IBM system z10 I/O subsystem

  • Authors:

  • E. W. Chencinski;M. A. Check;C. DeCusatis;H. Deng;M. Grassi;T. A. Gregg;M. M. Helms;A. D. Koenig;L. Mohr;K. Pandey;T. Schlipf;T. Schober;H. Ulrich;C. R. Walters

  • Affiliations:

  • IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Boeblingen Laboratory, Boeblingen, Germany;IBM Deutschland Entwicklung GmbH, Boeblingen, Germany;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York;IBM Deutschland Entwicklung GmbH, Boeblingen, Germany;IBM Deutschland Entwicklung GmbH, Boeblingen, Germany;IBM Deutschland Entwicklung GmbH, Boeblingen, Germany;IBM Systems and Technology Group, Poughkeepsie, New York

  • Venue:
  • IBM Journal of Research and Development
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

The performance, reliability, and functionality of a large server are greatly influenced by the design characteristics of its I/O subsystem. The critical components of the IBM System z10™ I/O subsystem have, therefore, been significantly improved in terms of performance, capability, and cost. The first-order network has been redesigned from the long-evolved enhanced self-timed interface (eSTI) links to utilize InfiniBand™ links. A redesign of the host logic of I/O chips and the fiberoptic interfaces within the links made it possible to introduce InfiniBand-based IBM Parallel Sysplex® links. A broad range of legacy I/O channels have been carried forward to connect through InfiniBand, and a foundation has been laid for new channel types of improved functionality and performance. The first such hardware channel to be introduced is the next generation of Ethernet-virtualization data routers. A new and methodical recovery structure has been designed to ensure consistent, extensive support of reliability, availability, and serviceability. A building-block-oriented design process has been developed to enable the innovations that made these advances possible. Finally, a new performance verification methodology has been introduced to ensure that the system and subsystem designs are balanced to make effective use of the increased capacity.