IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

About zIIP

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There are several workloads that are eligible for the zIIP!

Data Serving – DB2 UDB V8 and DB2 V9.1 for z/OS exploitation of zIIP
There are several types of DB2 for z/OS workloads that may benefit from zIIP. These are:

• ERP or CRM application serving - For applications, running on z/OS, UNIX, Intel, or Linux on System z that access DB2 for z/OS on a System z9 or System z10, via DRDA over a TCP/IP connection, DB2 gives z/OS the necessary information to have portions of these SQL requests directed to the zIIP.
• Data Warehousing applications - Requests that utilize DB2 for z/OS for long running parallel queries, including complex star schema parallel queries, may have portions of these SQL requests directed to the zIIP when DB2 gives z/OS the necessary information. These queries are typical in data warehousing implementations. The addition of select long running parallel queries may provide more opportunity for DB2 customers to optimize their environment for Data Warehousing while leveraging the unique qualities of service provided by System z and DB2.
• Some DB2 for z/OS utilities - A portion of DB2 for z/OS V8 utility functions used to maintain index maintenance structures (LOAD, REORG, and REBUILD INDEX) that typically run during batch, can be redirected to the zIIP. A portion of DB2 for z/OS V8 and DB2 9 DB2 utilities for sorting fixed-length records using IBM's memory object sorting technique can be eligible for the zIIP.
• DB2 9 pureXML – see the XML section below

This function is available starting with z/OS V1.8 (with appropriate service and web deliverable) or z/OS V1.8, and DB2 UDB for z/OS V8 (with PTFs) or DB2 9 for z/OS.

End-to-end Network Encryption – z/OS Communication Server exploitation of zIIP
The z/OS Communications Server allows portions of IPSec processing to take advantage of zIIPs. The zIIP Assisted IPSec function moves a portion of the IPSec processing from the general purpose processors to the zIIPs. With zIIP Assisted IPSec, the zIIPs, in effect, become an encryption engine. In addition to performing the encryption processing, the zIIP will also handle cryptographic validation of message integrity, and IPSec header processing. This capability was available August 2007 via z/OS V1.8 and PTFs and native in z/OS V1.9.

z/OS XML System Services exploitation of zIIP
z/OS XML System Services (a high speed, low latency XML parser in the base of z/OS) is enhanced to take additional advantage of zIIPs. Specifically, all validating and non-validating parsing conducted by z/OS XML System Services that is executed in enclave SRB mode can be eligible to run on the zIIP.

All z/OS XML System Services validating and non-validating parsing requests executing from enclave SRB mode are eligible for the zIIP. The first IBM exploiter of z/OS XML System Services is DB2 9. With regard to DB2 9, z/OS XML System Services non-validating parsing requests (such as XML table loads and updates) are eligible for zIIPs when it is utilized as part of any workload running in enclave SRB mode (like DRDA).

Please see the corresponding announcement for z/OS XML System Services exploitation of zAAP.

Remote Mirror - z/OS Global Mirror
z/OS Global Mirror (zGM, formerly XRC Extended Remote Copy) is enhanced to allow most z/OS DFSMS SDM (System Data Mover) processing associated with zGM/XRC to be eligible to run on the zIIP. zIIP assisted z/OS Global Mirror can help provide better price performance and improved utilization of resources or can create server "white space" to be used for other projects at the mirrored site. This capability is available with: z/OS V1.10 (when available), or z/OS V1.9 with PTF UA39510 or z/OS V1.8 with PTF UA39509; IBM System Storage DS8000, or any storage controller, supporting z/OS Global Mirror; and IBM System z9 or System z10 server with zIIP(s).

zIIP Assisted HiperSockets for large messages
In z/OS V1.10 HiperSockets has been enhanced for zIIP exploitation. Specifically, the z/OS Communications Server allows the HiperSockets Multiple Write Facility processing for outbound large messages originating from z/OS to be performed on a zIIP. The combination of HiperSockets Multiple Write Facility and zIIP enablement is described as "zIIP-Assisted HiperSockets for large messages." zIIP-Assisted HiperSockets can help make highly secure, available, virtual HiperSockets networking a more attractive option. z/OS application workloads based on XML, HTTP, SOAP, Java, etc., as well as traditional file transfer, can benefit from zIIP enablement by helping to lower general purpose processor utilization for such TCP/IP traffic. This capability only available on System z10 servers.

Enterprise Business Intelligence reporting
The IBM Scalable Architecture for Financial Reporting (SAFR) is a software and services-based offering from IBM Global Business Services (GBS). SAFR has the ability to report directly from operational data and it can rapidly produce accurate, consistent, and transparent outputs, which can be available, scalable, and responsive to changing business needs. SAFR employs a number of techniques to reduce run-time and resource utilization, including the generation of machine code highly optimized for System z. IBM GBS can architect SAFR to exploit the zIIP specialty processor. Specifically, the processing of data extract phase of the SAFR Performance Engine (that which pulls data from multiple data sources, joins with data looked up from internal tables, performs transformations, and outputs the data to extract files) may be eligible for the zIIP. Additional restrictions to zIIP enablement may apply, see your IBM GBS rep for more details.

Intra-server communications
The Common Information Model (CIM) is and industry standard used for communicating information about system resources. z/OS uses CIM to communicate information on or to manage resources for its system components. z/OS V1.11 is updated to enable z/OS CIM server processing to run on the zIIP. This means CIM client applications that use the CIM server on z/OS for system management, such as parts of the System z Capacity Provisioning Manager and parts of the z/OS Management Facility, can benefit.

zAAP on zIIP capability
z/OS V1.11 is enhanced with a new capability that can enable System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP) eligible workloads to run on System z Integrated Information Processors (zIIPs). This function can enable you to run zIIP- and zAAP-eligible workloads on the zIIP. This new capability is ideal for customers without enough zAAP- or zIIP-eligible workload to justify a specialty engine today; the combined eligible workloads may make the acquisition of a zIIP cost effective. This new capability is also intended to provide more value for customers having only zIIP processors by making Java and XML-based workloads eligible to run on existing zIIPs. Customers who have already invested in zAAP, or have invested in both zAAP and zIIP processors, should continue to use these as this maximizes the new workload potential for the platform. This new capability is not available for z/OS LPARS if zAAPs are installed on the server; additional terms and conditions apply, see the FAQ for more information.

Please Note
zIIPs are very similar in concept to System z Application Assist Processors (zAAPs). Like the zAAPs; but unlike standard CPs, ICFs, and IFLs; the zIIP can do nothing on its own. They cannot execute an Initial Program Load and can only assist the general purpose Central Processor (CP) for the execution of eligible work.