System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP)

Today's reality

Today, business requirements change more frequently than ever. To stay current and competitive, businesses are developing new strategic web-based applications, but these applications typically require more IT resources than traditional applications due to levels of abstraction, code generation, and reuse.

What it does

The IBM System z Application Assist Processors (zAAPs) is available on all
IBM zEnterprise EC12, IBM zEnterprise, IBM System z10, and IBM System z9 servers. The zAAP specialty engine provides an attractively priced execution environment for web-based applications and SOA-based technologies, such as:

• Java™ - for customers who desire the powerful integration advantages and traditional Qualities of Service of the IBM mainframe platform.
• XML — for customers who desire cost effective XML parsing services on z/OS, z/OS XML System Services can exploit the zAAP for eligible XML workloads.

See the following page about Intended future support for zAAP processors

What it means

Java

For Java workloads, zAAPs may enable customers to:

• Simplify and reduce server infrastructures by integrating Java Web applications mission critical data for high performance, reliability, availability and security.
• Maximize the value of their mainframe investments through increased system productivity by reducing the demands and capacity requirements on general purpose processors which may then be available for reallocation to other mainframe workloads.
• Lower the overall cost of computing for WebSphere Application Server and other Java technology-based applications; through hardware, software and maintenance savings.

When configured with general purpose processors within logical partitions running z/OS, zAAPs may help increase general purpose processor productivity and may contribute to lowering the overall cost of computing for z/OS Java technology-based applications. zAAPs are designed to operate asynchronously with the general processors to execute Java programming under control of the IBM Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This can help reduce the demands and capacity requirements on general purpose processors which may then be available for reallocation to other mainframe workloads.

The IBM JVM processing cycles can be executed on the configured zAAPs with no anticipated modifications to the Java application(s).

The amount of general purpose processor savings will vary based on the amount of Java application code executed by zAAP(s). This is dependent upon the amount of Java cycles used by the relevant application(s) and on the zAAP execution mode selected by the customer.

Execution of the Java applications on zAAPs, within the same z/OS SMP LPAR as their associated database subsystems, can also help simplify the server infrastructures and improve operational efficiencies. For example, use of zAAPs could reduce the number of TCP/IP programming stacks, firewalls, and physical interconnections (and their associated processing latencies) that might otherwise be required when the application servers and their database servers are deployed on separate physical server platforms.

IBM does not impose software charges on zAAP capacity. Additional IBM software charges apply only when additional general purpose CP capacity is used. Customers are encouraged to contact their specific ISVs/USVs directly to determine if their charges will be affected.

Special offers

• 

  Forrester Consulting: Banking On Analytics Financial services firms count on a consolidated, secure platform for real-time analytics

• Solitaire Interglobal study: See comparisons of virtualization alternatives–What’s best for your business?
• Avoid costly downtime: Consider the three-year cost of downtime for eight large SAP enterprise users running on System z versus two other platforms.
• IDC white paper: Learn how you can centralize more servers, workloads, applications and data on IBM System z.
• Read a Forrester Consulting commissioned study on the total economic impact of IBM System z.

* All statements regarding IBM future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represents goals and objectives only.

NOTE: This information provides only general descriptions of the types and portions of workloads that are eligible for execution on Specialty Engines (e.g, zIIPs, zAAPs, and IFLs) ("SEs"). IBM authorizes customers to use IBM SE only to execute the processing of Eligible Workloads of specific Programs expressly authorized by IBM as specified in the “Authorized Use Table for IBM Machines” provided at www.ibm.com/systems/support/machine_warranties/machine_code/aut.html (“AUT”). No other workload processing is authorized for execution on an SE.

IBM offers SE at a lower price than General Processors/Central Processors because customers are authorized to use SEs only to process certain types and/or amounts of workoads as specified by IBM in the AUT.