... Alan Altmark Sr. Software Engineer IBM z/VM Development
Re: Mainframe skill shortage
Terrence: Seems like we agree on all points and... Philly rates are definitely lower than NY rates. By the way, I've got 5 kids and I have to agree, not everybody has the stomach to endure the mainframe sysprog market, especially since March, 2001. Ed Handschuh Enterprise Systems Architect Independent Consultant SoftExcell, Inc. (215) 783-2208 - cell (888) 445-0659 - pager [EMAIL PROTECTED] Vacation properties: www.BeachVaca.com
