vsg@tron.UUCP (Vax Support Group) (11/29/89)
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 can find large quantities of VAX 6xxx information. Is something wrong with IBM or am I looking in the wrong place? Any help is appreciated. (references to books, mags, AS/400 developers...) Thank you very much. Marian Iannuzzi Westinghouse Baltimore VSG%Plaza.dnet%tron.UUCP@umbc3.UMBC.EDU (301)765-1479
prc@erbe.se (Robert Claeson) (11/29/89)
In article <461@tron.UUCP>, vsg@tron.UUCP (Vax Support Group) writes: ... > 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. ... Well, I've had severe problems just getting MIPS number, benchmark results and any performance data from IBM on the AS/400. Seems like they're not overly proud of that information... -- Robert Claeson E-mail: rclaeson@erbe.se ERBE DATA AB
terry@uts.amdahl.com (Lewis T. Flynn) (11/30/89)
In article <1026@maxim.erbe.se> prc@erbe.se (Robert Claeson) writes: >In article <461@tron.UUCP>, vsg@tron.UUCP (Vax Support Group) writes: > >... >> 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. >... > >Well, I've had severe problems just getting MIPS number, benchmark results >and any performance data from IBM on the AS/400. Seems like they're not >overly proud of that information... > >-- > Robert Claeson E-mail: rclaeson@erbe.se > ERBE DATA AB IBM has taken the position that the internal architecture of the AS/400 is proprietary. There is performance information in the form of benchmark results (RAMP/C and others), but just about nothing else. If your rep can't find these benchmark numbers, refer him to the original announcement presentation they were in it). IBM has published comparative benchmark results for the 9370 versus several other comparable processors (some VAXen and HP 3000's). I believe they did the same for the AS/400, but I'm not sure. At any rate, since they used the same benchmark suite and assuming that you can get the AS/400 numbers, you can use they published 9370 results (IBM Pub. gg22-9423). As to why they consider the architecture proprietary, who knows? They are consistant, however as the AS/400 is the followon/replacement for the system/38 and system/36 which had similar restrictions on information. The rumor mill has it that the AS/400 and the 9370 are in fact the same processor, but who knows? Disclaimer: All of this was gleaned in my previous job. As far as I know, Amdahl has no interest in AS/400's and I have no current source of information. Terry Disclaimer: all of this was gleaned in my previous jobs. My cuerrent
prc@erbe.se (Robert Claeson) (11/30/89)
In article <461@tron.UUCP>, vsg@tron.UUCP (Vax Support Group) writes: > 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. Once this information is revealed, would someone please be so kind and inform me whether it would be possible to implement UNIX on the AS/400 or not, and if it would run well. I ran into an IBM sales rep that told me that they'd have AIX available for the AS/400 later (much later?). -- Robert Claeson E-mail: rclaeson@erbe.se ERBE DATA AB
kolding@cs.washington.edu (Eric Koldinger) (11/30/89)
In article <5a=2028T6frT01@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> terry@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Lewis T. Flynn) writes: >As to why they consider the architecture proprietary, who knows? They are >consistant, however as the AS/400 is the followon/replacement for the system/38 >and system/36 which had similar restrictions on information. The rumor mill has >it that the AS/400 and the 9370 are in fact the same processor, but who knows? I'll blast that rumor out of the water. About the only thing the AS/400 and the 9370 have in common is the case that they come in. Internally they are completely different. The AS/400 CPU is based on several custom TTL and CMOS parts (varying by model). -- _ /| Eric Koldinger \`o_O' University of Washington ( ) "Gag Ack Barf" Department of Computer Science U kolding@cs.washington.edu