IBM AS/400e, User Handbook Manual

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AS/400 System Architecture: Underlying Strength of the AS/400e
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AS/400e System Handbook
V4R5 New Technologies
SOI
The Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology was applied for the first time for the AS/400e with
V4R5. This technology is used by the ISTAR processors of the AS/400e. The transistors are
built within and on top of a thin layer of silicon that is on top of an insulating layer. The
insulating layer is fabricated by implanting a thin layer of oxide beneath the primary silicon
surface of the wafer.
On-Chip Copper-Wiring Technology
PULSAR and ISTAR processors use on-chip copper-wiring technology. PULSAR processors
integrate IBM CMOS7S technology. ISTAR processors integrate IBM CMOS8S technology.
Northstar technology used in prior AS/400 processors deploys aluminum for on-chip wiring.
Copper's better conductivity permits thinner wires to be used, which enables the transistors
to be packed closer together. This new denser technology permits additional micro
architecture methods to improve performance. Denser processor technology also permits
more on-chip cache. Keeping multiple levels of high speed cache is necessary to keep the
processors busy.
HSL
In the hardware of a server, there are many factors that affect performance. Bandwidth and
configuration of the I/O system have a big effect, as does the network connecting the
computers. With the new processors supported by OS/400 V4R5, more on-chip cache, a
faster memory bus, a super-fast data cross-bar switch complex (with speeds up to 36 GB per
second), faster DASD, and much faster input/output processors and adapters necessitate a
new data transportation mechanism to keep processors of the AS/400e busy. The optical
links used to transport the data from the buses to the processor complex of the previous
generation of the AS/400e are not fast enough to satisfy the high capacity demands of the
new server processing complex.
High Speed Link (HSL) is the desired solution. The High Speed Link is capable of
transporting massive amounts of data from the I/O towers with their attached devices to the
processor complex at a speed of up to 1 GB per second. This new technology is implemented
on the AS/400e servers.
Operating System OS/400
One of the single most dramatic points about the AS/400e system is that its operating
system, OS/400, is a single entity. This section describes the meaning of this concept.
Once you buy an AS/400 system, you do not have to continue shopping for system software
components before it is ready to run your business. All of the software components for a