The IBM z800 and z890 enterprise servers are 64-bit general purpose processors.  They can have up to 4 active engines.  These servers are among the most flexible IBM has ever produced and for medium and large enterprises they are the universal servers.

With the z800 and z890, there is no practical limit to the size of a processor complex that can be run in a unified scheme, because these servers can participate in IBM Parallel Sysplex configurations or be run as single frames.

They span a huge range of processing capacities.  Entry configurations begin at power levels that lie in the midrange of the mainframe class and have pricing, including software pricing, to match.  The fastest way to find out just what a model and configuration suitable for your needs will cost is to get in touch with us.

Our quick start form is an easy way to do just that.  Or, if you have a Multiprise system, check out our very simple Let's Grow page.

These servers can support legacy workloads established under any of the three IBM operating systems families.  In addition, they can support new applications in both legacy environments and Linux.

Best of all, they can do all this simultaneously.  A single z800 or z890 can replace a whole farm of diverse servers, eliminating networking and interprocessor communications problems.  A single footprint can replace racks full of less reliable machines.

In addition to supporting all the standard mainframe operating systems, the z800 and z890 also support a unique and particularly economical environment, z/OS.e.

z/OS.e is IBM's systems software for Internet, electronic commerce and other new applications.

This special capability, combined with the eligibility of a z800 or z890 for participation in a Parallel Sysplex make the systems at home in the largest corporate computing center as well as the more numerous enterprise information processing facilities in smaller companies or divisional technology resource centers.

In addition to its sysplex capability, the z800 and z890 offer outstanding connectivity options, including support for OSA network interfaces and the most advanced ESCON and FICON channels.

They also provides all the internal connection technology, such as hipersockets, that enable you to link independent logical partitions at high speeds.

The z800 and z890 also have processors that are available for use as Internal Coupling Facilities, which can reduce the cost and complexity of running a multi-frame configuration.

There are differences between the families.  Like any mid-generation kicker, the z890 series includes changes based on the reactions of customers (and IBM marketing personnel) to the reception the z800 received.

For example, the z890 offers more granularity because IBM's microcode provides seven levels of processor governing.  This improvement arose because customers who needed z800 machines larger than the model 2066-002 felt that the leap to a whole additional processor was excessive, particularly in terms of increased software fees.  Now that used z800 hardware has become affordable, users can mix and match z800 machine (with or without setting up a sysplex) to get much more granularity, but users who want a one-box solution will still favor z890 models.

The z890 offers greater connectivity than the z800, many more ESCON channels as well as more FICON and OSA slots.  Customers who have large and ornate configurations of peripheral devices may find the z890's enhancements compared to the z800 are particularly valuable.

The z800 may require less power and cooling than the z890 at any particular MIPS level.  This is because its engines run at a slower clock speed and its somewhat smaller maximum configuration allows the machine to function with smaller power supplies and to be contained in a smaller cabinet.  Also, the z890 can be configured with more I/O, and this can increase the system's power requirements and heat dissipation.

For additional technical details, please consult the z890 Reference Guide, z800 Reference Guide, the z800 Physical Planning Manual and other IBM technical literature.  (Click to open the guide in a new window or right click to see your download options.)

Reliable has the knowledge and experience to help you plan and execute migration from other mainframes or from servers running Unix or Linux.

If you want a z800 or z890 to supplement your installed systems, we can integrate your new machine into an existing sysplex and help you build your new workloads on the server IBM has designed to beat the alternatives on price, reliability, scalability and operational simplicity.

Reliable is your source of advice on least cost licensing of IBM systems software including z/OS.e, z/VM and Linux.

We are also adept at helping you bring your existing workloads into a new z800 and z890 by using partitions run in the familiar ESA mode, allowing you to move to 64-bit technology whenever you want and at the pace you prefer.  With our help you can have seasoned 31-bit VSE workloads running in the same frame as a brand new Linux server supporting Sendmail or the Apache web server.

We can work with you to compare the costs of your current software stack (and planned future software) on various z800 and z890 models.  You may be surprised to see the savings that can be achieved by moving small environments off very large machines.  In some cases, a small, dedicated development processor can pay for itself very quickly, while at the same time providing absolute isolation of software that isn't fully tested for production work.

Whether you prefer to do all your development on the same physical system you use for production or to split off some development and perform it on a smaller platform, such as an IBM Multiprise, a z800 or z890 is an excellent platform for final testing.

Even in the largest shops with z9, z990, and z900 equipment, a z800 or z890 can provide an economical way to test software in isolation.  The z800 and z890 let you perform software quality assurance in either 31-bit or 64-bit mode and to replicate all the production environments you support on larger, more costly systems.  Inside or outside a big iron sysplex, you can perform software development and maintenance using the same storage devices and network technology you will ultimately use in production.

If you want to finance your system, software, maintenance and services, we can work with you to secure the best available terms.  We can also help you get the best possible value for older machines you may no longer need when as you bring workloads into the more efficient environment provided by a z800 or z890.

But our experience shows that there can be a lot more to an upgrade than just swapping boxes.  We can help you dispose of whole systems which are no longer needed.  We can downgrade installed processors which you prefer to retain in order to reduce software costs.  In addition, you may also be able to recover investments in memory or channels you no longer need:  We will do our best to remarket any unwanted item for which there is market demand.

We can also help you adjust your disk and tape capacity to the change demand that may be created by a new processor.  Whether is's a straighforward capacity upgrade or a move to more carefully optimized storage configurations, we have specialists who can help you with planning, testing, installation, and tuning.

So ask all the questions.  That's why we're here.  And that's why we're considered the best of the bunch when customers have unusual problems or challenging budgetary situations.

Bear in mind that your relationship with a mainframe supplier doesn't end with an installation.  Quite the opposite.  Supplying and installing your system is just the first step in our ongoing provision of attentive, personalized attention to your requirements, to the dynamic world of the mainframe and to the ever changing conditions faced by corporate and government information processing departments.