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IBM 9370

From Alfawiki
IBM 9370
Company typeProduct line
IndustryComputer hardware
PredecessorIBM Fort Knox initiative
Founded1986
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMidrange mainframe computers (System/370-compatible)
Websitewww.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP9370.html

The IBM 9370 series represents a line of "compact mainframe" midrange computers,[1] introduced in 1986 as an entry-level, System/370-compatible platform. Media outlets frequently labeled it a "VAX Killer," referencing its competition with VAX systems from Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), although this characterization was met with some doubt.[2]

History

The IBM 9370 emerged after the unsuccessful Fort Knox initiative, which sought to consolidate IBM’s midrange offerings onto a unified IBM 801-based architecture.[3] Marketed as a "super-mini computer" tailored for business and engineering applications, it featured a compact, rack-mounted design suitable for office settings without necessitating a dedicated data center.[4]

Performance-wise, the 9370 filled the gap between IBM's midrange machines (IBM System/36, IBM System/38) and the IBM 4300 mainframe family,[5] partially supplanting the also underperforming IBM 8100 distributed processing platform.[6] By 1987, higher-tier models of the 9370 had taken over roles previously held by discontinued entry-level 4300 units.[7]

Targeted primarily at departmental users competing against DEC’s VAX line,[8] the system initially struggled due to insufficient software availability and weak marketing efforts.[9] Despite these challenges, it found favor among users needing System/370 compatibility without incurring high costs—such as smaller software companies—and organizations that preferred centralized control over distributed processing through communication controllers like IBM 37xx. By the start of the 1990s, roughly 6,300 units had been deployed worldwide, generating sales exceeding $2 billion.[9] The limited commercial success of the 9370 informed IBM’s subsequent creation of the more widely adopted AS/400 midrange product line.[10]

In 1988, the IBM Enterprise Systems Architecture incorporated the model as "ES/9370," alongside "ES/4300" and "ES/3090," though these systems did not comply with XA standards. In response, IBM launched the "ES/9000" series in 1990; rack-mounted configurations featuring ESA and ESCON were promoted as suitable upgrades for ES/9370 users.[11]

Initial models

Model Model No. Tier Memory (MB) I/O card slots DASD/Tape Controller Workstation Controller MVS/SP support
20, 30 9373 entry-level, cost-effective 4, 8, 16 7 1-2 2 no
40, 50, 55, 60 9375 mid-range 8, 16 17 1-4 2-4 only larger Mod.60
80, 90 9377 top-tier (five times Mod.20 capacity) 8, 16 54 1-12 2-12 yes

The initial hardware for the 9370 series was based on technology developed during the Fort Knox initiative, utilizing the IBM 801 processor design and the SPD I/O bus adapted from the Series/1 architecture. Every model included a floating-point accelerator along with a processor console to assist in system setup and upkeep. Additionally, a ruggedized version called System/MIL-370 was engineered for operation in more demanding environments.

Each DASD/Tape Controller accommodated up to eight device addresses and supported a data transfer speed of 3 megabytes per second. Storage devices compatible with these controllers comprised IBM DASD units such as the IBM 9332 (368 MB) and IBM 9335 (824 MB), alongside IBM 9347 nine-track half-inch tape drives.

Workstation Controllers could connect as many as thirty-two IBM 3270 terminals or printers.

Software compatibility across all variants included VM/SP+VM/IS, VSE/SP, and VM/SP+IX/370; however, MVS/SP functionality was confined to the larger models.

Enterprise Systems Architecture variants

An enhancement known as the Miscellaneous Equipment Specification (MES) allowed substitution of original FBA drives with DASDs capable of Count Key Data (CKD) formatting.

In 1988, the Distributed Processing Programming Executive for System/370 (DPPX/370) was introduced for the ES/9370 series to support migration from IBM 8100 systems operating DPPX.

The "Micro Channel 370" models (010, 012, and 014; later rebranded as 110, 112, and 114) debuted in 1990 featuring the Micro Channel bus architecture alongside Intel 80386 processors dedicated to I/O operations. These models offered dual-processor configurations that incorporated a second Intel 386 CPU to run DOS and OS/2 applications with rapid interprocessor communication links. They also brought in APPC support utilizing LU6.2 protocols built upon Systems Network Architecture PU2.1.

See also

Further reading

  • — Chapter Twelve (pp. 277–286) covers details on the IBM 9370.

External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ↑ IBM 9370 INFORMATION SYSTEM OVERVIEW
  5. ↑ Network World article Dec.22, 1986 p.28
  6. ↑ June 16th 1989 CW article Archived 2012-07-31 at archive.today mentioning 8100-9370 replacement (in German)
  7. ↑ Network World article Jun.29, 1987 p.27
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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