kirchner@uklirb.UUCP (Reinhard Kirchner) (12/04/89)
Hello, I wanted to mail this to Marian Iannuzzi at Westinghouse, Baltimore but node tron seems to be unknown at umbc3, which is just the last one before tron, so my mail came back. But it doesn't matter, this may be of interest for all. vsg@tron.UUCP (Vax Support Group): > > In attempting to write a paper for my Comparative Computer Architecture course, > I have been searching for hardware architecture information on IBM's AS/400 > system. Specifically I would like to detailed box diagram showing the main > components of the system and the interconnections. I would also like details > about each box and the interconnection. I have been through 4 IBM sales reps > and one technical specialist. I can't seem to get past the marketing glossies. > I'm beginning to think that this information does not exist. > > My paper is to compare the AS/400 architecture to the VAX 6xxx architecture. I Hello, The information you are searching for is available !!!!! 1. recently there was a complete issue of the 'IBM systems Journal' devoted to the AS/400. It tells a lot about hard- and software. In it there is a reference to a book 'AS/400 technology' or something similar ( I have both, but at home, and I am here at work. During the weekend I got the numbers: IBM Systems Journal Vol 28 Nr. 3, 1989 G321-0095-0 2. This book ( AS/400 Technology ) contains various papers written by the developers. The title my also be 'Advantage, AS/400 Technology' ( comes just to my mind. It is Advantage, IBM AS/400 Technologie SA21-9540 You will find in both the requested box-diagramms etc. BUT BUT BUT comparing the AS/400 to any other machine ( except the /38 ) is like comparing apples to oranges. The AS/400 has a capability oriented Instruction-set which is interpreted or compiled in several layers. This influences all but the lowest level of Hardware. Maybe you asked the wrong sales-reps. You should ask the /36-/38-AS/400 people, not the /370-sellers. They fly above those midrange crowd -:) Some years ago I tried to look deep into the /38 ( and the AS/400 seems to be an enhanced /38 since /38 programms run without recompilation ), so I asked for the /38 functional reference manual ( which is not yet available for the AS/400 ). The /38-manual consists of two parts, each appr. 4 cm thick, and an introduction appr. 2 cm thick !!! Compare it to the /370 principles of operation ( appr. 3 cm ) !. I personally think the AS/400 is the most advanced architecture ( architecture is the programmers interface to the hardware , e.g. instruction set etc., according to an old definition ) in the market. It is so advanced that it is shurely not understood by the owners of the machine, but this is thanks god not neccessary. It is even obove the now historical iAPX432, which had some similar goals and was the only one to come near. Just according the definition of 'architecture': Architecture is mostly the instruction set. It is independent from the Implementation. The conection of boxes, busses etc. is called the STRUCTURE of the machine. Architecture and Structure get more and more intermixed in the minds of many people, but should be clearly distingished from each other. Hope this helps you a little. Please send a response and also please tell if you find some more literature than the things 1. and 2. Reinhard Kirchner University of kaiserslautern, W-Germany kirchner!uklirb.uucp kinf89@dkluni01.bitnet ( preferred ) Now if this starts a discussion about the AS/400 in this group I would welcome it. -------------last line---------last line---------