Fujitsu renews the mainframe family BS2000. In addition to new hardware, Fujitsu also updates the operating system with the release of the BS2000 OSD / BC V10.0 version . Fujitsu has completely overhauled the computer architecture, as the company announced at the BS2000 Mainframe Summit in Munich and Prien am Chiemsee. The new BS2000 SE series enables the parallel operation of mainframe applications and standard software. Optionally, according to Fujitsu, an application can also be operated with different processor architectures.
Fujitsu now introduces the new SE servers SE300, SE500 and SE700, enabling a highly scalable infrastructure. The individual server units can be combined differently within the SE infrastructure. The new SE servers also inherit technologies from the Fujitsu mainframes S and SQ, as Fujitsu announces.
For the first time, Fujitsu will be installing the / 390 and x86 hardware technologies together in a standard 19-inch rack. Fujitsu thus creates the conditions for the integration of the platforms.
In addition to integrating the hardware, the new SE Manager also ensures central administration and uniform management of the infrastructure. The new SE Manager is web-based and manages the entire SE infrastructure across / 390 and x86. In addition to the Managerment Unit, Server Unit, Net Unit and Application Units, the SE Manager also manages Linux, Windows and common hypervisors such as vSphere.
The SE300 series marks the entry-level segment and includes x86 technology server units with Intel Xeon processor technology (E7-8857). In addition, the new generation is expected to deliver significantly higher performance than the previous SQ entry-level system and with lower energy consumption. The Xeon-based server SE300 offers a total of 16 CPUs in the largest configuration with model 160F. With a maximum of 4 memory boards 160F can then be upgraded to a maximum of 1504 GB of skin memory.
The SE700 and SE500 lines build on the servers of the / 390 technology and can be combined with the computers of the x86 technology. The / 390 servers have newly developed mainframe processors based on system-on-chip technology. In this case too, Fujitsu could significantly increase its energy efficiency. Fujitsu estimates the energy savings to be more than 50 percent higher than its predecessors. The SE700 models are equipped with 15 BS2000 processors plus one additional hot spare CPU which takes over tasks from other processors in the event of an error. The two families SE700 and SE500 have approximately the same performance in the middle models, according to Fujitsu.
The SE series is suitable for 'classic' mainframe operation on / 390 or x86-based hardware and for hybrid applications. As application scenarios, Fujitsu identifies consolidation projects in data centers or private cloud services.
With BS2000 OSD / BC Version V10.0, Fujitsu is addressing not only existing functions of the BS2000 servers of the S and SQ series, but also special functions of the new SE series.
V10.0 enables advanced integration of Net-Storage, and adds feature enhancements, such as with SANCHECK. In addition, BS2000 OSD / BC V10.0 provides interfaces and functions to integrate the SE series into an existing IT landscape. BS2IDE provides Fujitsu with an Eclipse-based development environment for BS2000.
"Under the umbrella of a common mainframe management, the SE server provides host technology for classic mainframe loads and x86 technology for Linux and Windows tasks side by side and efficiently coupled," said Rolf Strotmann, vice president of Enterprise Server & Software at Fujitsu. On the one hand, this infrastructure opens up access to Windows and Linux worlds and within a mainframe.
The BS2000 SE series is to be delivered to selected customers at the end of 2014. The servers as well as the updated operating system should be available in the second quarter of 2015.
"After a face-lift, the mainframe presents itself today with a graphical user interface and offers plug-ins for administration, for example via mobile devices such as tablet PCs. In addition, modern development environments facilitate the creation of applications for the mainframe world, "explains Strotmann in a blog . "That's why Fujitsu continues to develop hardware and operating systems, bringing new versions to the customer every three years."