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eSeries vs pSeries 1
- Thread starter plugbert
- Start date
KenCunningham
Technical User
I think eSeries is AS400 architecture?
)
KenCunningham
Technical User
Yep. eServer iSeries. Confusing for a Friday afternoon!
KenCunningham
Technical User
[tongue in cheek] Now, Solaris and SunOS, what about that? [/Tongue in cheek]
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1
- #13
How often do you IPL a mainframe though?
pSeries = periodically ('coz we keep mucking about with them)
zSeries = zer year is over ve should probably IPL it.
iSeries = intermittently ('coz some of those millions of PTFs they keep downloading need an IPL)
xSeries = xx@&$"*x it's crashed again (dammed Gates)
Come on plugbert, what is this eSeries machine?
You are looking for a number in the format xxxx-yyy, where the xxxx is the machine type and the yyy is the model.
It should be on a little white sticker near or on the front of the machine, it will be about an inch and a quarter wide by three eighths of an inch high (35mm x 10mm), the second line will be the serial number (which we don't need).
pSeries = periodically ('coz we keep mucking about with them)
zSeries = zer year is over ve should probably IPL it.
iSeries = intermittently ('coz some of those millions of PTFs they keep downloading need an IPL)
xSeries = xx@&$"*x it's crashed again (dammed Gates)
Come on plugbert, what is this eSeries machine?
You are looking for a number in the format xxxx-yyy, where the xxxx is the machine type and the yyy is the model.
It should be on a little white sticker near or on the front of the machine, it will be about an inch and a quarter wide by three eighths of an inch high (35mm x 10mm), the second line will be the serial number (which we don't need).
Hfax, are you saying you IPL a zSeries weekly ?
I wouldn't advise IPLing p,i or zSeries more often than you have to.
About the worst thing you can do to a system is needlessly IPL it.
One of the biggest causes of problems for IT equipment is the thermal cycle they have to under go during normal operation, i.e. running fast, and hot, during the working day and then slow and cool during the night. This alone caused all sorts of problems as the components and boards grow and shrink with the heat, and all the connectors move around as they heat up and cool down.
IPLing a system adds a whole host of other factors into the equation.
They cool to below normal operating temperatures, making things move around even more, the internal disks may even stop spinning and have to restart again, causing more stress on the motors and other components.
I’ve had experience of several iSeries systems that are only IPL’d yearly and pSeries machines in a nice stable environment (i.e. that no longer get updates, they just sit there and do their job) only getting IPL’d when needed, like when the power needs to go off or when they get moved, and to be honest (in my humble opinion ;-) ) they are the ones that have the fewest problems.
I have no experience of zSeries / S390 but from what I know of the mid-range stuff and the reputation of the large systems I don’t think it is good practice to IPL a main frame (or any other healthy system) needlessly.
BTW, in the vein of this thread, the only server I have seen bearing the eServer logo is the AS400, which will NOT run AIX.
I wouldn't advise IPLing p,i or zSeries more often than you have to.
About the worst thing you can do to a system is needlessly IPL it.
One of the biggest causes of problems for IT equipment is the thermal cycle they have to under go during normal operation, i.e. running fast, and hot, during the working day and then slow and cool during the night. This alone caused all sorts of problems as the components and boards grow and shrink with the heat, and all the connectors move around as they heat up and cool down.
IPLing a system adds a whole host of other factors into the equation.
They cool to below normal operating temperatures, making things move around even more, the internal disks may even stop spinning and have to restart again, causing more stress on the motors and other components.
I’ve had experience of several iSeries systems that are only IPL’d yearly and pSeries machines in a nice stable environment (i.e. that no longer get updates, they just sit there and do their job) only getting IPL’d when needed, like when the power needs to go off or when they get moved, and to be honest (in my humble opinion ;-) ) they are the ones that have the fewest problems.
I have no experience of zSeries / S390 but from what I know of the mid-range stuff and the reputation of the large systems I don’t think it is good practice to IPL a main frame (or any other healthy system) needlessly.
BTW, in the vein of this thread, the only server I have seen bearing the eServer logo is the AS400, which will NOT run AIX.
KenCunningham
Technical User
I definitely agree with DukeSSD. In normal running, there's absolutely no reason to reboot more often than operational requirements dictate. Agree about the EServer logo on the AS400 too.
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