Multiprise 3000
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As of late 2006, IBM's Multiprise 3000 is physically the smallest mainframe still in common use (HxWxD are 82 x 52 x 111 cm). It uses a similar case as the S/390 Integrated Server, which was introduced about one year earlier. The Multiprise 3000 is unusual because it contains internal disk storage. There is still an active resale market for the Multiprise 3000.
The Multiprise 3000 is popular among smaller mainframe customers, particularly those running the 31-bit z/VSE V3R1 operating system. Initially supported OSes were OS/390 V2R4 through R8, VM/ESA V2R2 through R4, and VSE/ESA V2R2 through R4. (The 31-bit versions of TPF/ESA and VM/CMS are also compatible.) The 3000 supports subsequent OS releases, including all z/OS releases up to and including V1R5. However, the Multiprise 3000 is rapidly losing popularity among z/OS and Linux on zSeries users because it does not support z/Architecture. Multiprise 3000 users are upgrading to 64-bit models, especially the System z9 BC, to run newer software such as DB2 Version 8 for z/OS. That trend has accelerated as of late 2006 given reported U.S. prices as low as $30,000 for used 64-bit z800 models and about $100,000+ for new System z9 BCs.
IBM has announced that z/VSE V4R1, due at the end of 2006, will require a z/Architecture system. This announcement may accelerate retirements of 3000s given the system's popularity with VSE users.
The Multiprise 3000 supports ESCON and a limited number of network adapters for external I/O. There are submodels available (H30, H50, H70) that determine capacity and throughput and, thus, software license costs. Both H30/H50 have one main processor with 1GB/2GB of memory while the H70 model has two main processors with 4GB of memory. All models also have one SAP (System Assistance Processor). The main processors are the same CMOS chips used in the G5 series of larger S/390 systems.
[edit] External links
- IBM System/390 Multiprise 3000 Enterprise Server Hardware Announcement; September 20, 1999 (PDF)
- Multiprise 3000 Technical Introduction (PDF)
- S/390 (Multiprise 3000) System Overview
