IBM is refreshing its historic server lineup with the z15 designed for hybrid environments requiring high performance in a secure environment. Overall, the z15 represents an evolutionary change compared to its predecessor, the z14. However, there are many improvements in all areas.

At the system level, IBM continues to use CPC drawers (Central Process Complex) that integrate processor, memory, and I / O interconnects. IBM uses the term Central Process Complex to refer to the physical collection of hardware that includes the main storage, one or more central processors, timers and channels.

In newer models of IBM mainframe, the OEM has physically built the “system box” in a modular way with a number of drawers that slide into a grid and are connected to each other by a sort of channel communication (the exact implementation varies by model, but this is a high-level overview), so that the CPC drawer (s) contain processor chips, RAM memory, and other infrastructure. basis of the overall system.

A drawer on the z15 includes two logical CP clusters and one SC. The split cluster design is intended to improve memory traffic. It’s the same design as the z14. However, the similarities stop there. On the z14, only one drawer has six central processors and one system controller chip. In a drawer, everything is fully connected via the X-Bus.

On the z15, IBM has reduced the number of central processors. There are now four processors and one SC chip per drawer. This strategic choice can be understood. In a drawer, everything is still fully connected via the X-Bus. Each processor is connected to the other processor within a cluster as well as to the SC chip.

Other changes highlighted by IBM :

– Encryption everywhere: Based on ubiquitous encryption, IBM has unveiled the new Data Privacy Passports technology, which customers can use to control storage and data sharing – which helps protect and provision data, as well as to revoke access to this data at any time, not just in the z15 environment, but in a company’s hybrid multilayer environment. z15 can also encrypt data anywhere – in hybrid multilayer environments – to help organizations secure their data wherever they go.
– Native Cloud Development: Can give customers a competitive edge by changing the way they modernize existing applications, developing new native cloud applications, and securely integrating their largest workloads into the cloud. Customers are already using IBM Z for their critical workloads to design, deploy, and manage next-generation applications and protect data through advanced security.
– Instant Recovery: An industry first approach to minimize costs and the impact of planned and unplanned downtime, allowing users to access the full capacity of the system for a period of time to accelerate shutdown and restart IBM Z services and provide a temporary increase in capacity for fast recovery. lost time.

Source :IBM