1.  IBM Announces z10 EC Processors
2.  IBM Previews z/OS Version 1.10
3.  Typo in Cheryl Watson’s TUNING Letter 2008 No. 1

1.  IBM Announces z10 Processors

Yesterday, February 26th, IBM announced (and made available) the latest series of system z processors, the z10 EC.  The article we wrote in our most recent newsletter describes the hardware itself.  What we couldn’t discuss at the time was how large the processor line was.  There are 100 new models, including three sub-capacity series of 12 models each (2097-401 to 412, 2097-501 to 512, 2097-601 to 612) and a series of 64 models (2097-701 to 764), where the last two digits indicate the number of processors.  Yes, that’s right – a 64-way.  The new LSPRs have been published, and are now based on z/OS 1.8 instead of z/OS 1.6.  I’ll be analyzing the numbers and will be publishing an updated CPU Chart within a couple of weeks.  If a subscriber or BoxScore customer needs MIPS sooner than that, please send me the model you need, and I’ll get back to you.

We’ll have more on this processor in our next newsletter, and you can read the announcement at http://www.ibm.com/news/us/en/ (or leave off the us/en for other countries) and select ‘Announcements’ at the left, then select ‘Advanced Find’ and select ‘108-154’ for the announcement number.  For a week, you can also just pick ‘Jump to the most recent announcement’.

2.  IBM Previews New z/OS Release 1.10

On the same day, IBM previewed z/OS Version 1.10, which will be available in September 2008.  You can see the preview in announcement #208-042 (see link above).  This week at SHARE, IBM is providing many sessions on the enhancements contained in z/OS 1.10, so I’ll be taking good notes for you, and I’ll be writing about the facilities soon.

3.  TUNING Letter 2008 No. 1 Update

On page 11, I included the wrong title for the first flash.  It should be ‘FLASH10609 – z/OS Availability – Blocked Workload Support,’ and NOT ‘FLASH10617 – IBM System Storage DS8000.

On page 5, I suggested that WLM APAR OA22650 should have been marked HIPER earlier.  But an IBMer indicated that a PE was issued for the APAR within five days of it being released.  So as long as you follow recommended maintenance procedures, you should be okay.

Stay Tuned!