Z Application Assist Processor
Encyclopedia
The IBM System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), previously known as the zSeries
Application Assist Processor, is a mainframe
processor introduced by IBM
in 2004. zAAP engines are dedicated to running specific Java and XML
workloads under z/OS
, accelerating performance. zAAPs are available for zSeries 990 and 890 servers and all System z9
and System z10 servers.
Currently a zAAP engine contains the same underlying hardware as any other mainframe engine. However, IBM uses microcode
to limit code execution to Java and XML workloads only. As with Integrated Facility for Linux
(IFL) and zIIP
, zAAPs are not specifically optimized to run Java faster or better. IBM does not change the "software model" or MSU
rating on its mainframes with the installation of zAAPs. Consequently IBM's customers do not incur software license charges for their zAAPs, reducing their costs of running Java- and XML-oriented applications. The number of zAAPs cannot exceed the number of central processors (CPs, general purpose engines) within a zSeries/z9 machine.
IBM made the zAAP feature (i.e. the microcode) generally available on June 30, 2004, although the required z/OS release was not generally available until September 24, 2004. zAAPs work with z/OS V1R6 and higher, and Java 1.4.1 and higher. IBM modified the z/OS dispatcher and Workload Manager
(WLM) to switch pure Java workload to the dedicated engines. These modifications are completely transparent to Java applications. However, because Java must at least occasionally call native system services (I/O
services, for example), some conventional processor (CP) capacity must be available to initiate and sustain a zAAP engine. Major software subsystems that could benefit from zAAP (i.e. that rely on Java workloads) include WebSphere
Application Server, WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation, WebSphere Process Server, WebSphere Message Broker, DB2
, CICS Transaction Server, CICS Transaction Gateway
, IMS
, and (JZOS and z/OS UNIX System Services
) Batch, among others. In 2007, IBM added zAAP support to the XML System Services for z/OS, so now products such as DB2 9 for z/OS can also take advantage of zAAPs for XML-related processing.
The first commercial production workload for zAAP began on September 1, 2004, at an undisclosed Midwestern U.S. insurance company performing claims processing. The company used Java 1.4.2, WebSphere
Application Server Version 5.1, and a near-final z/OS V1R6 build on a zSeries 990 (2084-304/A08 with two zAAPs). This deployment is probably a mainframe record for speed of both development and adoption, since IBM only began its zAAP design project in 2003.
s (ISVs) have introduced support for execution of their products on zAAP Specialty Engines by using Java or XML Services toolkit from IBM.
For example, Ivory Server for z/OS and Ivory Server for CICS from GT Software, Inc.http://www.gtsoftware.com/ provide zAAP support for XML
parsing using the optional IBM
z/OS
XML
Services feature. The Ivory Server for Java will also take advantage of the zAAP in addition to supporting zIIP
and the Integrated Facility for Linux
(IFL).
ZSeries
IBM System z, or earlier IBM eServer zSeries, is a brand name designated by IBM to all its mainframe computers.In 2000, IBM rebranded the existing System/390 to IBM eServer zSeries with the e depicted in IBM's red trademarked symbol, but because no specific machine names were changed for...
Application Assist Processor, is a mainframe
IBM mainframe
IBM mainframes are large computer systems produced by IBM from 1952 to the present. During the 1960s and 1970s, the term mainframe computer was almost synonymous with IBM products due to their marketshare...
processor introduced by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
in 2004. zAAP engines are dedicated to running specific Java and XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
workloads under z/OS
Z/OS
z/OS is a 64-bit operating system for mainframe computers, produced by IBM. It derives from and is the successor to OS/390, which in turn followed a string of MVS versions.Starting with earliest:*OS/VS2 Release 2 through Release 3.8...
, accelerating performance. zAAPs are available for zSeries 990 and 890 servers and all System z9
System z9
IBM System z9 is a line of IBM mainframe. It was announced on July 25, 2005 and the first models were available on September 16, 2005. The System z9 also marks the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention, and it is the last z/Architecture 1 machine.- Background :System z9 is a...
and System z10 servers.
Currently a zAAP engine contains the same underlying hardware as any other mainframe engine. However, IBM uses microcode
Microcode
Microcode is a layer of hardware-level instructions and/or data structures involved in the implementation of higher level machine code instructions in many computers and other processors; it resides in special high-speed memory and translates machine instructions into sequences of detailed...
to limit code execution to Java and XML workloads only. As with Integrated Facility for Linux
Integrated Facility for Linux
The Integrated Facility for Linux is an IBM mainframe processor dedicated to running the Linux operating system, with or without z/VM. IFLs are one of three types of IBM mainframe processors expressly designed to reduce software costs...
(IFL) and zIIP
ZIIP
In IBM System z9 mainframes, the System z Integrated Information Processor is a special purpose processor. It was initially introduced to relieve the general mainframe central processors of specific DB2 processing loads, but currently is used to offload other z/OS workloads as described below...
, zAAPs are not specifically optimized to run Java faster or better. IBM does not change the "software model" or MSU
Million service units
A million service units is a measurement of the amount of processing work a computer can perform in one hour. The term is most commonly associated with IBM mainframes....
rating on its mainframes with the installation of zAAPs. Consequently IBM's customers do not incur software license charges for their zAAPs, reducing their costs of running Java- and XML-oriented applications. The number of zAAPs cannot exceed the number of central processors (CPs, general purpose engines) within a zSeries/z9 machine.
IBM made the zAAP feature (i.e. the microcode) generally available on June 30, 2004, although the required z/OS release was not generally available until September 24, 2004. zAAPs work with z/OS V1R6 and higher, and Java 1.4.1 and higher. IBM modified the z/OS dispatcher and Workload Manager
Workload Manager
In IBM mainframes, Workload Manager is a base component of MVS/ESA mainframe operating system, and its successors up to and including z/OS. It controls the access to system resources for the work executing on z/OS based on administrator-defined goals. Workload Manager components also exist for...
(WLM) to switch pure Java workload to the dedicated engines. These modifications are completely transparent to Java applications. However, because Java must at least occasionally call native system services (I/O
I/O
I/O may refer to:* Input/output, a system of communication for information processing systems* Input-output model, an economic model of flow prediction between sectors...
services, for example), some conventional processor (CP) capacity must be available to initiate and sustain a zAAP engine. Major software subsystems that could benefit from zAAP (i.e. that rely on Java workloads) include WebSphere
WebSphere
IBM WebSphere refers to a brand of computer software products in the genre of enterprise software known as "application and integration middleware". These software products are used by end-users to create applications and integrate applications with other applications...
Application Server, WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation, WebSphere Process Server, WebSphere Message Broker, DB2
IBM DB2
The IBM DB2 Enterprise Server Edition is a relational model database server developed by IBM. It primarily runs on Unix , Linux, IBM i , z/OS and Windows servers. DB2 also powers the different IBM InfoSphere Warehouse editions...
, CICS Transaction Server, CICS Transaction Gateway
CICS Transaction Gateway
IBM CICS Transaction Gateway provides secure access to CICS from Java applications, using Internet protocols . CICS TG has an API to allow programmers to use the features of a J2EE-compliant runtime environment....
, IMS
Information Management System
IBM Information Management System is a joint hierarchical database and information management system with extensive transaction processing capabilities.- History :...
, and (JZOS and z/OS UNIX System Services
UNIX System Services
UNIX System Services is a required, included component of z/OS. USS is a certified UNIX implementation optimized for mainframe architecture. It is the first UNIX 95 to not be derived from the AT&T source code...
) Batch, among others. In 2007, IBM added zAAP support to the XML System Services for z/OS, so now products such as DB2 9 for z/OS can also take advantage of zAAPs for XML-related processing.
The first commercial production workload for zAAP began on September 1, 2004, at an undisclosed Midwestern U.S. insurance company performing claims processing. The company used Java 1.4.2, WebSphere
WebSphere
IBM WebSphere refers to a brand of computer software products in the genre of enterprise software known as "application and integration middleware". These software products are used by end-users to create applications and integrate applications with other applications...
Application Server Version 5.1, and a near-final z/OS V1R6 build on a zSeries 990 (2084-304/A08 with two zAAPs). This deployment is probably a mainframe record for speed of both development and adoption, since IBM only began its zAAP design project in 2003.
Support for zAAPs
Third-party independent software vendorIndependent software vendor
Independent software vendor is a business term for companies specializing in making or selling software, designed for mass marketing or for niche markets...
s (ISVs) have introduced support for execution of their products on zAAP Specialty Engines by using Java or XML Services toolkit from IBM.
For example, Ivory Server for z/OS and Ivory Server for CICS from GT Software, Inc.http://www.gtsoftware.com/ provide zAAP support for XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
parsing using the optional IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
z/OS
Z/OS
z/OS is a 64-bit operating system for mainframe computers, produced by IBM. It derives from and is the successor to OS/390, which in turn followed a string of MVS versions.Starting with earliest:*OS/VS2 Release 2 through Release 3.8...
XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
Services feature. The Ivory Server for Java will also take advantage of the zAAP in addition to supporting zIIP
ZIIP
In IBM System z9 mainframes, the System z Integrated Information Processor is a special purpose processor. It was initially introduced to relieve the general mainframe central processors of specific DB2 processing loads, but currently is used to offload other z/OS workloads as described below...
and the Integrated Facility for Linux
Integrated Facility for Linux
The Integrated Facility for Linux is an IBM mainframe processor dedicated to running the Linux operating system, with or without z/VM. IFLs are one of three types of IBM mainframe processors expressly designed to reduce software costs...
(IFL).