IBM Systems > Mainframe servers > Hardware >

IBM System z9 Enterprise Class

Formerly IBM System z9 109 (z9-109)

Overview

Features & benefits

Specifications

Learn more


	z9 EC Data sheet (69KB)

	z9 EC Reference guide (456KB)

	Support

	Acoustical Declaration

	Get Adobe® Reader®

Highlights

Strengthening the role of the mainframe as the data hub of the enterprise
New versatile capacity settings designed to optimize capacity and cost
IBM System z9™ Integrated Information Processor (IBM zIIP) is designed to improve resource optimization and lower the cost of eligible work
Continued improvement in IBM FICON® performance and throughput
On demand innovative technologies to help meet ever-changing business demands

A "classic" might just be the best

The System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC) continues to be a leader in areas such as data management, availability, security and resiliency, virtualization and integration. Features such as enhanced book availability, redundant I/O interconnect and enhanced driver maintenance can increase the z9 EC’s availability, helping to protect not just the mainframe but also its applications from unplanned as well as planned outages. By participating in IBM’s Parallel Sysplex® technology, the z9 EC can offer the flexibility to solve business issues, such as having rapid response when business needs change, providing near-continuous availability of IT assets and helping to reduce the overall cost of computing.

While the z9 EC can scale to offer a large capacity mainframe in a single footprint, some customers have requested the z9 EC innovative features with more flexibility in customizing and sizing the capacity of the general purposes processors (CPs) that reside in the server. These customers want more options as they weigh business demands and costs, trying to achieve the right balance. The subcapacity models of the z9 EC satisfy these requests.

The z9 EC, like the predecessor IBM mainframes, includes dedicated I/O processors (the System Assist Processor or SAP) to manage thousands of concurrent data accesses. It provides more available channel bandwidth and FICON channels than the IBM eServer™ zSeries® 990 (z990). The new MIDAW Facility on the z9 EC can help improve FICON channel efficiency and throughput, especially with the new FICON Express4. The tight collaboration the z9 EC has with IBM storage and IBM software helps achieve further advanced I/O function and performance.

The z9 EC continues to extend and support the use of dedicated processors for specialized workloads, which can help provide better optimization of resources as well as offer price/performance improvements to users. The server’s ability to support many open and industry standards, with comprehensive support for Service-Oriented Architecture, makes it an ideal platform for deploying new workloads or for interoperating with new workloads on alternative technologies. These enhanced capabilities illustrate that the z9 EC is a classic that doubles as an advanced solution designed to support the IT infrastructure needed for today’s on demand business. IBM System z9-Powerful servers for simplified infrastructures.