IBM Parallel Sysplex: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:28, 14 September 2007

Revision as of 14:23, 17 September 2007

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In computing, a '''Parallel [[Sysplex]]''' is a [[computer cluster|cluster]] of [[IBM mainframe]]s acting together in a single system image, usually with [[z/OS]]. A Parallel Sysplex combines data sharing (typically using [[Peer to Peer Remote Copy]]) and [[parallel computing]] to allow a cluster of up to 32 computers to share a workload for [[high performance computing|high performance]] and [[high availability]]. Parallel Sysplex provides [[horizontal scaling]].

The forerunner to Parallel Sysplex was '''Virtual Coupling''', a technique which allowed up to 12 [[IBM 3090]] systems to execute jobs in parallel. The true Parallel Sysplex was introduced with then-new mainframe models in April [[1994]]<ref>http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg244356.pdf System/390 Parallel Sysplex Performance - IBM Redbook. Retrieved 17-09-2007.</ref>. IBM continues to improve and enhance Parallel Sysplex.

Major components of a Parallel Sysplex include:

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* Software ([[operating system]] services and, usually, [[middleware]] such as [[IBM DB2|DB2]]).

The Coupling Facility may be either a dedicated external system (a small mainframe, such as [[IBM 9764]], specially configured with only coupling facility processors) or integral processors on the mainframes themselves configured as ICFs (Internal Coupling Facilities). Both are popular&nbsp;&mdash; there are minor technical advantages and disadvantages between external CF and ICF installations. For achieving highest availability without unnecessary spending, IBM generally recommends combining a single external CF with an ICF. With [[z/OS]] 1.8 and higher an ICF-only implementation is quite viable.

A Parallel Sysplex has at least two CFs or ICFs for redundancy (or at least one of each). Every mainframe participating in a Parallel Sysplex does not need an ICF or its own external CF&nbsp;&mdash; mainframes merely attach, via cables, to the external CFs or ICFs.

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* [[LPAR]]

==External linkReferences==

{{Reflist}}

==External link==

* [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/pso/ IBM Parallel Sysplex site]